Momo Mario Andretti Steering Wheel
Black only, gold signature, and a wheel tied closely to Lotus and late-70s racing culture.
by Mads – Last updated April 2026
The Momo Mario Andretti signature steering wheel is based on one of Momo’s most recognizable designs: the Momo Cavallino, also known as the C35. The base wheel was available in black and silver across different versions and sizes, but the Mario Andretti signature wheel was produced exclusively in black.
The defining detail is the center horn pad, which differs from the standard Cavallino layout. It is wider and extends further towards the thumb grips. It is also the only wheel in the Momo Signature Series with a gold signature, referencing the Lotus and John Player Special era.
A commonly mentioned detail is its connection to the Lotus Esprit S2 commemorative model from 1978/79. This is often confused with other Momo signature variants used in similar contexts. At that time, the wheel was typically paired with a yellow single-arrow Momo horn button.
Momo Mario Andretti – specifications
- Brand: Momo
- Model: Mario Andretti Signature Steering Wheel
- Production period: late 1970s – early 1980s
- Diameter: 350 mm
- Grip thickness: approx. 32 mm
- Material: leather (black only)
- Shape: semi-dish
- Special feature: wide horn pad, gold signature
Production special
The Mario Andretti wheel was never officially produced in multiple color variants.
Black remained the only factory specification, making the gold signature the central visual identifier of the model.
The Mario Andretti horn buttons
The helmet horn button was available with a black plastic ring version only.
Signature horn buttons were offered in multiple color combinations:
black with silver signature
red with black signature
yellow with black signature
Mario Andretti – the name behind the wheel
Mario Andretti was born on February 28, 1940 in Montona (today Croatia) and later became a U.S. citizen in 1964.
He raced across nearly every major discipline — IndyCar, NASCAR, endurance racing, and Formula 1 — and became one of the most versatile drivers in motorsport history.
In Formula 1, he won the World Championship in 1978 with Lotus and Ronnie Peterson, before retiring with 12 Grand Prix victories to his name.
Why this wheel matters
It’s one of the few Signature wheels that clearly stands out from its base design — with a wider center pad and a gold signature that breaks Momo’s usual visual language.
It also carries strong Lotus-era racing context through Andretti’s career, linking multiple racing worlds in one object.
For collectors, it matters because it’s consistent, recognizable, and slightly outside the “official story” in the details that appear in real-world examples.
