Are they hubcaps, wheel center caps or wheel covers? What’s the distinction among them? Exactly where did they appear from anyway? These questions usually do not normally come to mind but they are interesting.

Hubcaps have received as much love as the cars they go on. Even the Chrysler Building pays tribute to hub caps with the art deco style found there.

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 began as a useful item. Tiny 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 employing 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 20’s and 30’s, steel wire spokes were developed. Center caps were nevertheless necessary. Again, the spokes were left uncovered. The thirties, practicality became second to fashion. Hubcaps were stamped while using the name of the vehicle maker in brass or stainless steel and they were greater. Caps were supposed to be stylish; but the spokes still showed. They were complicated to clean along with the wind noise when traveling down the road was maddening.

In 1934, Cadillac produced the first disc that covered the entire wheel. It provided a streamlined look.

1938 ushered in the use of pressed steel wheels by Cadillac. These hubcaps were complete sized. Cadillac created them a sign of comfort and elegance. Soon, Cadillac owners realized their hubcaps were in high demand when they were stolen by hot rodders. These hot rodders applied them on the customized cars from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.

The 1970’s brought the beginning of the use of plastic hubcaps by automobile makers on the cars. Steel hubcaps were thrown aside in the 80’s and plastic hubcaps persisted on. Plastic routinely makes people think of cheap and easily broken pieces. That is untrue with this plastic. The plastic used on hubcaps is weightless, strong and durable. Some weightless hubcaps come right off a car. Keep in mind that automobile makers produce these items that are not all that perfect either. They also come off with ease. It is not enough to have all these things combined though. All hubcaps will need an unyielding retention system. A 360 degree, all steel retention ring is the absolute best. It simply holds on to the wheel and holds the hubcap in place.

You are now an certified expert on hub cap history. Amaze all of your friends with the info that you have acquired on the elusive hubcap.