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1955 Wheel/Rim Color

Started by Bob Kielar, March 25, 2018, 03:56:46 PM

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Bob Kielar

 Hello All,
                  I bought some wheels/rims for my 55 Cadillac are they suppose to be painted gloss or satin black for judging purposes?
Thanks,
           Bob Kielar
Keep Cruzin
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood

D.Yaros

I am sure an "expert" will jump in, but I thought black was NOT a 1955 wheel color?  The authentication manual should tell what wheel color was used with what color body.
Dave Yaros
CLC #25195
55 Coupe de Ville
92 Allante
62 Olds  

You will find me on the web @:
http://GDYNets.atwebpages.com  -Dave's Den
http://graylady.atwebpages.com -'55 CDV site
http://www.freewebs.com/jeandaveyaros  -Saved 62 (Oldsmobile) Web Site
The home of Car Collector Chronicles.  A  monthly GDYNets newsletter focusing on classic car collecting.
http://www.scribd.com/D_Yaros/

Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373

Mine are tan/cream colored.
Jeff
Jeff Rosansky
CLC #28373
1970 Coupe DeVille (Big Red)
1955 Series 62 (Baby Blue)
Dad's new 1979 Coupe DeVille

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

Hello Bob:

For 1955 there were three wheel colors from the factory:
Code 1 Vincennes Red
Code 2 Alabaster Gray
Code 3 Black

Your wheel color depended on what the body color was.
If you give me the color name and code for your car, I can
tell you what the correct wheel color should be.

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Bob Kielar

Thanks for the replies. The original wheels are on the car and they are black. I just can't tell if they are supposed to be gloss or satin black.

Regards,
Bob Kielar
Keep Cruzin
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood

D.Yaros

To my knowledge neither the red or gray wheels had a satin finish.  So, I would find it strange if the black wheels did.
Dave Yaros
CLC #25195
55 Coupe de Ville
92 Allante
62 Olds  

You will find me on the web @:
http://GDYNets.atwebpages.com  -Dave's Den
http://graylady.atwebpages.com -'55 CDV site
http://www.freewebs.com/jeandaveyaros  -Saved 62 (Oldsmobile) Web Site
The home of Car Collector Chronicles.  A  monthly GDYNets newsletter focusing on classic car collecting.
http://www.scribd.com/D_Yaros/

Caddy Wizard

I thought all wheel colors in this era, whether Vincennes Red, Black or body color, were gloss. But what do I know...
Art Gardner


1955 S60 Fleetwood sedan (now under resto -- has been in paint shop since June 2022!)
1955 S62 Coupe (future show car? 2/3 done)
1958 Eldo Seville (2/3 done)

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

The authenticity manual strangely enough does not say
if they are full gloss or semi-gloss -- I believe full gloss
is correct.  That's based on cars that I have seen in
judging Class 15 over the years.  If anyone knows for
certain perhaps they will comment.

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Bob Kielar

Thanks for the replies. I Looked at the paint codes and with my car being code 54 the wheels should be black what I didn't know was it gloss or satin. I went on line and searched the Ditzler paint code 9200 which I got from the Master Parts book. What I found was this code was used on many cars and manufactures even Packard's. This paint code was used for the bodies of the car not just wheels and there were pictures of the cars. So I'm 99% sure it's gloss black.

Keep Cruzin,

Bob Kielar
Keep Cruzin
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood

Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373

Perfect!!
What you do is paint them gloss black but don't clean them. If they are a little dirty they will look satin/semi gloss. If you get dinged on judgong then just wipe them down and they are gloss. Best of both worlds! ;)
Jeff
Jeff Rosansky
CLC #28373
1970 Coupe DeVille (Big Red)
1955 Series 62 (Baby Blue)
Dad's new 1979 Coupe DeVille

Brad Ipsen CLC #737

Interestingly todays Ditzler code for Acrylic Lacquer is 9300 so I will assume that code 9200 was for straight lacquer.  I believe 1955 was before Acrylic Lacquer.  Nice to see such consistency of product codes over how many years.  Anyway if all of this is true I am sure they did not polish the black lacquer on wheels so in terms of todays modern type paints it would not look glossy.  What I think looks really good is to use base coat with catalyst in it (no clear coat).  It is thin and has almost the look of unpolished lacquer and it is tough as nails. 
Brad Ipsen
1940 Cadillac 60S
1938 Cadillac 9039
1940 Cadillac 6267
1940 LaSalle 5227
1949 Cadillac 6237X
1940 Cadillac 60S Limo