VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Wheel color

I must say the striping is smaller then the wheel earlier in the thread,I think anyway,thanks Dale

Earlier wheel came from pick up truck, latest one came from pass. car.

I dug out my original 16" wheels. Found one that is different. It has the center rivited to the rim with 8 groups of 2 rivits. The other 4 wheels have 4 groups of 3 rivits each.
They are painted black on the back side. Believe the wheels have been painted as there are no pin strips on them. The orignial color is black. I believe the od wheel is because the right front was wrecked at one time. Would guess they had to get a new wheel for it.

Are you speaking of 16" wheels from your '48 ?

We all must remember that finding a few wheels with color on both sides can confirm that the spare wheel was painted on both sides and not verify that all wheels were painted that way. On the same token finding black back sides doesn't necessarily mean that both sides were not painted a different wheel color. Third finding black on the wheel center verifies that a black primer coat was used on the entire wheel and might suggest that the original factory wheel color was black.

As is typical in our current times finding a few items to support your idea or proposal does not mean it is concrete proof that you are correct. Only after extensive research and observations can we be sure that we understand what was done with a high level of confidence.

Hi Chipper and all,

In the quest to answer about a '48 only. I have e-mailed Uncle Ed to check his untouched '48 aero. He will hopefully reply here.

I also looked through my photo album and scanned these that indicate mine were painted both sides. Much clearer in the original photo.







Also for Bruce one showing the stripes on the original wheel.

Just "My" experience.

Having worked for 36 years for GM and spent a few years as a Corporate Quality Auditor, we audited vehicles that were built at all assembley plants including Canada, it was obvious that all assembley plants did not follow the same procedure when it came to assembley. I would not be surprised if some assembley plants painted both sides of the wheel and other plants painted just the outside. I joined GM in 1957 and can not speak for what happened in the 30's and 40's. For the question of all wheels being originally black, the wheels in the Arlington plant were put on the hang line and all wheels were dipped in a vat containg black paint and were painted on the hang line before they traveled to the tire mounting center,don't remember if all or a portion of the wheels were painted.SENIOR MOMENTS

Russ: IF the rest of the car looked as bad as the frame I commend you for your restoration of your Fleetline.

dick

Yes I was talking about the original 16" wheels that were on it when I bought the car. I have 15" wheels on it now. Also will mention the car was repainted at some point, to the original black. It has been along time ago, as there are alot of chips on both doors. Cannot figure out why.

Yes Dick, it was very close to scrap. It took way more than what any sane person would have invested. So I thank you.

Russell I must also commend you on a very challanging but bueatifull restoration...I guess we all have felt the pain

I guess everyone is correct on this topic..I would think they were all painted black at the start and then body color was added to either all or part of the wheel

"It took way more than what any sane person would have invested".

If "sanity" and "hanging onto a buck" were prerequisites for joining up in the car hobby, the hobby would have dried up, years ago.

This discussion is one other example of inconsistent production processes that would seem to make judging a dice roll.

Just received a update from Uncle Ed, about his original '48 Aero wheels. They are painted body color, both sides, from the factory. Thank you Ed.

Russell,by any chance Uncle Ed didn't mention which plant his 48 was built?

No, but if you PM him he will check, if you ask real nice. Also, tell what to look at.

FYI, his '48 has been in his family since 1952. Pretty much untouched.

OK, the serial # is 21FKH38424 indicating to me that it was made in Janesville, Wisc. in august 1948. Actually, the car is not totally untouched as the bottom color gray was unfortunately poorly repainted in the '70s. The top color blue is still original.

WOW mine is 21FKH38316, just 108 Fleetlines before yours. I think? Might have been built the same day?????

Cool, it is a small world!