1967 Rally hubcaps

[Jeremy H.]

Do original rally hubcaps have a gold tint in the center where the spirals/circles are? I always have been told that they did not. But I had a 67 judged at Florida Regional and the exact writing is "S/R, S/B gold tint" and he circled the rally hubcaps.

Thanks
Jeremy Hedges
#31711

[Warren S.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

Jeremy,
The hub caps on my 67 are original to the car and do have the gold tint in the center spiral area. I don't remember where I read that this is correct for the caps, but I do remember a long time ago being curious enough and confirmed that it was correct.
Warren #11327

[Brian M.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

My original caps also have a gold Hue to them.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

That's a tell tale senior judges use to detect original vs. service replacement center caps. The thinking is the factory original chrome plating was a bit 'off' leaving coverage in the center accent 'thin' allowing the underlying copper to show through.

It's further asserted that production quality improved for both service replacement and reproduction parts resulting in a full/complete coverage of chrome in this area that leaves them without the copper 'show through' pattern...

[Ridge K.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

Do original rally hubcaps have a gold tint in the center where the spirals/circles are? I always have been told that they did not. But I had a 67 judged at Florida Regional and the exact writing is "S/R, S/B gold tint" and he circled the rally hubcaps.

Thanks
Jeremy Hedges
#31711

I then purchased a set of four known, used original center caps, along with a NOS set of four, still in GM, correctly numbered parts boxes (service replacements).






Ridge.

[Jeremy H.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

Thanks for the info, very interesting.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

I personally know that most if not all originals that I can remember seeing have some gold tinting. But, I qualify that by saying that, they also had some age on them. So, What does that tell us? I don't know if they were clear right out of the box and the gold color came with weathering. I have always suspected that was the case.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

Ridge,

You are just too down to earth with your approach to judging!!!!! That being said in jest!

Often, judges including myself in this group have this detective mentality and seize the smallest opportunity to "judge" what should be and not really "what is".

There are many 1967 caps out there that have perfect chrome and others that don't. Due to the fact that it was hard to chrome that area so some runs were not so perfect. The nickel shows thru as a gold tint. We've all seen this on parts sent to the chrome shop. It happens now and it happened then. Just observe the earlier repo hubcaps from China.

Corvettes were not all created perfect on a scale of 1 to 10. A lot of reproduction parts were created perfect.

Do we judge Corvettes, "As we wished them to be" or for what they really were on the showroom floor (delivery to the customer).

Good response Ridge,

JR

I then purchased a set of four known, used original center caps, along with a NOS set of four, still in GM, correctly numbered parts boxes (service replacements).






Ridge.

[John S.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

After reading the posts concerning this, I had to go out and check my 67 coupe that is supposed to be (and so far is) all original. Upon looking at the first center hub portion, the only thing I noticed was some checking/cracking of the 42 year old chrome. Next three tell a different story. Same checking/cracking as first but also I can see where the chrome looks like it was very thin and is wearing off. The color below the chrome is absolutely the nickel that is applied just prior to chrome. Awful looking to be honest with you! It definitely looks like it was thin on one side only. Just thought I would put my observations in.

John

[John D.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

What's the part number. There may be a way to settle this.

jd

[Ridge K.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

What's the part number. There may be a way to settle this.

jd

John, the 1967 center cap, as an assembly with the flat stainless "hat", plus the chrome center ornament is GM part number 3901712, and found in group 5.858 of a GM parts book. My understanding is that GM discontinued the service replacement part in the mid 1980s.
It is now sold under license as a reproduction by Wheel Vintiques, and possibly other reproduction companies.
My personal research has found an "improved" plating on the current reproduction ornament, and has found the GM service replacement part to look the same as the reports I gotten from original owners of 1967 Corvettes, before any weathering/washing'polishing took place. In fairness, and objectivity, I must admit that one of the owners I talked to did feel his caps had a "golden tint" when delivered brand new. I would accept that some were exactly as described by the first posters. My opinion only differs that "typical factory production" should definitely show a golden tint "as delivered after dealer prep".
Hope this helps your research. Ridge

Ridge,

You are just too down to earth with your approach to judging!!!!! That being said in jest!

Often, judges including myself in this group have this detective mentality and seize the smallest opportunity to "judge" what should be and not really "what is".

There are many 1967 caps out there that have perfect chrome and others that don't. Due to the fact that it was hard to chrome that area so some runs were not so perfect. The nickel shows thru as a gold tint. We've all seen this on parts sent to the chrome shop. It happens now and it happened then. Just observe the earlier repo hubcaps from China.

Corvettes were not all created perfect on a scale of 1 to 10. A lot of reproduction parts were created perfect.

Do we judge Corvettes, "As we wished them to be" or for what they really were on the showroom floor (delivery to the customer).

Good response Ridge,

JR

JR, you are a gentleman, in addition to a very knowledgable Corvette enthusiast.
Ridge

[Dale S.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

Could someone show a picture or tell me where the part number is on the center cap. I dont see that number. Thank you Dale

[John D.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

ridge,
No help there ,p/n 3901712 is the hub cap assembly minus the ornament. Is there a part number for the ornament ?

john

[Ridge K.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

Could someone show a picture or tell me where the part number is on the center cap. I dont see that number. Thank you Dale

Dale, there is no part number visible in an inspection of a loose center cap. It would have been impossible to emboss a part number in a thin stainless steel "hat" part of the cap.
On original center chrome ornaments, there will be a part number cast in the back side. Four screws hold the ornament onto the stainless "hat". On originals, the screws will break off during removal about 33% of the time, so be careful.
One way to tell an original (although not 100% effective, as this can be added), is that the retaining lip on the stainless "hat", will be painted a semi-gloss (low sheen) on the outside of this inner lip (does not show when the cap is installed).
But, to complicate the issue further, service replacement sold over a parts counter in the 1960s, and 1970s, were also painted black on the inside. How do I know? I bought a set in 1975 over a parts counter..
Finally, the stainless flat "hat" could be purchased as a stand alone item in service replacement, along with the chrome center ornament. I've owned (and resold) many examples of these stand alone parts (along with many, many original used '67 center caps) thur the years.
Hope this helps. Ridge.

[Dale S.]

Re: 1967 Rally hubcaps

Ridge, My center caps have the black retainers, they appear to be painted. The 4 screws that hold the center piece of the cap have shoulders on the top with a triangle on the head of them. The bottom of the screw( bolt) looks like the taper of a small lug nut. I will not attempt to take any of the centers off. The screws( bolts) have a whiteish oxidation on them. Thank you Dale