Re: Hub Cap CLOISSONE

Posted by Highlander160 On 2015/10/29 15:06:53

I'm that "34 Packard guy" in S.E. MI. I've done a dozen of em, about to do 2 more. I learned of the hubcap color scandal in 2009. I was given some things to reference in order to qualify the info. It's correct. Body, chassis or trim color is what's used. Looked at a really original Super 8 Spt Phaeton with red trim and chassis. Hubcaps were the chassis red (a bit orange really) but the center hex was the standard red. As I understand it it's the lettered field and the stripes that get painted (cloisonne' not discussed). The center hex looks red to me in all the original pictures I've seen. This includes pictures of new cars on display in showrooms. I guess that would remove any "Hollywood prop" ideas, wouldn't it? And why someone getting a car shined up (then sprayed with hairspray to kill the gloss in places) for posed pictures would even consider changing hubcap color makes no sense. It wasn't until 90 that I learned about the body-color welt, and all the previous cars I did we just used black. Now they're all in color. 34 and older Packard cars are all senior series. You could make an exception for the Light 8 (900 and 1001) but even those have many of the senior attributes too. I don't think I'd subscribe to idea "...one big custom shop...", but I would accept "One big job shop". When one considers the volume of cars produced by Ford, GM, etc, vs the volume of PMCC that idea is easy to get your head around. Chrome radiator shells vs painted? It's in the books, the customer could order it in the fashion they chose. A painted shell on an 1101 is certainly NOT WRONG. Was it uber popular? I'm not old enough to say with conviction, but I will say that certain versions of 11th series cars sure do look better with them painted. If the choice was there I don't see the harm.

I had a client years ago that took liberties with his cars. I never liked it but he paid the bill so I didn't care if he wanted his car screaming yellow with hot pink fenders. The last one i did for him I did care. I almost lost the job because of it. "You'll do it my way or I'll take to _______." I think he left it because I replied, "Take it there, I don't care. I'm not wrong on this and you know I've never lead you astray, but this one has to be this way or I want no part of it." It became his favorite of all his cars when it was done and I was fairly obsessive about authentic details. I never take anyone's word for it (except maybe Brian Burke) and do my own research with only factory pictures, showroom/dealer pics preferred. Too easy to get balled up looking at pre-production or plant "posed" cars. You can't wrong that way, and the parts book is a nice backup to that. Just sayin...