Beauty rings and rear wheel skirts??

jjbubaboy
jjbubaboy Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hey,

In some of the pics posted lately I see some nice wheel trim rings that look stepped and not just smooth. I have the stock artillery wheels as well. Also noticed pics of rear fender skirts on a couple of 36's. My 36T would love those looks as well.

Are these being made or is it hopeful to find some? Will the surrendering of an arm and or leg be necessary?

Thanks!

Jeff

Comments

  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    I bought a nice reproduction set of Skirts for my '37 from Joe Gleydura in Hubbard Oh a few yrs ago @ 330 534 4901 and not badly priced. Not sure if same as '36 though... Joe was taking Skirt Orders at the time and may still be able to assist.....
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    '37 and '36 skirts are different --- '36 has full wheel cutout. K-Gap offered these (I think '34-'36) skirts not too may years ago. Maybe some still around. On the wheel rings, Fords used ones that had a series of fine grooves for an inch or so across the rings. They may be what you've seen.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Bentmetal here on the forum also makes these ('36 & '37 and other years). He might even have some in stock. Nice pieces.
  • jjbubaboy
    jjbubaboy Senior Contributor
    Thanks guys! Great start.

    Jeff
  • hudsonsplasher1
    hudsonsplasher1 Senior Contributor
    Joe Gleydura made the ones on my 39. Great job. And Press Kale made the ones on my 37 when he still had K-Gap. Another great job. Don't know if the new K-Gap still offers them or not.
  • PAULARGETYPE
    PAULARGETYPE Senior Contributor
    yes Bentmetal does make real nice skirts he made the ones on my 34 Hudson sedan THEY FIT LIKE A GLOVE !!!!!!!I AM ONE HAPPY CAMPER WITH HIS WORK AND THE PRICE IT DIDN'T TAKE FOREVER I WOULD BUY THEM AGAIN IF THERE WAS A NEED
  • Here is one ring on my '37 TP. These are stainless, and look like they could be originals, or maybe dealer-installed rings. They are quite nice. Not for sale, though!



    I am considering skirts for mine, as well. They look good on both the '36 and '37 cars, regardless of body style or model.



    2394536440073075023S600x600Q85.jpg
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Paul and Russell, thanks for the nice words.:) Yes, I make the skirts. As far as I know there are two different styles of skirts. What I call "after market" and what I call "original". The after market ones have a more simple bar that you turn to secure the skirt. The original style (like Paul bought) have a much more elaborate latching mechanism and several U-shaped pieces positioned around the perimeter to keep it tight. Also, the after market are a rolled but flat shape. The originals are convex with a lot of shape and a flat in the center where the emblem goes. Hopefully you can see the difference in the photos.

    I would of put captions in but I couldn't figure out how to do it.:confused:
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    These are just some that I did in the past. The louvers are an idea I got to make the skirts look...not so plain? They are a half inch by four inch louver and I can set them at an angle, close together or spaced apart a bit, or at a ninty degee from the bottom. Whatever you want. Or none at all. If you look at the pictures you'll notice different variations.



    I have a set of 1936 skirts in stock, smooth, no louvers.
  • What do you get on the '37 skirts??? Either style, with or w/o louvers.
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Beautiful Work, almost too pretty to paint !
  • essexcoupe3131
    essexcoupe3131 Senior Contributor
    thats some fine work anyone would be proud of

    keep it up

    Mike
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    66Pat, the ones on your T are the Ford-style rings I noted above. Hudson and most others used a smooth ring that did have a couple of gentle "steps". The latter are available from several aftermarket sources.
  • terraplane8
    terraplane8 Senior Contributor
    Where would one find the emblems for the '36? Maybe someone like K-Gap is doing replica emblems? Those work of art skirts by bentmetal are very tempting indeed.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    66patrick66 wrote:
    What do you get on the '37 skirts??? Either style, with or w/o louvers.



    The after market skirts are $300 a set. $350 if you want louvers.

    I have a set (pictured below) with straight louvers already punched. Also, K-Gap has atleast one set of every year (pre-stepdown) in stock, all of them smooth without louvers. If you can't get ahold of them, PM me and I'll make it happen.



    The original style, I only have '34-'35. Only because that's the only sample I have. If I had a sample skirt (either side) I could make new ones of whatever year you want. By the way, I have one of those '34-'35 sets in stock. They are a lot more work to make so they cost more. They are $1,000 for a set.
  • jjbubaboy
    jjbubaboy Senior Contributor
    Hey Park,

    Yes the ones with the gentle 'steps' are what I had in mind!



    And BentMetal,

    WOW! Those are sweeet! I do like the 'original' style as far as looks and mounting arrangement for my 36. Sure wouldnt want one to fall off or rattle!



    Curious as well as to obtaining the emblems that go on them. Any ideas?

    Going to $ee what I can do to get an advance on my 'allowance'! IF I am not already advanced out-:p

    Great work!

    Jeff
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    The '34 and '35 emblems have been cast again in bronze. You see them for sale once and a while. About as often as you see the skirts. :rolleyes: So not very often. But, Jason at Vintage Coach might still have them. ... The original ones were stamped steel made in two pieces with screws inserted. I don't know what emblems would have gone on other years or if some years overlap. The only emblems I've ever seen on '36 and other years have been 'radio delete' plates that people have attatched to their skirts.



