When Were Center Caps Built?

Are they hubcaps, center caps or wheel covers? What is the distinction between them? Where did they come from anyway? These questions do not normally come to mind but they are interesting.

Car lovers have always had a long love of hubcaps for years. Some believe that the art deco style of the Chrysler Building pays homage to the hubcap.

So, how did they come around to begin with? At first, they were required. In the beginning, automobiles used wooden spokes. These spokes linked the outside rim to hub where the wheel bearing is at. The wheel bearing is packed with grease. A cover was necessary to keep the grease in and the dirt out.

What was needed was a hub cap. So this hub cap came into being for functional causes, but it was small center cap created to cover the hub and leave the spokes bare. The spokes made out of wood were not created for this world. They were glossed and occasionally adorned with pin-striping but they aged and cracked and did not look to good. Automobiles with aging spokes could be heard from a distance.

The late twenties and thirties, saw a design change to steel wire-spokes. These needed the center cap as well. As with the previous design, the spokes were still left bare. The thirties, need took second play to style. Hubcaps got bigger and were stamped by the auto maker with their name in stainless steel or brass and were meant to be decorative, however, the spokes were still left bare. They were difficult to clean and were irritating because of the wind noise they made on the road.

In 1934, Cadillac developed the first disc that covered the entire wheel. It provided a streamlined look.

1938 ushered in the use of pressed steel wheels by Cadillac. These hubcaps were full sized. Cadillac made them a sign of comfort and elegance. Soon, Cadillac owners realized their hubcaps were in high demand when they were stolen by hot rodders. These hot rodders used them on the customized cars from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.

Auto manufacturers starting using plastic hubcaps on their cars during the 1970’s. By the 1980’s, steel hubcaps were pretty much gone and plastic covers took over. Most think of plastic as being inexpensive and fragile; but, the plastic that is used is rough, long lasting and light in weight. A light weight hubcap is likely to fly off the wheel of your car. You also should know that there are plastic wheel covers that are made by auto manufacturers that are not that great. They fly off way to easy. Being strong, rough and light is not nearly enough. The cover also needs a good rock hard retention structure. A 360 all steel retention ring is the best. It can easily grip the wheel and keep the hubcap on your car.

You are now an official expert on hub cap history. Amaze all of your friends with the information that you have gained on the elusive hubcap.

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