Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Would someone please educate me on what was offered in the way of wire wheel covers (vs wire rims) on the '55-'56 senior cars. Were they an available option? Rarity? Have they ever been reproduced?

Yes Packard had wire wheel covers. They may have been reproduced at one point. Here is I believe an original set on Ross's car:packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... 6086&post_id=279230#forumpost279230

There were also full wire wheels which Heinmuller reproduces, though again I'm not sure he was the first to do so. He claims they are identical to original but other people say you can tell the difference.

I would not be interested in full wire wheels -- too much work to keep them clean and they tend to not be as solid. I would be interested in picking up a set of wire wheel covers if an affordable opportunity arose but I suspect they're rather rare.

Did you check with Tucson Packards? Mike may have some (although my own opinion, for what it's worth, is that they are not attractive at all).

Here is a close-up of the accessory bolt-on Packard wire wheel covers on Joel R.'s 1956 Caribbean convertible.

I had these on my '79 New Yorker. They were a beautiful wheel cover. 15". Nice thing about them is they come apart with three or four screws and you can polish the spokes and the inner dish a lot easier than cleaning and polishing a wire spoke wheel. The center cap is round with a hexagon design. You might even try 'Wheel Vintiques" for one of their Packard center caps, to see if they would fit.hubcapzone.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/433_2_200x200.jpg


p.s I wouldn't pay their price for "used"