Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Can anyone tell me what the correct hubcap is for my car which is an early 1948 22nd Series Six Export Touring Sedan which was exported to S. Africa and is now residing in the UK and under full restoration.

The ones fitted are very plain - no hex. to the centre just an impressed circle painted the body colour - are these correct ?

Also were ALL the wheels on the different models the same size/specification/hubcap fixings ? - because if so one could presumeably "upgrade" to caps with the Packard hex. and the legend "Packard Six" ?

Best regards Michael

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Neither your cap nor your wheel are Packard, at least not what we got on this side of the Atlantic. Perhaps they were locally sourced to help with import duty back in the day. I'll try to get you a shot of what would have been on that car if sold here, but you can probably see them in the photo archive here. In the postwar era, none of the caps mentioned six or eight, and through 54 usually had a red hex surrounded by "PACKARD" two times on a black field.

Thanks Ross - photos would be agreat help - wait to see what the American wheels look like.

I assume that any repro/retro fit "new" hubcaps are not going to fit ?

Best regards Michael

By the way this is not the first thing I have found on my 22nd Series that is not in line with U.S cars - brake master cyl. is odd too as is the gear shift mechanism.

Hi Michael

That is not the correct hubcaps. Dont know about the wheel though. Mine also seems to have incorrect rims so that the real 50 hubcaps dont fit. I also cant get any for a reasonable price. Therefore I opted for the 51 to 54 full face hubcaps with little 'teeth' that crips the outside rim. They therefore will cover my non original rims fulle and I dont need the huge expense of the original caps and beauty trims. (ANyway, nobody in RSA will know the difference! Sorry to all the purists!) Please see my photos in my project blog.

The gear shift, clutch and throttle arangement is totally different on the right hand drive cars as found in South Africa. I can send you pictures if you want.

Greetings
Barrie

I don't feel like going outside and clearing all the snow, but if you can enlarge this pic, you'll see the believed to be correct hubcaps on my car.

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Whoops Barrie

Didn't see your posting here before I had sent you the pm earlier today - I think my hubcaps are correct as mine is the lowly baby SIX Touring Sedan based on the Taxi - look at a Taxi photo and I'm sure they came plain like mine not even a Hex in the centre just a depression - photo posted here of your "improved" wheel would be great.

Best regards Michael

I don't currently have any direct evidence about the caps and wheels delivered on export cars. But, the picture is of the U.S. taxis. I believe they and the exports were equipped the same.

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Thanks David

I've now been in touch with Adrian Trebicki the previous owner who restored the car back in 1968-69 while it was in Rhodesia and he tells me that "the hubcaps were original Packard ones that came with the car but the hexagonal brass/chrome centres coverings were corroded so badly that I removed them and just chromed the remaining hubcap"

I'm going to re-chrome them again during my restoration and refit and maybe just as a token paint the little centre depression red.

One other query while we are on wheels and things : my wheels are 16" dia. fitted with crossply 650 X 16 tyres - are they all correct with U.S.A spec. cars ?

Any comments appreciated.

Best regards Michael

There was an option available in some years for the hexes using 3M red reflective tape type material. Used to be available at PAC but I didn't see them listed on the PAC website to give an example or details so maybe out of stock or another vendor had them. Anyway, rather than paint, maybe obtain some of the reflective tape and cut them neatly. The accessory items were die cut with slightly rounded corners and fit neatly over the paint into the original recessed hex. Not sure if you still have that much left but maybe something to consider.

EDIT Max Merritt has the ones for 48. Select 48 to 54 and type in decal if you want to see a photo.maxmerrittauto.com/

I just got a set from Max Merritt and they fit perfect on my '49 Deluxe Eight (23rd Series). (Much easier then trying to paint them or trim the material to size.) I tried to order from PAC, but it took forever to figure out that they were out of them and then to get a refund off my credit card.