.... once in a while but I always seem to get the one with a worm in it... So a while back I bought this '60 Ford convertible to build a custom off of... I've been acquiring parts ever since for its transformation. First thing that had to go was the 10-hole 14" chrome wheels. Since replaced with a set of 15" Cragar SS that look great (Thanks Todd!) but those don't have the custom vibe I want. Those are more of a hod rod wheel IMO. The original plan was a set of Wheel Vintique series 64s, but after having the delivery date pushed ahead multiple times I canceled that order and went with these instead... https://www.pavementequipped.com/shop/p/full-chrome-five-slot-wheel A very popular wheel in the early '60s, particularly on customs but not seen these days. Excellent quality by the way. The fly in the ointment is the chrome towers for the knock-offs are NLA. Now, there is ways around this, PM me if interested. But I decided to add another period correct detail... These knock-off/hub covers on Moriarity's Ron Hing Chevy were seen on numbers of customs back then, could I track down a set? The knock-offs were easy, the hub covers easier said than done... So the search started. I posted a 'wanted' here and had some initial luck, found a set of 4 on eBay... Some serious rust on a few and zero mounting hardware, but something to work with. The problem is I need five covers. I bought five wheels and need one more for a spare holddown (a custom detail). This is when I found out just how many different variations of these things are out there.... My 'wanted' ad here turned up one set which I bought, but when they arrived they really weren't what I needed. These were die-cast, were pitted to the point that a re-plate would probably be expensive. The die cast also makes them much harder to modify. Also designed for an OEM wheel which as it turns out also makes a difference. So back to eBay... What is turning up there is Keystone sets. Now, what I've found out is these covers were designed to be used with those faux wire wheels that were popular in the late '70s/80s. I've seen three sets, no two alike. I suspect the first ones I bought are also Keystone, also different. A couple of the sellers want stupid money, far more than I'm willing to pay (complete sets including wheels). So when the Puyallup swap was on a few weeks ago, I hauled my old butt out of the cave and went... I spent a couple of hours going through the meet, didn't see a damn thing. So on my way out, I trudged down the last aisle to the exit. Fifty feet from there, I spy a set on display! Woo Hoo! Stop and look, these are NOS and except for the display set, still in the original unopened boxes (which are beat to hell...). He names his price, I point out all I want is the spoke kits and offer him half, he thinks it over and agrees with the condition I have to take the 14" wheels as he doesn't want to haul them home... LOL. I check each box to make sure the covers are there, done deal. This is what they look like... Happy ending, right? Not so... When I get home, I unbox all of it and discover one hub cover has been crushed beyond repair! I'd post a pic but I lost my temper and hucked it into the river behind my house... So I do have enough parts to do this, but I REALLY want at least one more of these covers... I like these much better. I like the rounded shape more, and especially the shorter top 'step'. The shorter 'top' allows the knock-offs to fit better, the others will require that I shorten that... You can see the difference here. Another upside is I know who made these and actually have a part number; American Racing, part 941125 or 941135 (14" or 15" wheels, both use the same hub). Long discontinued of course... I should note some dimensions; base diameter is about 6.375" OD (the AR ones very slightly larger), 3" tall and the step at the top is 2.125" in diameter. Why am I recounting this long tale of woe here? Simple; I'm hoping someone who was good enough to read through all this goes 'I might have one of those' and help me out... A lot of us are packrats, saving 'stuff' because 'you never know'... In any case, thanks for reading this! PS... I'll make somebody a hell of a deal on a set of 4 14x6 chrome wheels with Ford/Chevy pattern...
Steve, I would just use one of the oddballs for the spare, very high likelihood that no one will ever know!!
That's my default if I can't turn up at least one more of the rounded style, it's just that it will be much easier to accomplish with one. As well as look better IMO... This is more-or-less my 'Hail Mary' try! LOLOL....
Half the fun is the hunt when you have a vision and nothing else will do. I did the same thing, hunted for period correct knock-offs for my pickup. Black Panther came through for me with a set of four. (Thanks man!) I cleaned them up but they looked a little too shabby against my nice chrome wheels so I bit the bullet and had them replated. I now have just over $700 in them. I’d call it an obsession. Before plating….
Find someone (a HAMBer?) that does home aluminum sand casting and have them cast a copy for your spare. Polished out, it should pass. 20 years ago you could have had a High Schooler knock one out in metal shop.
The Jalopy Journal
