Customs Restoring 1953 Studebaker Hubcaps

W***ah, any good threads on restoring 1953 cone style hubcaps? I want to see what a set will look like on my '51 Merc, and the pics of the Betancourt Merc phase II intrigue. Not sure about spinners. Hubcaps are not super pricey either so it's a fun to experiment.

 

Have you checked over on the Stude club forum?
Log on, and ask away. They're a helpful bunch.
http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/

 

I wouldn't spend too much time on them, there are tons of good ones floating around, they used them through at least '55 and possibly later. I see them on Ebay all the time and prices are reasonable.

 

Hmm took me a few months to find these 53's and nobody repops them anymore based on my research.

 

Steve Allen in Florida used to have reproduction ones, but I think they are no longer being reproduced.

 

I've seen several very nice sets over the past few months on Ebay and countless driver quality caps. There was a NOS set of 4 on Ebay just a week or so ago. Now if you're talking about the ones with the factory spinner that attached to the cone that's a different story.

 

I'm getting 5, probably driver quality, for $130. I ***ume with old parts that I will have to restore anything that was originally polished or chrome since I want that stuff to look new.

I'd buy repops if they exist but I've been told by several 'baker parts purveyors that they are discontinued.

 

That STYLE of wheel cover was used from 53-55, BUT the 53 ones are unique. They have a "tri star" embossed in the center. Mercedes made Studebaker stop using the tri star on the hubcaps and other trim pieces in late '53.



True '53 covers are tough to find and relatively expensive when you find them. 54 and 55 covers without the tri star are more plentiful.

No repops of either are available afaik.

 

Wow yet again I learn something. The ones I want, and have on the way then are 54-55 models, without that three point design.

 

Have you tried here:http://www.hubcaps.org/studebaker.html
It looks like they have NOS ones. Expensiven but by the time you polish or rechrome probably not so bad.

 

katzenhammer's mopar... Stude caps rule!!!

Aren't they a 14" wheel??? ..... I may be completely wrong!

 

My '55 came with 15's.

 

I have a couple sets of those. I polished out the gold center on a couple. Any idea what the gold stuff is, it doesn't look like paint, more of a colored clear or anodizing type of coating.

 

Cool pics Matt!

I saw the Bettancourt Merc pics with them, and decided I'd pick up a set if they ever popped up. So I have 5 coming. I don't know how they mounted, will they go right on a 15x7 GM rim late model like a 70's rim?

 

Have you tried Studebaker International? www.studebaker-intl.com, I don't have their current catalog, but they use to have new or NOS 53 to 55 wheelcovers.

 

heres how they look with a bullet added

 

Try hubcaps.org

 

Thx gl***guy.

 

John how's the car coming along?

 

+1

I got some '54 New Yorkers from here and they are perfecto!
Paul

 

My paint guy got a few big wrecks in so my car got put to the side. I requested a 4.15.09 deadline after which I will get pretty cranky in person. I need to send those bezels to you will, do that this week.

I should have these caps in my possession this week, and I'll contact a few places and see who can make 'em nice.

 

Hmmm just got the hubcaps, daddy like.

 

-I'm hoping final paint is done in April.
-Taillights were done a while ago.
-Headlights should be done.
-Grille has not been modded yet. I might not have my paint guy do it since he's taking so long to paint the car.
-Gloss black is the plan.

I want to get these hubcaps polished to show quality since I have 5 and only need two.

 

Yes, probably explains why Mercedes had them drop the tri-star as part of the deal, although the Stude star is slightly ***ymetrical? one of the arms is shorter..might also explain why the Lark has an almost exact copy of the Mercedes grille...

 

Will it take some work to make a 1955 Studebaker hubcap clip onto a 68-85 style GM 15x7 rim?

 

So the good news is that the hub caps I bought fit on my rims, the bad news is that 4 out of 5 of them have little dings.

Any suggestions on who/what/where to fix them?

 

You need to find a guys that specializes on Stainless repair and polishing. They will tediously knock them out with pick hammers and file the high spots before polishing.

I tried nocking a few dings out of my own Sombreros and I will not say it's easy by any means. You can give it a whirl on that spare in the mean time while you find a stainless guy....or girl to properly restore them.

Tom Branch has those caps on his '32 Roadster. I am sure he knows where to go to get them restored.

 

Referrals for shops like that would be great!

 

Hey,

Mercedes Benz entered the automobile business in this country through a very shady deal with Studebaker (Studebaker being a company in very serious money trouble at this point in time), Mercedes was promised an established dealer network throughout the country from which it could market its' vehicles in exchange for large sacks of cash.

Mercedes, unlike Studebaker, did survive to stand on its' own two legs, but unlike Daimler/Chrysler AG of our times where technology was shared between the two, South Bend & Stuttgart shared only addresses.

John, straightening stainless isn't an impossible task, but beware of guys who look like Guber, and tell you they can straighten your caps with a picking hammer and a tyre iron! Check with preminum plating companys in you neck of the woods for someone who can deliver on the promise.

Congrats on the compleation of your paint job on the Mercury!

" Beware the irrational however seductive ''