When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
In addition to the position of the clips on the' band' you should look at how the clips were connected to the 'band.
There are folks that advertise that they can 'spin' the clips to the position that they were on factory cars.
Some rings that have clips in the typical position also show 'crimping' on the permitter of the ring.
I believe you'll find that the clips were 'spot' welded to the band at least through the 72 model year.
On later rings the clips used a 'prong' to fix the clips into position.
In addition to the position of the clips on the' band' you should look at how the clips were connected to the 'band.
There are folks that advertise that they can 'spin' the clips to the position that they were on factory cars.
Some rings that have clips in the typical position also show 'crimping' on the permitter of the ring.
I believe you'll find that the clips were 'spot' welded to the band at least through the 72 model year.
On later rings the clips used a 'prong' to fix the clips into position.
It can become much ado about very little!!!
Regards,
Alan
Hey Alan,
First, so glad to see you interacting on CF.
The clips on my set are indeed spot welded so you may be right about the amount of effort. I do have a Plan B (another full set) which has correct clips in the correct positions on the trim rings and all I need to do is get them polished up and flash chromed to remove some surface scratches.
They are not neatly aligned with the valve stem. My car is a January 69 and I bought it in1972 so I highly doubt these are substitutions. Were there multiple suppliers at that time?
I'm looking to sell my pristine set but I would like to put an accurate price on what I have.
They are not neatly aligned with the valve stem. My car is a January 69 and I bought it in1972 so I highly doubt these are substitutions. Were there multiple suppliers at that time?
I'm looking to sell my pristine set but I would like to put an accurate price on what I have.
Hey ignatz,
From my NCRS 1968-1969 Corvette Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide book, 6th edition, P.96-97, "the trim rings have four black-plated clips equally spaced that hold the trim ring to the wheel. Originals have one of the clips at the valve-stem hole; later GM production has the clip mounted some distance from the hole".
Guessing yours and the first set I was talking about in my OP are both later GM production trim rings.
Hey Alan,
First, so glad to see you interacting on CF.
The clips on my set are indeed spot welded so you may be right about the amount of effort. I do have a Plan B (another full set) which has correct clips in the correct positions on the trim rings and all I need to do is get them polished up and flash chromed to remove some surface scratches.
Kind Regards,
Kevin
I don't think they are flash chromed -- just highly polished stainless steel...
I believe this is the configuration of the 4 wheel trim rings that were placed in the storage compartment of cars in St.Louis.... 68-72 era.
3 prong clips (1 of the 4 clips was aligned with the valve stem hole).
Clips are spot welded to a band.
Band is black and flat (no inner 'lip' on band.)
Band is crimped in place using a smooth crimp. ( some rings that have had the clips/band 'spun' have a rippled crimp).
Regards.......
On a 'side' note...I believe the ring itself is stainless steel but additionally the ring was 'flash' chromed.
Polished stainless steel has a 'yellowsish' hue while chrome plating has a 'bluish' hue.
I believe this is the configuration of the 4 wheel trim rings that were placed in the storage compartment of cars in St.Louis.... 68-72 era.
3 prong clips (1 of the 4 clips was aligned with the valve stem hole).
Clips are spot welded to a band.
Band is black and flat (no inner 'lip' on band.)
Band is crimped in place using a smooth crimp. ( some rings that have had the clips/band 'spun' have a rippled crimp).
I would say with certainty this was the case 1968 through 1970 (and probably through 1972). You would certainly know for 1971 Alan. Your description is excellent and the photos you posted clearly show the difference between the spot welded clip and the slotted clip.
Original configuration trim rings are nearly impossible to find in good condition. I searched for about seven years in order to put two complete sets together.
Good information here!
On a 'side' note...I believe the ring itself is stainless steel but additionally the ring was 'flash' chromed.
Polished stainless steel has a 'yellowsish' hue while chrome plating has a 'bluish' hue.
While I can’t be absolutely certain, I believe this to be true as well Alan. You can always tell when these trim rings have been overpolished as they get a brown or bronze hue to them as opposed to the original bluish hue.
Again, great stuff Alan!
Regards,
Stan Falenski
Last edited by Rowdy Rat; Sep 6, 2025 at 10:12 AM.
I believe this is the configuration of the 4 wheel trim rings that were placed in the storage compartment of cars in St.Louis.... 68-72 era.
3 prong clips (1 of the 4 clips was aligned with the valve stem hole).
Clips are spot welded to a band.
Band is black and flat (no inner 'lip' on band.)
Band is crimped in place using a smooth crimp. ( some rings that have had the clips/band 'spun' have a rippled crimp).
Regards.......
On a 'side' note...I believe the ring itself is stainless steel but additionally the ring was 'flash' chromed.
Polished stainless steel has a 'yellowsish' hue while chrome plating has a 'bluish' hue.
