So, I bought a bunch of hubcaps a while back and had just this one in with the lot. I immedietly thought it was ridiculous. Tossed it off to the side and never looked at it again. Fast forward 2.5 years. Im cleaning up the yard and came accross it again and just for grins, I slapped it on my wagon. Well, I was extremely surprised at how "real" it looked on the car! So it got me thinking; did any one ever use these? Who made them? Are there any more out there? Just wondering.......
contrary to your immediate impression after it was on the car - they......do......not......look.....cool.
No idea who actually made them, but I remember that J.C Whitney used to sell them back in the '60's and 70's (and maybe still do, even!!!) If somebody's got a J.C Whitney catalog from that era that they can scan, the catalog had a picture of them. Mart3406 ===================
I think I had a similar set in the late 60s. JC Whitney or Western Auto. Then again it's all a blurrrrr.
Many stores, such as Western Auto, etc. sold many variations of these in the Sixties. Some were actually passable, most were not. It was largely a matter of economics-a whole lot less expendable income back then. These were a cheap substitute for mag wheels.
---------------- You're a lucky, lucky man. Mart3406 ----------------------- P.S. Now I think we know what the "thing" was in that box!!! <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h2H6qC23RPY" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe> ===================
I would guess they're National brand and I've also seen em labeled as "Namsco". I got kinda obsessed with cheesy hubcaps while I owned a '61 comet with 4 bolt 13" rims which really limits your wheel options. When I finally sold the car it included 6 sets of wacky hubcaps. These look like they have the same spinner that the National set I had put on my comet.
Thanks for all the info! Just curious about them. By all means, I do NOT think they look "cool", just surprised me at how they almost looked like the real wheel.
EEEK! They do look kinda real however, real geeky!! Sorry I have a hang up about any type of "mag" wheel on anything but a race car, just my traditional thing, steel wheels rule!
I have a set of four of them that were on my 63 f85 convert. They didnt look half bad. Still hangin in my garage.
as said before jc whitney, western auto.even sears sold some. hated them then. now id like to have a set justv to hang onthe wall.
Shouldn't be real suprising that the aftermarket sold mag hubcaps, since lots of cars came with them OEM (wire hubcaps too) in the 60s.
I remember a mid 60's Chevelle with similar covers back when it was near new. Did the factory or dealers offer them? seems like they had the "bowtie" on the center cap. Blue
probably be a good choice for a trailer you were towing with your mag-equipped car or truck....thematic, so to speak
================ You probably mean these. They first appeared as standard equipment on the limited production (201 built) Z16 SS-396 1965 Chevelle and then became an optional wheelcover on regular production SS-396 Chevelles from '66 through 69. Mart3406 ==================
True. I remember the '66 Chevelle "Mag" wheel covers with five spokes...The wire cover with the three bar knockoff was far cooler I thought. Didn't much matter, we all removed them when we installed real mags or chromies... I've seen more poverty (dog dish) hub caps on these new restorations than I ever saw when they were new!!
Best thing I ever saw in that vein was I ran across a pair of fake chrome reverse wheel hubcaps. Lugnuts, cast center piece with the wheel bearing cap, the works, super shallow of course. I forget what yard I was in, if I have them stashed somewhere or not.