Are they center caps, wheel covers or hubcaps? Is there a similarity among them? What was the real reason for them? For that most part, these kinds of questions probably will not cross most people mind but, it does raise some curiosity.

Car buffs have always had a long love of hubcaps for years. Some think the art deco style of the Chrysler Building pays tribute to the hubcap.

Why were they even developed? They were developed out of necessity. Before metal was used, spokes were made of wood. The hub, located in the outer rim, had to be coupled with the spoke. A grease packed wheel bearing was located inside the hub. To contain the grease and keep out dirt, a cover had to be used.

A hub cap was needed. Now you know it began as a useful item. Small in size, it covered the center cap and left the spokes uncovered. The wooden spokes didn’t last extended. When they were new, they were polished and occasionally festooned making use of 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 twenties and thirties, steel wire spokes were designed. Center caps were even now necessary. Again, the spokes were left uncovered. The thirties, practicality became second to fashion. Hubcaps were stamped using the name of the car maker in brass or stainless steel and they were even bigger. Caps were supposed to get stylish; but the spokes nonetheless showed. They were complicated to clean as well as the wind noise when traveling down the road was maddening.

In 1934, Cadillac introduced the first disc that protected your complete wheel. It provided a streamlined look.

Cadillac started employing pressed steel wheels in 1938. Full sized hubcaps were used for the wheels. What is significant is that Cadillac made this cover a symbol of comfort and style. It didn’t take hot rodders long to look for old Cadillac wheel covers for the 1930-1950′s customized hot rods. Those who owned Cadillac’s started out having their addresses stolen.

The 1970′s saw the creation of the plastic hubcap by auto makers on their cars. During the 1980′s, steel hubcaps were all but extinct and plastic continued to be a constant. Whenever you think of plastic, easily broken and cheap tends to come to mind. That is not true with this plastic. The plastic used on hubcaps is light weight, resilient and tough. Some light weight hubcaps will fly right off a car. It is important to recognize that auto makers produce hubcaps that are not all that wonderful either. They also come off easily. It is not enough to have all these things combined though. All hubcaps require an unyielding retention system. A 360 degree, all steel retention ring is the best. It simply grips the wheel and maintains the hubcap where it goes.

Since you are now an expert as it pertains to the history of the hubcap, you can impress your friends at the next gathering with the information that you have acquired.

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