1963-66 Wire Wheel Covers

[thunderations]

Got my build sheet and my 66 Daytona originally came from the factory with the optional wire wheel covers. Now I'm looking for a set. I believe they used the same cover as an option on Avanti also. They're a 2 part design with the outer ring/spokes attaching to the wheel with clips and the center cap/spinner attaching to the center of the wheel like a standard hupcap. Got a set or know of a set?

[qsanford]

I recently saw the same style wire caps for sale on a Corvair website. Unfortunately they were 14" but I wonder if similar 15" ones were used on the full size Chevrolet models. They had the same spinner centers.

[thunderations]

A lot of the manufacturers used similar wire wheel covers, but the centers were different. Studebaker used a 2 bar spinner and the attaching cap was several parts, not just a center cap with a spinner attached.

[53k]

Got my build sheet and my 66 Daytona originally came from the factory with the optional wire wheel covers. Now I'm looking for a set. I believe they used the same cover as an option on Avanti also. They're a 2 part design with the outer ring/spokes attaching to the wheel with clips and the center cap/spinner attaching to the center of the wheel like a standard hupcap. Got a set or know of a set?

The wire wheel covers were a late '64 option for any model. Studebaker continued to offer them through '66.
While the cover is made up of several components, they are one-piece in application. Other than being able to unbolt the center spinner you don't want to try to take one apart. I'll try to find my very old post showing installation steps. If I don't find it, I will re-post the pictures.

Found the pictures
I couldn't find enough original Studebaker clips so I bought some from a Thunderbird supplier. They were much poorer quality (Stude clip on the left, Ford on the right)



Stude clip below, Ford above



Getting ready to tap the clips on the wheel



Two Ford clips installed



Clips in place and cover snapped in- pulled out for illustration



Pulled out, another angle. Note-there is no hole for a valve stem. You have to pull out the cover to check the tire (very short valve stem required)



Another view



Snapped in place



On the car



On the car

[JDP]

Got my build sheet and my 66 Daytona originally came from the factory with the optional wire wheel covers. Now I'm looking for a set. I believe they used the same cover as an option on Avanti also. They're a 2 part design with the outer ring/spokes attaching to the wheel with clips and the center cap/spinner attaching to the center of the wheel like a standard hupcap. Got a set or know of a set?

A few years ago, you would see a nice set in the $600 range, but I'd expect $1000 or so for NOS today.

[thunderations]

I found a picture of the cover taken apart.

[53k]

I found a picture of the cover taken apart.[ATTACH=CONFIG]19054[/ATTACH]

Believe me, you don't want to take them apart.

[mbstude]

That's my photo. It isn't designed to come apart, screws as well as spot welds hold it together. I've restored a few sets, and disassembly and reassembly resulted in a few cuts and bruises. Certainly doable, but not for the faint of heart.

JDP is right on with the value of NOS being $1000. I got close to that for the NOS ones I sold. That said, I can restore a set of beat up ones for less than half that.

[53k]

See my added pictures in post #4 above

[Scott]

It looks like it could be reproduced without too much trouble.

[bezhawk]

Matt restored a nice set for the R3 I restored. They are a pain to install, but they do look good.

[SN-60]

No...no...no.... the center spinner definitely has style, but the rest of this unit has to be the poorest excuse for a wire wheel cover ANY manufacturer has ever offered!

[stude1964]

Yes Rambler & Pontiac used the same spinner. The base caps were also used by Ford & Chev. Corvair,others were way different caps.

[thunderations]

1955 and 56 Ford Thunderbirds and passenger cars used a similar outter ring with spokes that attached to an inner ring. That attached to the rim with clips. A button hubcap was used for the center. The Stude is a one piece unit, something I didn't realise. Anyone have a lead on a set? Also looking for a locking gas cap that would have been an option for 1966. This car was used by Studebaker for dealer and other shows prior to being sold and the locking cap was a requirment, probably for fire codes. I'm just trying to locate missing parts.

[2R5]

Ken , I think there were 2 different designs for locking gas caps. Check your parts book. I have the smooth chrome one on my 66 but there was a pebbly chrome one on it when I bought it.