The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Should 54 hub caps be painted?

I have three hub caps for my 54 3100. They have a lot of surface rust, but appear to have been painted originally. The color scheme is a white background with a large blue Chevy bow tie and a small white bow tie within it. I seem to recall having read somewhere that the hub caps were painted rather than chromed for a period around the time of the Korean War. Is there any truth to the relation to the war or were chrome caps just an option at the time?

I am trying to keep my truck somewhat original in appearance and if there is a connection to the war effort that would be interesting. The problem is that I need two more caps and the ones available from the usual suspects come in chrome only. I am considering just looking for some used ones and re-painting them (this is a working truck, not a trailer queen by any means). Of course this is all moot if they are supposed to be chrome anyway.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Now that I think about it, they might actually be stainless, not chrome. Either way, please educate me.

Aaron,

In 1954, both painted hub caps and chrome hub caps were available. In 1952 and 1953, chrome exterior options were not available.

Stainless steel hub caps were not originally available in 1954, but some reproduction-parts vendors sell 1954 stainless-steel hubcaps and front bumpers.

Tim

Tim,

Thanks for the info. That clears it up. By the way, I enjoy your website, mine's a hydra-matic too.

My 54 came with a few good original hubcaps. They are painted like you describe (you can see them in this picture). I like the painted hubcap look better than the chrome ones anyway...