Hopefully a couple of simple ones for the kustom kats. Planning a 53 Buick custom (54 - 55 build year) and while researching hubcaps, I haven't been able to find any references to when hollywood flippers, ripple disks and smoothies first came about, late 40's? Does anyone know the years these came about and origins/history of these three hubcap variations? What other aftermarket caps were available in pre 55, I've heard of a repop Sombreros sold in the 50's but don't know which year they came about? Are these rare? Apart from Caddy Sombreros and 50 - 53 Olds caps, what was cool in 54 and 55? Any links or book recommendations to help research this subject better greatfully apreciated.
This book is just one of what you should have. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...103-1818393-0809422?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Customizing was about a newer appearance for a vehicle. In my opinion all of the caps in the photos are too old for any car before 53or much earlier.(despite what the catalogs want you to beleive).55 Lancer or 55-56 Merc 4 bar spinners might be a nice choice.
Cheers Guys, Agree with you 00 Mack, would like to have a 55 build year any idea on the year the Flipper came to be? Cheers Donzie! 53 Cad with spinner sounds well cool Slag Custom, never seen that combo before but being in the UK early 50's customs are a bit thin on the ground, as are caddy caps!
On my 53 i chose a little different route than caps. I used chrome reverse with cal custom spiders, then 'fogged' in some body color around the spiders. I lOVE caps don't get me wrong, i just wanted something a little different. My car is in the late '50s style. just food for thought. If i was going to use caps, i really like the Lancer's.
That looks really cool PakRat32, I've always liked spiders, can you date their first use or who came up with the idea? What are they Tony Bones?
yeah..you find me a set of 53' caddy caps for less than $250 I'll be a happy man. I need them for my 53' caddy. But for now...looks like I'll be running 59's if I the check ever makes it to Roger. I have a set of 56's that don't fit.
i got a set of 1957 caddy caps with bullets for the centers you may be aboe to talk me out of their 15"
Gotzy, another thing, all those caps you've shown are of the most inferior shitty quality imaginable. They're not worth buying for anything in my opinion, not even a temporary shit pan when camping in the woods. They would go cruddy faster than a frozen banana in the lovely damp climate of Blighty.
Although all the styles you showed date from ~1950, by the mid-50s the only ones I saw with any frequency on LA streets were the generic smoothies (then called Moons, by the way, not to be confused with the spun aluminum discs). I only saw ripple discs on cars built by Coachcraft, and then only at shows. Cal-Nevar fake wire wheel covers were also available, and popular, in the mid-50s. Cadillac sombreros (pre-'53), and also '53s, were much favored by the kustom guys; seems like that's all that Barris used in the early '50s on the cars that they built. Some other OEM wheel covers that were often used were '53 Stude (Tony Bones' picture), '54-55 and '56 Olds (both spinner and non-spinner styles), '55 Buick (spinner and non). When 14" wheels happened in '57 a whole new set of wheel covers came into style, many of them from Chrysler. If I was building a '50s Buick I think I would have to choose Skylark wires. Spendy, I admit, but they're available in repop.
how may do you want??? I can set you up whit 2 nice ding free ones for the front and 2 with a couple of small dings or scratches for $225 plus shipping.
Maybe 12 years ago I saw a couple of hubcaps that had DICE embossed into them, hanging on a garage wall somewhere. Anyone ever seen those?
Gotzy, I've seen pictures from the pre-war 40s with Kustoms sportin' the "flipper" type of wheel cover. Try Hop Up or The Little Books. Pimpin'
ooooh..nice. Those just the center caps? Or the whole deal? I thought there were two kinds for the 53. I'll have to give it some thought. My current budget is quickly shrinking and I have to get er painted and hopefully bagged.
Thanks KUSTOMKRESTLINE, next project Can undersatnd where you coming from Nad, dam bananas! 50 Fraud, thanks for your comments, they are really helpful!!! You can't beat experience from dudes who lived it! I see where your coming from with the Buick wires, oh for the cash eh! Low budget build happening so will have to use the lower side of the $ ladder for it's first incarnation. Have come across some repop 50-53 olds caps which are getting my vote but I still need to investigate build styles further and set my cut off date, 54 or 55. Definites are frenched 54 merc headlights, modified 49-51 merc bubble skirts, nosed, decked, shaved and taildraggen. Not sure about taillight treatment yet but that will depend on how my metal working skills develop and if they do, a chop inspired by Tommy of the Sacred Karts 53. And 54 pontiac bumpers and a redesigned grill if I can afford old metal with new chrome, lucky californian's! Anyway Thanks for the info!
i was thinking of running hollywood flippers on my 39 buick do anyone know from where to order good quality flippers ? usually they are quite cheap anyhow so could justaswell order a new pair every second year haha or atleast pay more and have a pair that lasts.... give me them in stainless
psychodaemon can't comment on the quality but try the links below as they all do versions but I'm sure there is a lot more options as well. http://www.brockmancustomparts.com/page10.html http://www.bigjims.net/wheel.htm http://www.hubcapmike.com/hollywood_flipper.html http://www.thenightprowlers.com/ http://www.wirthscustomauto.com/
just the caps I only have one of those centers. the 2 diffrent 53 caps are standard and comercial chassis. the comercial clip onto the outside of the rim like any standard hubcap. Its very rare to find a set of them. most i have seen on e-bay they think they are modified.
These aren't flippers, but they are an old looking full wheel cover in Stainless that is available new. They were used on the white Arnett/Granatelli '34 three window Coupe that was featured in Rodders Journal. If the picture doesn't show, click on this link http://hotrod.com/eventcoverage/p103812_image_large.jpg Here is the link to order them ... http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...ID:100000190290
I really like the single bar flipper style. To me they say custom. They are smooth and pure custom looking. But thats just me.
You know, as much as I don't like 'em, photographs from the period show that Fiesta's were REALLY all the rage in the mid '50s I think it's funny that '57 Cad caps are the custom rage now because I haven't found a single late 50's period custom sporting those. I'm sure it was done, but those damn things are EVERYWHERE these days. I see them on traditional 40's vintage styled customs to early 50's styled mercs & shoeboxes etc. I even see them on hot rods from time to time. So... when did the '57 cad cap rage begin? mid 90's? -r
That for the link Simonsezs, they're cool covers and cheap as well! Definitely a contender, would be a good winter daily driver cap for the great British climate! I like them so much that I've asked JC for an international shipping quote but still can't decide if they look to early for 54 year custom. Seriously cool coupe as well!
I have Hollywood Flippers on my truck. They are reproductions but they are 12-15 years old and made of much heavier material than ones I've seen lately. I'll tell you one thing, they will never FALL off! They weld themselves to the rim.
My mooneyes Single bar flippers never came off and never rusted like most mooneys crap. ( my spotlights (dummy) last about 6 months in the weather). SOld mine to TIKIek on here...they were dent free and un scratched after 6months constant use.... =]
I've got a set of killer caps that I bought from the first VLV for $100. They're aftermarket Sombreros made to clip onto early Chevy wheels. They have a killer stylized futuristic Kustom in the center caps, I've never seen another set like 'em. I have no idea what I'll use 'em on though. A friend just gave m,e a set of '57 Caddys that will go on my '54 Chevy one day.
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