Customs Wheel Identification (mid-50s GM steel)

I ran into an issue working on a 57 Buick. I am planning to run the 52 Buick sombrero hubcaps, but found they only fit on one of my four wheels that I have, I hadn’t noticed the mid-matched set until I tried to fit the caps on.

I am therefore in need of three of the wheels like the BOTTOM one in the pic. I am not sure what they are from.

Does anyone know what they are from?

The top one I assume is 57 Buick and the raised hubcap mounts interfere. The bottom one (the one I need to ID) has recessed hubcap clips.

Thanks for any thoughts on what they might be from.




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Looks to be close to a '49 to '54 Chevy car rim. I believe it is missing the little tabs or clips that
secure the hubcap.

 

I work at natl. chevy, so, not chevy rims. look like buick though

 

55-60 wheels are the same according to Hollanders, and a little bit of googling makes me think the lower wheel is indeed one of those.

A little more googling makes me think the upper wheel is a 49-54 wheel.

 

Buick used a 6'' rim on the 70 series, 5'' or 5 1/2'' on 40 & 50 series ... you have a mixture of Special, Super, & Roadmaster wheels.

 

Thanks for the tips and leads. There might be something to the roadmaster vs special thoughts. I will investigate further and let you folks know!


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Hollanders does show two widths, and I didn't notice before that one was used over most of those years, while the other was only used in the later years. But that book does not mention which models used which wheels.

 

@Preikster

You should be able to use Buick wheels from ‘41 up through the mid ‘50s regardless of which series they came from. All these should have the slot and rivet hole, at minimum, most would have the clip as well.

Though some cars with full wheel covers did not have the clips installed. The clips are available from various Buick parts suppliers and can either be riveted or attached with a small screw/nut.

I have had some with only the slot, lacking the rivet hole. When drilling them, even using a simple template, I found that the rivet hole location is critical to the clip holding the hub cap snugly.

Ray

 

'50-'58 Olds & '50-'64 Pontiac clips snap directly into the slots. No need for fasteners.

 

Thanks again for everyone’s input. I should have provided a pic of the hubcaps themselves, they are full disc style with perimeter flange clips on the hubcap so they don’t use the clips on the wheels. It is the now unused raised clip mounts on the wheel centers that interfere with the deep dish of the hubcap.

I still don’t quite understand the variations on these wheels. After digging through all the wheels I could find, I have come to the conclusion that hubcaps fit on the wider (6”) wheels and I may just knock the rivets out of the narrow ones (5.5”) and move the hoops outward 1/4” to clear. They don’t need much, but they won’t seat as is. I just don’t have enough of the wider ones to save some effort.




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@Preikster ......Apparently I got ‘tunnel vision’ regarding the clips and totally forgot what you posted about the intended wheel cover.

Sorry my info didn’t help you, but maybe , maybe.....someone else will benefit......

Those ‘52 Buick caps are really nice.......

Ray