40 Lasalle hubcaps

[Tom Boehm]

Hello, Mitch Hodge has a post in the wtb section looking for hubcap medallions. That got me thinking and now I have a question about hubcaps. I have the standard hubcaps on my 1940 Lasalle. The optional upgrade was the full wheel cover. Both have the same medallion in the center. My question is what were each of these hubcap/wheelcover options made of? My hubcaps are made of steel with a chrome plated brass skin on them. The medallion is stamped into the skin and cannot be removed. Were some originals made of chrome plated steel with a removable medallion? The reproductions which are no longer available were made this way. Were the  wheelcovers made two ways? Tom

[Alan Harris CLC#1513]

I believe that the small caps had the emblem molded in and did not use a medallion. The full wheel covers used a medallion.

[Steve Passmore]

I have 2 La Salle full wheel covers made of plated steel, no brass skin with the medallion stamped in the centre. Also had two of plated steel but with removable medallions. Not sure what year cars these came from though.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

42 version of the parts book shows that the hub cap is the same for LaSalle and Cadillac from 37 to 40 and notes it is less medallion.  Emblems are available for all of these years for LaSalle and Cadillac.  Cadillac is 37-38 the same and 39-40 the same.  LaSalle is 37-38, then 39 and a final version for 40.  It is noted in the parts book that these emblems are also for the wheel disc (Cadillac name for full wheel cover) The LaSalle version stamped in the cap was apparently not available as a part in 1942 since there is no separate cap listing for LaSalle.  I have seen both brass skinned and chromed steel caps that need emblems that I am sure were not reproductions.  These are the ones to find since they are much easier to restored than the brass skinned ones.

[Tom Boehm]

Thanks Brad for looking that up. So is it true that all the steel versions have a separate medallion?

[Steve Passmore]

What do I have here then guys. Full steel caps with La Salle stamped in them??

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

Steve,

I am sure Cadillac made them.  To keep the parts inventory down they used the no emblem caps for spare parts.  That way they had a common cap that fit all years 37 to 40 and just needed to inventory the medallions for the different years.  I just checked my 38 one year only parts list and they only show one cap and note that a medallion is required.  They might be listed in the one year only parts list for other years but I only have for 38.  Another case of many that the master parts list is not the last word in authenticity.

[jbuchold]

The logo is different on the '39-'40 hubcaps...I believe what you have there is a '37 hubcap..