    If anyone wants me to make an original style skirt for any year other than '34-5 I would need a sample. One skirt from either side.
  • jjbubaboy
    jjbubaboy Senior Contributor
    Hey BentMetal,

    Since I dont have a copy skirt for my 36 guess that wont work.

    Do you do the aftermarket style for 36?



    I did see the skirt emblems listed in KGap catalog also.

    Thanks!

    Jeff
  • I've got to see what the tax man is going to take from me first! I want a set of those for the '37. It'll definitely stand out!
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    I had original skirts on my '36 Hudson, with original emblems. The emblems were cast metal, and appeared to be the same as the trunk emblem on the sedans. Same for the '36 Terraplanes, I think ... different from the Hudsons, but skirt emblem same as trunk emblem.



    Bent metal, aren't the '36 skirts same as '34-5? They look like it.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    As with a lot of parts on a 1936, the '36 is '36 only. It's a little smaller than the '34-5's.
  • Roger Harmon
    Roger Harmon Expert Adviser
    Bent,



    Not to change the subject,..but while I was flogging the Wasp to Lowes this morning watching my (outside) visor flutter, I thought: I wonder if Bent Metal has made replacement visors that are a little stiffer, or maybe with a bigger vent at the rear to reduce drag?



    So I'm asking,..have you? I'd like one, especially if there's a 'reduced drag' version.



    R/ Roger.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Roger Harmon wrote:
    Bent,

    Not to change the subject,..but while I was flogging the Wasp to Lowes this morning watching my (outside) visor flutter, I thought: I wonder if Bent Metal has made replacement visors that are a little stiffer, or maybe with a bigger vent at the rear to reduce drag?

    So I'm asking,..have you? I'd like one, especially if there's a 'reduced drag' version.

    R/ Roger.

    That's a good question and I'm eager to hear bentmetal's response. One option I've thought of recently is to eliminate the curl at the back of the visor. This would necessitate an internal brace underneath the visor in order to provide more stiffness. Brace(s) could be utilized in a front to back fashion, perhaps two on each half. Along with the elimination of the curl, somewhere between 1/4" and 1/2" could be lost at the back edge of the visor, as well. This would help eliminate the turbulence found between the windshield and the underside of the visor.

    Some visor's flutter more than others. I've had mine in excess of 120. At 75-85, the flutter is at it's worst. Amazingly, 95 and above, the flutter dramatically decreases. I've had others tell me not to run with a visor above 90, or run the risk of losing it entirely. So far, so good . . .
  • Visors on the Hudson Stepdown were available is two different metals ( steel and aluminum) and two different mounting brackets (short for the cars without the additional stainless around the windshield and long for those with the added stainless). Over the years I have found the physical placement of the visor on the car has a lot to do with the amount of flutter experienced. While Hudson did not provide specific mounting measurements, the placement of the visor to match the roofline of the car has a lot to do with reduction of flutter. Also the use of an aluminum visor without reinforcement at the front lip assures flutter at interstate speeds and the high potential of failure of the metal.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Roger Harmon wrote:
    Bent,



    Not to change the subject,..but while I was flogging the Wasp to Lowes this morning watching my (outside) visor flutter, I thought: I wonder if Bent Metal has made replacement visors that are a little stiffer, or maybe with a bigger vent at the rear to reduce drag?



    So I'm asking,..have you? I'd like one, especially if there's a 'reduced drag' version.



    R/ Roger.



    Yes, I have made a half dozen sets or so over the years. Bill Albright among others have had me make some. I don't like the aluminum ones either, the ones I made were steel and in 18 gauge. I'm pretty sure the originals were 20 gauge. Also, I agree in regards to the brackets. The '48-9's I think were the short brackets. '50 and on up had the longer brackets so they wouldn't hit the stainless trim and they let more air out and over the roof. I wouldn't recammend the short brackets at all, on any car. Any time I've seen a visor that has blown off it had the short brackets on it. In my opinion, the biggest problem is the short brackets. But the visors do flutter, every little bit helps, so I like to go with the longer brackets AND the steel visor.



    Hmmm, funny you should mention the visors at this time. I'll see if I can post some pictures.:)
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    A visor I did in the past.





    Some brackets I've been messing around with.

    How do you write in between photos again? Can't seem to figure it out.
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    Part of this post is asking about "ribbed" beauty rings. I did a bit of surfing on the web and found http://hotrodhubcaps.com that also has beauty rings. The 16" Ribbed style beauty ring is number A6224-6 and is polished stainless and sell for $25.00 each. I do think this is the style that we are looking for? Look them over and tell me if this is what we should have.
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    Brownie - I would think that the smooth style beauty ring is more like what Hudson offered as an option, at least in the early forties on thru end of production in Detroit. The 1936 models are a bit foggy in my mind, maybe they did use the ribbed style in the mid thirties -altho most customers did not go for the gingerbread items in the early to mid thirties.



    Jerry

    53jetman
  • Roger Harmon
    Roger Harmon Expert Adviser
    The visors are beautiful.



    I guess it would be difficult to reshape the trailing edge to reduce drag; how about some louvers along the back edge?



    R/ Roger.
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Thanks for the compliments! I appreciate it, very much.:D



    As for the louvers, I thought about that before. But I thought it might only appeal to a hot rod Hudson guy. I never thought about just having maybe one row, as you suggested, on the back edge. That might be subtle enough that you would hardly even notice. That's a good idea. Maybe I'll make a set like that next time I make some visors? :)
This discussion has been closed.