1954 imitation wire wheel hubcaps

[Deleted User]

Can anyone help me out by posting a picture here of the authentic factory centers for the imitation wire wheel hubcap ?



My '54 convertible had two of these on the front when I bought it, but I'm not so sure they're authentic. The center emblems are definately not ships and castles anyway.



I've looked at all kinds of pictures of '54's on the net, but none of them show the emblem on the wire caps all that well.



Also, does anyone know if the repro's that KGap sells are correct for '54, and are they correct for the REAL lip-laced hudson wire wheels, and for the imitation '54 caps as well ? ( I guess what I'm asking is does the same cap fit everything, or did the factory change it somewhere between '51 and '54? )



Thanks,



silverone

[Deleted User]

If you can't find the centers, here are a couple of alternatives, should you still desire wires...



The wire wheels that Hudson used were made by Kelsey-Hayes, and are identical to the wire wheels on Chryslers of the same period, only the center caps are different. If you were to go with a set of true wire wheels, they are going to run you around $1,500, ready to go.



As far as the wheel covers go, I couldn't tell you. I do know the 15" Chrysler wheel cover with the lockable cap (1979-1988) fit the 15" Hudson wheels very nicely. The center cap on these is not Pentastar-shaped, and look great. There are at least two Hornets in our local chapter that have these, and they look super! A lower-cost alternative to the original Hudson wire covers.

[Deleted User]

66patrick66 wrote:

If you can't find the centers, here are a couple of alternatives, should you still desire wires...



The wire wheels that Hudson used were made by Kelsey-Hayes, and are identical to the wire wheels on Chryslers of the same period, only the center caps are different. If you were to go with a set of true wire wheels, they are going to run you around $1,500, ready to go.



As far as the wheel covers go, I couldn't tell you. I do know the 15" Chrysler wheel cover with the lockable cap (1979-1988) fit the 15" Hudson wheels very nicely. The center cap on these is not Pentastar-shaped, and look great. There are at least two Hornets in our local chapter that have these, and they look super! A lower-cost alternative to the original Hudson wire covers.

Thanks Patrick, you have strengthened my suspicion of non-authenticity of the two I have somewhat, and I'll investigate furthur.



The problem is though, that I already have an original lip-laced set of Hudson wire wheels, minus the center caps, plus a couple of these imitation ones that came with one of my cars. ( I'll go out to the garage and take a picture of the center cap on these ), so I have to figure out if one cap fits all, and if not, then which cap is correct for each car.



Maybe someone has an original factory photo of these cars with wire wheels, and identifyable factory hubcaps ??



silverone

Unknown

The k-Gap centers will not fit the wire wheel covers. The originals caps have the same center as the full size 54 wheel cover. Original centers very hard to find. I found one on e-bay earlier this yearafter it was just listed. Used buy it now. Got it, repainted the center, put it on, drove a mile and there it went sailing down the road. luckily I found it. It is now held on with screws. You really only need the front two. Can't see the rears with th skirts on. In a pinch yoy can cut out the center of the 54 wheel cover and screw on. I had one like that and very few people even noticed. Otherwise, good luck finding some.

Unknown

66patrick66 wrote:

The wire wheels that Hudson used were made by Kelsey-Hayes, and are identical to the wire wheels on Chryslers of the same period, only the center caps are different. If you were to go with a set of true wire wheels, they are going to run you around $1,500, ready to go.

I don't know if the 5 1/2 in. wire wheels that Hudson used were made by Kelsey-Hayes, or not. But, the 5 in. wires were made by Motor Wheel (who also made Hudson's standard wheels). The sets of wires on my '53 and '54 Hornets are both from Motor Wheel.





The caps on the '53 are repros from K-Gap, the caps on the '54 are original. The only difference is the original caps have an indentation in them for the Red Triangle. The repro caps do not have the indentation.

The caps on the Wire Hubcaps have a design similar to the one used on the deluxe '54 Standard caps.

