Are they hubcaps, center caps or wheel covers? What is the distinction between them? Where did they come from anyway? These questions do not normally come to mind but they are interesting.
People who love cars have developed a love of hubcaps as well. There are those that say the design of the Chrysler Building gives tribute to it.
So, how did they come around to begin with? At first, they were required. In the beginning, automobiles used wooden spokes. These spokes linked the outside rim to hub where the wheel bearing is at. The wheel bearing is packed with grease. A cover was necessary to keep the grease in and the dirt out.
A hub cap was needed. Now you know it started as a useful item. Little in size, it covered the center cap and left the spokes uncovered. The wooden spokes did not last long. When they were new, they were polished and occasionally festooned using pin-striping. Age mad them pin striping crack and unappealing. From a distance, autos that had old spokes were heard.
Toward the end of the twenties and thirties, steel wire spokes were developed. Center caps were still needed. Again, the spokes were left uncovered. The thirties, practicality became second to fashion. Hubcaps were stamped with the name of the auto maker in brass or stainless steel and they were bigger. Caps were supposed to be stylish; but the spokes still showed. They were complicated to clean and the wind noise when traveling down the road was maddening.
In 1934, Cadillac came up with the first disc that covered the whole wheel. It created a streamlined appearance.
Bringing in a new era in wheels, the pressed steel wheel was introduced by Cadillac in 1938. These hubcaps were full sized. Cadillac created an icon of opulence and elegance. Those who had cars dating from 1930 through 1950 began stealing the hubcaps. Cadillac owners didn't realize how popular the hubcaps were until this happened to them.
The 1970's saw the introduction of the plastic hubcap by auto makers on their cars. During the 1980's, steel hubcaps were all but extinct and plastic remained a constant. When you think of plastic, easily broken and cheap tends to come to mind. That is not true with this plastic. The plastic used on hubcaps is light weight, resilient and tough. Some light weight hubcaps will fly right off a car. It is important to realize that auto makers produce hubcaps that are not all that wonderful either. They also come off easily. It is not enough to have all these things combined though. All hubcaps require an unyielding retention system. A 360 degree, all steel retention ring is the absolute best. It simply grips the wheel and keeps the hubcap where it belongs.
Since you are now an expert when it comes to the history of the hubcap, you can wow your friends at the next get together with the information that you have learned.
Finally! The whole independent truth about center caps exposed. You owe it to yourself to get the facts about wheel center caps today by visiting http://center-caps.org
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This post was written by Terence Rehnquist on March 8, 2010
