VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Wire Wheels for 37 Chevy

I have seen in some literature and heard previously that a wire wheel option was available for '37 Chevys, and it may have been as big as 18" - that it was used primarily in rural locations for folks looking for more ground clearance. Does anyone have a photo of a 37 so equipped? I think '33 was the last year an 18" wheel was used on a passenger car (I don't know about trucks of the same era), but I have to wonder if these might have been "leftover stock" wheels from '33 or before. I also don't know if the hubcap diameter was smaller on the '33 and older wheels (it looks like it but it's tough to tell), so I would also wonder what hubcap would have been used with this combination - again, I'm thinking the older hubcap might have been used (if it's smaller), but I would love to have any information someone might have about this unusual option (and don't worry, I don't have any big plans to do this yet, but I have always wondered what it looked like). Thanks for any help on this!!

The parts book shows wheel #602606 for 1937-38 and 39 cars and 1/2 ton trucks. Described as wire wheel, 18 X 3.62 rim width for 5.50 X18 tires.
A hub cap is not listed and it not the same wheel used for the 1936 or prior 18" option.
When I go to the 1939 truck data book. 1/2 truck shows a 5.50 X 18 tires option. Describes the wheel as short spoke steel disc. Rim width 3.62". The 5.50 X18 option is described as (high wheel) gives more road clearance for use on muddy roads.
Guess that is as clear as mud.

Did the trucks have a 18" wheel that is referred to as the "artillery" wheel?

It would seem unlikely they would leave the lugnut area exposed, so I have to imagine that some type of cap was used, and I can't imagine that GM would have tooled up a unique cap for such a low volume option (though stranger things have happened), so maybe it was the regular '37 cap. Anyone by any chance have a photo of the wheel itself? Thanks!