Bill

[Deleted User]

Bill Cox - TN wrote:

I don't know if the 5 1/2 in. wire wheels that Hudson used were made by Kelsey-Hayes, or not. But, the 5 in. wires were made by Motor Wheel (who also made Hudson's standard wheels). The sets of wires on my '53 and '54 Hornets are both from Motor Wheel.











The caps on the '53 are repros from K-Gap, the caps on the '54 are original. The only difference is the original caps have an indentation in them for the Red Triangle. The repro caps do not have the indentation.



The caps on the Wire Hubcaps have a design similar to the one used on the deluxe '54 Standard caps.



Bill

Are the wheels on both these cars real wire wheels Bill, or the imitation wire caps ?

[Deleted User]

I have pictures of NOS 54 caps that I will try to post. I have reduced the quality of the pictures so hope they will post correctly.

[Deleted User]

A pictures of 54 Converts with Wiresheels... I suspect aftermarket with KGAP centers and one with OEM wire caps.

Unknown

I Have A Set Like New That I Will Sell For 1100.00 Bill Albrights Vintage Coach

[Deleted User]

Ahaaah --- Ken ! Just as I suspected, the ones I have are certainly not stock Hudson. Maybe they're Dodge Lancer or something --- after my Dad soured on the Hudson brand in 1956 he bought a new Dodge Custom Royal Lancer. Seems to me the emblems on this car looked like the ones on the caps I have, ---- but I was just a kid then, so remembering back fifty years is a bit of a stretch for this turkey !!



I'll go get that photo and attatch it here. Somebody'll recognize it for sure.



I guess my only recourse now is to fit the KGap ones in the centers, as they do come off.



Many thanks for this Guys, I've been wondering about these caps for years! Shoulda asked this question a long time ago !



silverone

[Deleted User]

bill a wrote:

I Have A Set Like New That I Will Sell For 1100.00 Bill Albrights Vintage Coach

Right on Bill, I ordered one KGap center a few days ago to see if it'll fit the caps I already have, but if not, I do want the ones you have. If you could please hang on to them for a few days, as soon as KGap gets my order to me, I'll see what I can do and let you know right away what I discover.



I'll probably end up using the KGap ones on the real wire wheels I have for my '53 Convert, ( unless you've got a set of originals for this set too ). Sounds like the repros are not quite exact, ( no indented emblem ) so I'd prefer originals if they can be brought back to mint condition.



Thanks,



Ryan (silverone)

Unknown

silverone wrote:

Are the wheels on both these cars real wire wheels Bill, or the imitation wire caps ?

They're real wire wheels.

Bill

Unknown

These Are Mopar And Used On Desotos Also, Bill Albright

[Deleted User]

Ryan.... here is your chance to buy set of OEM wire wheels that you can add a KGAP cap.







http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ORIGINAL-CHRYSLER-CHROME-WIRE-WHEELS-HUBCAPS-NICE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ140747QQihZ011QQitemZ320187145270QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Deleted User]

Heart_Of_Texas wrote:

Ryan.... here is your chance to buy set of OEM wire wheels that you can add a KGAP cap.







http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ORIGINAL-CHRYSLER-CHROME-WIRE-WHEELS-HUBCAPS-NICE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ140747QQihZ011QQitemZ320187145270QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Well, they certainly look pretty close to the right ones Ken. At least they're lip-laced like the I'm told the originals were. The center caps, like you say, are no big deal, as KGap can fix that problem. ( by the way, what do the KGap centers look like -- are they just triangles, or a little more elaborate?)



I'll be watching these for a awhile to see if they go "off the chart" or not. I always prefer the real thing, rather than imitation, but did the '54's even offer a real wire wheel as an option, or just the fake ones?



Anyway, I much appreciate the tip !! Many thanks,



Ryan.

[Deleted User]

Wire wheels were an available option on the 54 Hudson. The wheels on eBay are the same type offered as options. The KGap caps are on the Red 54 Convertible picture I posted previously. The difference between the KGap and OEM is the OEM has a triangular indentation that is filled with red paint. The KGAP triangle is on the surface of the cap.