Do I have any cause to be skeptical that the Holy Bible of the NCRS crowd is always correct? I have owned my 1969 car since 1972. The previous owner had it parked on the streets of San Francisco so maybe somebody stole the originals and put these clankers on? Seems unlikely!
Do I have any cause to be skeptical that the Holy Bible of the NCRS crowd is always correct?
You can certainly look on this as you wish.
Several of us have offered our thoughts based upon what we have seen over the years. I feel pretty comfortable with the 1968 - 1970 cars having the trim rings (with the spot welded clips) pictured originally by Alan. If I had to guess, I would also bet that the photo that he posted was of the trim rings to the 1971 that he bought new… So I have to be good with 1971 as well. That still leaves 1972, so there is that.
I have owned my 1969 car since 1972. The previous owner had it parked on the streets of San Francisco so maybe somebody stole the originals and put these clankers on? Seems unlikely![/QUOTE]
Hard to say and hard to argue about a car you’ve owned since 1972. Still, that’s three years that you didn’t own the car… A lot can happen in three years.
Several of us have offered our thoughts based upon what we have seen over the years. I feel pretty comfortable with the 1968 - 1970 cars having the trim rings (with the spot welded clips) pictured originally by Alan. If I had to guess, I would also bet that the photo that he posted was of the trim rings to the 1971 that he bought new… So I have to be good with 1971 as well. That still leaves 1972, so there is that.
I have owned my 1969 car since 1972. The previous owner had it parked on the streets of San Francisco so maybe somebody stole the originals and put these clankers on? Seems unlikely!
Hard to say and hard to argue about a car you’ve owned since 1972. Still, that’s three years that you didn’t own the car… A lot can happen in three years.
Regards,
Stan Falenski[/QUOTE]
Thanks Stan, I just don't know how to explain what I have. I'll see what the market has been for this variety to put a price on them. They are nearly perfect. I really remember always having these, even banging them on with a rubber mallet.
My car is a late 69, Oct or Nov production, owned since late summer of 70 when a friend who bought it new decided to join the Navy. The trim ring construction is identical to the one pictured by Alan71 and one clip is aligned with the valve stem hole. The steel ring that the clips are welded to is much thicker than what would be necessary to simply carry the clips. My guess would be that the ring is thick to provide a surface for prying the trim ring off the wheel without distorting the much thinner SS from the inside out. The trim ring with the clips welded directly to the SS would appear to be much more fragile in removal or installation.
I believe you'll find that there was ALWAYS a 'band' that the clips were attached to, whether 'flat' or with the tiny 'lip'.
Regards.....
Hi Alan,
I was comparing your pic to the pic posted by ignatz where it appears the clip has a couple tabs captured directly under the hemmed area at the OD of the trim ring in addition to a couple tack welds. If there's a full circular ring carrying those clips, I'm not seeing it. Ignatz's car is an early 69 and there were multiple changes from early to late 69. Obviously, 69 would have been the first year for a trim ring to fit an 8" wheel, but one would think, given the millions of trim rings produced to fit the earlier narrower rally wheels across multiple car lines, that the method of attachment of the clips would have been standardized well before 69.
The upper arrow points to the raised 'lip' (about 1/16" to 1/8" high), on the band.
The lower arrow points to the crimped over trim ring that covers the edge of the band.
The band is what you see between the 2 arrows.
This band configuration is typical of rings that have clips attached to the band with tabs, not spot welds.
I believe the only other Corvette that had rally wheels with hub caps and trim rings were the caps and rings on the 67 model year.
That was a 6" wide wheel, the ring had somewhat different profile but did use the fastening system as on 68+ cars.... 4 clips spot welded to a flat band with 1 clip at the valve stem hole.
Also, the trim ring didn't change when the rally wheels went from 7" to 8" on the Corvette.
On 8" wheels the inner side of the ring is further away from the wheel's hub by 1" than on 7" wheels.
Decision made on my end. I have decided to flash chrome the OEM stainless steel trim rings that I have. I have a couple of OEM sets and I was able to mix and match to get four originals in the best condition for refinishing, clips all okay, no broken clips, minor surface defects, minimal curb rash, etc. OEM clips are in the 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 o'clock positions with 12:00 being the opening for the valve stem. Everything lines up with information and details provided in this thread by Alan71 and others and in my NCRS book. I feel good about the decision.
ignatz - I bought a brand new set of NOS trim rings, made in South Carolina, new in original boxes, and I paid $800 for that set in 2023 FWIW. They are pristine but the clips are in the wrong location for my intention to have this car NCRS flight judged. That is the NOS set that I was referencing in my OP. It is the set I will run on the car when I'm not having the car judged.
I'll be interested in hearing where you find a shop that will 'flash' chrome stainless steel.
I've not found anyone who is willing to do it.
I may just be asking the wrong platers?!?
69 Trim Ring - Sourcing Help
