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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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. 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 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
you may consider “no caps” and only trim rings Ford 40 pickup 16” rims front (5 on 5 - 1/2” bc) 3” wide rim Coker bias ply 16 x 5 - 1/2” blackwall Ford 68 pickup 15” rims rear (F100) (5 on 5 - 1/2” bc) 7” wide rim General 32” dia. 225/60 15” blackwall