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1952 wheelcovers

Started by Philippe M. Ruel, September 02, 2006, 02:53:53 AM

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Philippe M. Ruel

I have purchased used wheelcovers on eBay for my 1952 Fleetwood 60S. They were advertised as 1951-52.
Unfortunately, upon reception, they are not the same than the sombreros already on my car. The ones I received are full 15 wheelcovers (not hubcaps) but not as deep as sombreros :
http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/i/07/e4/19/48_12_sb.JPG TARGET=_blank>http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/i/07/e4/19/48_12_sb.JPG

They look like the ones referenced as 1947-52 on hubcaps.org (http://www.hubcaps.org/fleetwood.html) :
http://www.hubcaps.org/hubcaps/cadillac/cad47_52.jpg TARGET=_blank>http://www.hubcaps.org/hubcaps/cadillac/cad47_52.jpg ,but this site doesnt seem to have sombreros although their 54-55 look much like them.

I cant find any website (even including Yanns database) referencing ALL Cadillac standard or optional hubcaps and wheelcovers made. Does anyone know how many kinds of wheelcovers were available these years ?

Philippe M. Ruel

No idea about different wheelcover styles available these years ?

Doug Houston

Im going to go out on a limb here, but maybe I have an idea. The year 1947 was the beginning of the Sombrero wheel covers. They utilized the spring clips that were on the wheel, and had an inner cup that engaged with the spring clips to hold the cover on the wheel.

Somewhere in the early fifties, possibly 1951 or so, the design was changed so as to eliminate the spring clips, and have the wheel cover fasten to the wheel by means of a grip ring that cut into the rim of the wheel. The wheel cover had to be driven in place to seat in the wheel. While at first look, the wheel cover looked the same as the 1947 style, they were considerably shallower. The referenced pictures do not show this very well.

Hope that this helps.

Joe G 12138

I think these are actually aftermarket look-alike whellcovers, possibly Western Auto, Montgomery Wards, etc. I picked up a similar set at a Swap meet a few years ago. On mine, the removable center medallions were a unique cross breed between the Cadillac, Buick, and Chrysler logos, using some features of each. Quite generic, but from across the street youd see what you expected to see!

Philippe M. Ruel

Thank you for your suggestions.

@Joe : the ones I received are obviously original (or very good reproductions of) Cadillac wheelcovers, featuring real Cadillac crests.

@Doug : thats the kind of answer I was in need of !! The wheelcovers on my car are held to the wheel through extra center caps behind wheelcovers themselves, although the ones I received use curved, hooked extensions of their rims. So, if I understand, the wheelcovers on my car may be non-original (the car is a 52), but an older model. Does anyone confirm ?

Jack Mcilwraith #10584

Phillipe-according to my parts book,there were two different types of wheel discs made.One type is 16 1/8 attaching to the hub from 1948-52.The second type is 15 1/8 and attaches to the wheel rim in 1951 -52.The second type were to be sold in sets of four. So both types are correct.