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History Hot rod hub caps

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by chiro, Apr 14, 2022.

  1. chiro
    Joined: Jun 23, 2008
    Posts: 1,312

    chiro
    Member

    I'm running '35 Ford wires on my A coupe. Recently retired the Coker big and littles in favor of Diamondback Auburn radials (bias look). I have to say it was a big improvement in the ride and tracking. I'm starting to wonder if 16" Ford steelies may ride better than the wires. I like the look of the wires and also the steelies, especially with some period correct 16" hub caps.

    What are some cool 16" 50's hubcaps that will match up with the Ford steelies?
    Thanks,
    Andy
     
  2. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 10,737

    Rickybop
    Member

    Hubcaps are cool. Don't forget about full wheel covers.
    16", original or reproduction, sombreros, spinners, flippers, etc.
    Some of the reproductions are beautiful and the prices aren't terrible.
     
  3. Plain ford block type should work, I know they were available on pickups. Here they are on one of the nicest cars in our area. BC618066-03A3-4C59-B727-AEB1FD7B9CFF.jpeg
     
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  4. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 3,349

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    Don't have a pic but full Lyon caps look great
     
    Stogy likes this.
  5. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,473

    GordonC
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I just did some changes in this area. I used to run stock Ford hubcaps on the steel 16 inch wheels but ended up changing the front wheels to 15 inch steel truck wheels so I could run the new tires I had on them. My caps no longer matched so I put spiders on all 4 and I think they look pretty good.

    20220220_174104[2].jpg 20220414_094751.jpg 20220414_094805.jpg
     
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  6. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,579

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    I went down that road before and it’s slim Pickens in my opinion. I went with 15’s this time and have two sets of Olds caps I run. For some reason the 15” gives you unlimited options. If you can afford it. Keep the 16’s like they are and get some 15” rims and now new set of tires and swap them out. I have a set of wires and black wall big little but damn things won’t fit over my Lincoln brakes in the front.
     
  7. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    5 on 5.5" bp. rims...
    15" ... 1946-'48 mercury... 1956ish to 1964 trucks...
    .
    16" ...194o[narrower],
    1941 to '48 cars and 1940 to 1956ish trucks...
    all the above hub caps will fit...
    i vote for '41 or '42...
     
  8. CC-Mo
    Joined: Oct 13, 2019
    Posts: 108

    CC-Mo

    49F66863-ADAD-4E1F-9764-1C45D96C570C.jpeg
    I wanted ‘36 hubcaps, struck out on finding any in stock anywhere. For now I’ll run the Ford script caps just to get something on it.
     
  9. LOU WELLS
    Joined: Jan 24, 2010
    Posts: 3,556

    LOU WELLS
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from IDAHO

    1940 Ford Standard Works For Me.... 233363935_2995990967391831_3909693179420118897_n.jpg
     
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  10. kadillackid
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 638

    kadillackid
    Member

    Vintage 16" Chicago National wheel trims with re-pop Merc caps on '40 wheels....
    Cap.jpg
     
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  11. tofords
    Joined: May 26, 2009
    Posts: 1,175

    tofords
    Member

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  12. geoford41
    Joined: Jul 26, 2011
    Posts: 766

    geoford41
    Member
    from Delaware

    mine with 50 ford when it was a standard coupe
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,800

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    My go to hubcap is the '48 Ford. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
  14. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 11,388

    jnaki

    upload_2022-8-2_4-24-23.png
    Hello,


    When I bought my first Flathead powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery, the sedan delivery had smooth center chrome hubcaps on black rims with blackwall tires. The original car was built with a 348 Chevy motor, but while it was a dream car build, I bought it when the owner replaced the 348 with a Flathead. Instantly, I lost 200 H.P. But, as it turned out, the Flathead powered Sedan delivery took me all over So Cal without a major or actually a minor repair, other than a flat tire in South OC.

    upload_2022-8-2_4-24-54.png
    The Salmon Pink color surf transportation worked well on flat, level ground and highways.


    So, it was one of the most reliable Flathead powered hot rods around. Everyone in our teenage group laughed because I could not take it up into the Big Bear Mountain City and Lake areas. It just did not have the power to go up to 7000+ feet in elevation on steep roads. It even caused a 2nd gear shift and on the steepest coastal road in San Diego county, 1st gear shift in slower traffic. But, it ran like a top and I put on thousands of coastal highway miles by the time I sold it 5 years later.
    (The small round center hubcaps were smooth and no insignias.)


    Jnaki

    upload_2022-8-2_4-25-20.png
    After we got married… we had a new project 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery with a 327 motor. It took a long set of months to get it to where we felt safe driving it and for my wife to start liking it. By the time it was ready, not finished, but safe driving ready, it was hard not to compete with her to take first choice when going somewhere.

    The black rims needed something and we decided to get some beauty trim rings and center small hubcaps. This time, there were some Ford insignias on them. From far away, they looked like smooth chrome center hubcaps. Blackwalls and black rims just made the sedan delivery cool, but not "too showy.” The small hubcaps looked good by itself, but when we added the beauty trim rings, it was great!


    So, she drove the sedan delivery with 327 power and A/C and I was driving around with the windows down in a 62 Silver Blue Corvair Coupe. What a difference!!! YRMV
     
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  15. lothiandon1940
    Joined: May 24, 2007
    Posts: 32,457

    lothiandon1940
    Member

    Repop Merc caps. 044-vi (1) (1).jpg thumbnail.jpg
     
    Stogy likes this.
  16. ratreo
    Joined: Jan 24, 2010
    Posts: 76

    ratreo
    Member

    you may consider “no caps” and only trim rings
    AF99146C-80EC-4A78-B51C-81949420E5E4.jpeg
    Ford 40 pickup 16” rims front
    (5 on 5 - 1/2” bc) 3” wide rim
    Coker bias ply 16 x 5 - 1/2” blackwall
    D5F5211B-5A60-42EF-BCDA-B1AA501DAB23.jpeg
    Ford 68 pickup 15” rims rear (F100)
    (5 on 5 - 1/2” bc) 7” wide rim
    General 32” dia. 225/60 15” blackwall
     
    Stogy likes this.
  17. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,618

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    @Reo: Great idea, that 'over bed rack'! Very sanitary. :cool:
     
    Stogy likes this.

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