VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Alien hubcap?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1937-1938-C...ries&hash=item43af89557e&vxp=mtr

The vendor says they are 13 and 7/8 inch O.D. They came as an option on a 1938 chevrolet car. Has anyone ever seen these befoe? Check the price....WOW

I've had 2 used ones for years...unfortunately they were badly damaged on a curb and are darn near impossible to repair without major disassy and reassembly of the inner portion..Billu38

There was a thread about those a while back. If I remember right Gene said they were a dealer option (apology to Gene if my rememberer isn't working right).

Gotta like that look...! The "script" looks vaguely familiar...Oh, yeah it's right off the back of my car...! grin

They are GM certified options for '37 and '38. They show in the Accessory Manuals along with trim rings, etc. I have a set on my '37 Cabriolet. If you keep old G & D's, it's on the cover of the June 2001. It's also in the '37 section of the G & D's covering the 40th Anniversary Meet in Springfield and the 45th Anniversary meet in Grand Junction. I was lucky enough to find a NOS set many years ago and then had to find another one later for the spare tire mounted out back.

They were a 1937-1938 accessory. However in early 1938 they came out with the disc that fit behind the stock hub cap (did not cover the rim its self) and that accessory looked less combersome than that style. Also it accentuated wheel openings better.

Hi Gene

I know the accessory you are talking about is considered GM because some are marked with "GM". I've had these on cars, have had others off the car but I've never been able to find the "GM" on mine. They may have been after market. I have never been able to find them in any of my literature with an ad or a part number. Do you have that? I'd love to have a copy.

I do know that when you put these on a wheel you are not going to take it off without scrapping the paint seriously. I guess it's all a matter of taste, but I always thought these looked like they were trying to imitate the full wheel discs and I personally prefer the discs. (I guess that's what makes a horse race.) They both come out to the edge of the rim, both still showing the circular pin stripe at the far outside don't they?

$1800 bid so far. Two Thousand Dollars for a set of hubcaps? Could be.

The full hub cap for 1937-1938 was accessory #985140.
The 1938 inner disc was accessory #985295. Listed in the 1939 parts book as for HA and HB models. You will not find it listed in most 1938 accessory books and parts books because it came out later in the year after most material was printed. Both items were made for Chevrolet by Lyon, Detroit, Mi.
Lyon also made the 1939 disc and probably the 1940 sharks tooth disc, etc.
Lyon also made the outer trim rings for GM.
I would guess that Lyon also sold them to after market stores, probably after they made them for Chevrolet in 1938. There were over a millon cars that could have used them so it was a big market.
Lyon also mae discs for Chrysler products and Studebaker at that time
Could also send the 1939 parts book page and the 1938 Chevrolet Dealer News that shows the early style. Need your Email address for that
The late style would not be "legal" for a 1937 owever you do see a number of the 1937's that have them installed,

May be $1800 current bid but only 2 guys in a bid war! My experience says some different bidder comes out of the woodwork in the last second and beats both bidders! Gotta love that E-bay.... Billu38

Well was anyone on here the lucky bidder?

My brother was telling me there is a software/program thing you can get that bids for you to ensure YOUR the "last second-lucky winner"...I'll find out more before my '38 coupe comes around again...

There are several sniping sites, Auction Stealer is one. It's a free service if you're happy with your bid going in 20 seconds before the auction ends. If you want one second bids you have to pay.

Hi Gene

Thanks for the offer to send copies. I looked up the #'s you mentioned and did find them in the '29 to '39 Parts List and also in the 1938 Models Chassis and Body Parts List also. I was not aware of the nomenclature prior to your input. Thanks, Ardie