Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: MAX GRETENCORD on January 02, 2018, 02:27:31 PM

Title: 1953 Vincennes red rims and tire size
Post by: MAX GRETENCORD on January 02, 2018, 02:27:31 PM
According to the official authenticity manual for my Phoenix beige 1953 62 series sedan, the rim "optional" color is Vincennes red.  Will any bright red paint do or do I need to have a B-94-3618R mixed up?  I always enter the car in the touring class for judging.  I have the wire wheel covers and a lot of red is going to show through.   Also the manual states that tire replacement "could" be a 8.20 with a 3 1/4 white (820R15) which was an optional size but Cocker recommends their American Classic 800R15 instead of the 820R15.  I want to replace my newer P235R15 1 inch white walls with period radial whites and want to paint the rims at that time .   Any suggestions on both items?
Title: Re: 1953 Vincennes red rims and tire size
Post by: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on January 02, 2018, 04:40:01 PM
I forget the decade, but a 1950-60 Ford (sorry about that) engine paint is pretty close. It's kind of an orangey red.
Title: Re: 1953 Vincennes red rims and tire size
Post by: Alan Harris CLC#1513 on January 02, 2018, 09:51:20 PM
I have also heard that Mercedes Benz Signal Red is very close.
Title: Re: 1953 Vincennes red rims and tire size
Post by: MAX GRETENCORD on January 05, 2018, 11:04:17 AM
As this is a two part question, does anyone have an opinion on the Coker tires and the size.  Presently I have P235 Goodyear 1 inch white walls which would compare to the the 820R15 but they recommend the 800R15.  Both have a 3.25 inch wide white wall.
Title: Re: 1953 Vincennes red rims and tire size
Post by: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on January 05, 2018, 11:27:03 AM
Max, I think from my owning cars of that era, that I was able to get tires (8:00 x 15) that were second from the bottom in price sheets in the showroom at Firestone et al . (That was important back then...) Check the tire sizes on Wikepedia or where ever it might lead you. Try punching in 1953 Cadillac tire size on Google and see what you get. As I recall, the 8:20 x 15 was used on the Series 75. Either one is acceptable as I recall, as there were some customers that simply liked a bigger tire.  (When I was driving a 1941 6127 coupe as an everyday driver, I put a set of General seconds on the car for a trip to my wife's folks in TN. They may have been 9:00 x 15.)
Title: Re: 1953 Vincennes red rims and tire size
Post by: Dan LeBlanc on January 05, 2018, 01:21:11 PM
It's been awhile since I perused the data book, but I believe the 8.00-15 was used on cars not ordered with white walls.  When white walls were ordered, 8.20-15 were supplied.