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Interested to learn if 63' hubcaps (early and late) were the same physical cap except for the frosted paint?
Thank you.
The JG states this - Early 1963 wheel covers, up to approx. VIN 2500 have a frosted raised center portion.
Later 1963 wheel covers after approx. VIN 2500 have a polished raised center portion and a thinner radius at the point where the wheel cover meets the steel wheel, than the earlier wheel covers.
The JG states this - Early 1963 wheel covers, up to approx. VIN 2500 have a frosted raised center portion.
Later 1963 wheel covers after approx. VIN 2500 have a polished raised center portion and a thinner radius at the point where the wheel cover meets the steel wheel, than the earlier wheel covers.
Hope that helps.
Thank you for this insight, where could I find photo's for comparison?
Regards,
John
They both had 17 individual pieces - deemed too expensive to make and discontinued in '64. Top caps are frosted; bottom are polished. The frosted have always looked a little weird to me...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Dec 1, 2014 at 08:04 AM.
Thank you for the photo's. I have a late 63 and I am looking for the polished caps.
What are a good set early or late selling for?
I don't see many frosted coming up for sale, but there's lots of polished for sale on ebay all the time. You could get a set for $200 if you want. As Frankie mentioned, they're 17 piece units so you can take them apart and put the best pieces together from a few sets. The bars and spinners are prone to pitting and the outside edges get the heck beat out of them. Make sure to get close up pix.
The JG states this - Early 1963 wheel covers, up to approx. VIN 2500 have a frosted raised center portion.
Later 1963 wheel covers after approx. VIN 2500 have a polished raised center portion and a thinner radius at the point where the wheel cover meets the steel wheel, than the earlier wheel covers.
Hope that helps.
My 63 was built in December 62, vin 52xx. My caps are frosted.
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When I had my 63 coupe with original polished caps, the bars on each were fair. Spinners are reproduced, but not the bars.
I got a price to re-chrome all 24 bars. 4 years ago it was $25 per bar.... $600. I opted out. Who knows what it is today? Maybe $35-$40 ea ???
Keep that in mind when you find a used set.
Rich
p.s. A while ago I got a price to re-chrome the lower license bar on my '59 bumperette assembly. $75 !!! Repros(China) are $40.
I've gone through 5 of them on my '59 in the last 25 years, and the 2 latest POS Asian repros only lasted one year each before rusting out due to occasional car washes and 'caught in the rain' rides. The edges are sparse chrome and that's where the rust begins.
So I cut a deal with the chrome shop and they did 3 originals I bought NOS years ago, but used on my car over the years. $50 each. Nice solid chrome on the edges and the inside areas. I painted the inside area Rustoleum silver to protect them even more.
I saved the boxes over time out of being a hoarder of sorts.
I don't see many frosted coming up for sale, but there's lots of polished for sale on ebay all the time. You could get a set for $200 if you want. As Frankie mentioned, they're 17 piece units so you can take them apart and put the best pieces together from a few sets. The bars and spinners are prone to pitting and the outside edges get the heck beat out of them. Make sure to get close up pix.
I picked up a pair with nice main "platters" but dodgy "bars" and I'm putting two caps together from what I already have that will be nicer than any individual cap already on the car. There were like 20,000+ '63 cars made (coupe & convertible) and they all had these hubcaps (no knock-offs regardless of what you've heard) so there are scads of the hubcaps around. Finding some that don't have the snot beat out of them or are pitted terribly is the trick. I have had some luck beating dents out of the rim but its tricky. I've considered some bolt-on, knock-off repro wheels ($2,200) just to avoid all this nonsense but I actually like the look of the hubcaps.
The spinners too for that matter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200582068311?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
and apparently there is "frost" paint to convert polished hubcaps to frosted - I bet that's an interesting endeavor! http://corvettespecialty.com/corvett...-paint-1963-64
The do reproduce the trim bars. Here's a link to one vendor. I'm sure others have them too.
Ahhh, I see Brian has them made now. I met him at Carlisle last year along with a friend of his at our hotel. They weren't available when I had mine. Good info thanks.
Yup the spinners have been available for some time. I opted for some nice used originals to replace a few bad ones on it. It'd have looked weird with shiney spinners and dull bars.
This was the day it went away and it's arrival in Austria, now owned by fellow CF member Hotchrome. Oh.....I miss that car.
I've considered some bolt-on, knock-off repro wheels ($2,200) just to avoid all this nonsense but I actually like the look of the hubcaps.
I found a set of knockoffs in the Parts for Sale section. Since a buddy of mine (Donbayer) has the most immaculate set of hubcaps ever on his 63, mine always look like poo when we're together, in spite of all my attempts to polish and move parts, I went ahead and purchased the knockoffs.
I kept the other set just to rotate them for a different look every once in a while.
I feel ya Zoom.
I went to the Howie in the Hills local NCRS meet and 3 judged split windows were there. All three had better looking hubcaps than I have.
Is that light blue called Silver Blue? Very Nice! I can see why you miss her.
Zoomin,
I like the way you think. I too had 2 sets of wheels/tires (1 steelies and 1 early torque thrust). Sold the vintage torque thrusts years ago to a fellow forum member and just recently found a vintage set of AR "D"s. I do like that knock off look. Sweet!
They both had 17 individual pieces - deemed too expensive to make and discontinued in '64. Top caps are frosted; bottom are polished. The frosted have always looked a little weird to me...
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'63 Hubcap Variances
I opted out. Who knows what it is today? Maybe $35-$40 ea ???
