Can anybody explain to me what these are and who would have used them? Also, what would these go for? Thanks DOOCE
Those are porta-walls - Whitewalls were considered elegant so if you had a car with blackwalls and wanted the whitewall look, you'd mount those between the bead of the rim and the tire - there may have been some sort of adhesive used as well - someone else would have to weigh in on this.
They are the kind of whitewall you see seperating and flying off some dudes car at 65 mph. Portawalls indeed.
I don't think those are porta walls. Isn't that a hole for the valve stem to go through? I think late 40's Chryslers had something like that made of metal painted white like a beauty ring with a chrome cap in the center. Brian
I see they have a hole in them, Are they Tin or Rubber ??? If they are Tin, They are not Port~O~Walls. They could be a Decrative Trim ring that snaps under the HubCap to give the appearance of a Smooth White Wheel. Seen Alot on Early MoPar's ... But i cant tell 100% from the pic.
They appeared first in the 40s after the war as an accessory, before whitewall tires were available. Sometimes referred to as spats. The chevy in my avatar has them... I wouldn't take them out on the freeway.
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