Wheel trims - The Good, The Bad and the downright Shocking

[Ben_O]

Austin mini 25th anniversary.

Also fitted fitted other 80s minis.

Never liked them 

[Markeh]

Always had a soft spot for these for reasons I can't quite fathom. Normally found on a Mk4 pre-facelift Fiesta. 

[bunglebus]

I remember a Polo Boulevard near my mum's in red with red wheel trims similar to this. Horrendous. 

[willswitchengage]

Found in my old phone photos archive

[Skut]

The Maxi and Allegro 3 wheel trims were just vile. 

This particular Rover 25 & 45 steelie trim was deeply pish. 

[ProgRocker]

On 28/06/2021 at 11:31, Yoss said:

At the same time you could have these full size plastic discs. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as the which cars got which. I've seen all trim levels with both types. Maybe you got to choose when buying new. 

But I think the little silver caps are by far the best. I actually think they look better than many of the alloys that were available at extra cost. Wear your steelies with pride*

I was under the impression that 1.6 litre engined cars had trims whereas the 1.3 litre ones had steelies.

(I test drove a 1997 1.6 GLX once)

[Yoss]

1 hour ago, ProgRocker said:

I was under the impression that 1.6 litre engined cars had trims whereas the 1.3 litre ones had steelies.

(I test drove a 1997 1.6 GLX once)

Nah, my old 1.3 LXi had the full discs and there's plenty of 1.6s around with bare steelies. At least there were before they were all scrapped. Like I say, random. 

[Sunny Jim]

Quite partial to these on my 480.

Many owners go for the 5 spoke alloys but I think I'll preserve the base model originality.

[JeeExEll]

See also early Mk1 Capri, Corsair, Consul Classic / Capri, Mk2 Cortina, Mk3 Zephyr, 100E Popular/ 107E Prefect, Mk4 Zephyr, Cortina Mk3 'Decor'.

Ford.  All the same but different.

Some wheel trims were made for only one model of a particular car, e.g. Mk3 Cortina XL on a previous page which were used on both pre-facelift and the facelift cars right to summer 76 if 'dartboard' steelies weren't specified. 

A few years ago I looked into Ford 4-spoke RS alloys (made from 1970 - ~ around 1981) and found out that despite them all looking  quite similar there were about 15 or more variants.   I may still have a pic file somewhere.  (Geek alert, run away).

[MorrisItalSLX]

Those Ford trims remind me of my favourite Mini hubcap.

As seen on plusher 1970s Minis (1000s etc). personally, I think they are nicer than the similar trim seen on 1960s examples and many modern restorations.

Another notable mention are the plastic bolt through trims fitted to 1275GT

And the similar trims fitted to the Australian 1275LS

[JeeExEll]

This is a new one to me, from a 'for 1970' UK brochure pic. 

Never seen these trims before.  I thought all Corsair 2000E wheeltrims were the same (the Zodiac style).

The woman has an impressive werewolf's claw-paw there, maybe she's going to tear his throat out and nick the Corsair (with obscure wheel-trims) once he's finished his smoke, like in a 1970 Hammer Horror film of truly scary.

[bunglebus]

On 04/07/2021 at 12:23, JeeExEll said:

A few years ago I looked into Ford 4-spoke RS alloys (made from 1970 - ~ around 1981) and found out that despite them all looking  quite similar there were about 15 or more variants.   I may still have a pic file somewhere.  (Geek alert, run away).

Very similar to the ones I remember my mum's Super Minx wearing.

 

 

[tooSavvy]

I'm sure it isn't just RR who have a hubcap centre 'logo' which always comes to rest - square to ground?

'Spinners' are restricted to our local pikeys, on a highly dubious trannie (with greedy boards.... Often old 'up n over' alloy garage doors )

All the buses have 'hub counters'.... I'm sure they got the idea from RR ... ha ha.

Fab thread, never seen most of these...

[Steviemillar]

[Zelandeth]

Probably already mentioned...but a personal favourite of mine has to be the spun stainless steel trims Saab used on the classic 900.  One of those cases where I'd take the trims over any alloys any day of the week.

Wonderfully easy to care for too...just make sure they're thoroughly waxed and all they need is a wipe down when the car is washed.  If they do look a bit sad, rarely a bit of action with some Brasso can't recover them to a like new shine.

Though as mentioned on the first page, these are also (while very much a matter of personal taste as I know some folks hate them) a case of better than alloys if you ask me.

Though I do concede that they can look somewhat jarring on a brightly coloured car.  With a nice neutral base colour though they just work perfectly with the styling of the car I think.

[Yoss]

I love those Merc trims in brighter colours, they look a bit insipid on the white one above but they look great in a proper colour. But whatever colour, they are a touch of class. The fact Mercedes had to produce them in every colour they made the cars in put them a class above more run of the mill cars. 

[Dick Longbridge]

On 6/28/2021 at 11:51 PM, Rod/b said:

I still cant decide whether the Datsun 120Y trims are cool or dreadful. 
 

 

11/10 for effort for the stark raving bonkers design ideas from Datsun scribblers back in the 1970s. I like the fact they happened.

I'm not sure I actually *like* them though.

On 6/29/2021 at 7:59 AM, sierraman said:

That was a thing back in the day, some little Ford/Vauxhall/Whatever badges in the centres of some generic trims. Nobody was fooled though. 

I think all this sparked from when hubcap theft was actually a big problem in the early 90’s. There was a shop in St Austell market that just sold sets of holidaymakers  used wheel trims. One did have to wonder where they all came from. 

Par Market? Home of the wolf fleece and possibly covid 19? What a place!

[PhilA]

On 7/4/2021 at 7:00 AM, MorrisItalSLX said:

Another notable mention are the plastic bolt through trims fitted to 1275GT

[Alessi P]

I know I’m always posting this but…

Aren’t they cool?! 😂

[Tenmil Socket]

These have got to be my favourite wheel trim design.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Here’s an interesting* thought, are these early Volvo 740 GLE alloys fitted with hub caps or giant centre caps?

[RoadworkUK]

Likewise these Vauxhall Carlton alloys (which I love dearly)

[NorfolkNWeigh]

4 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

Likewise these Vauxhall Carlton alloys (which I love dearly)

I once got rid of a 2.2 CDi Carlton that I’d bought intending it to replace MrsN’s SD1 VdP to save petrol, because it had 2 wheel centres missing and I couldn’t find any. Was immaculate apart from that, but I couldn’t stand the sight of the alloys without the covers. Swapped it for a B reg 3.0 Senator that was thirstier than the Rover!

[davocano]

There's been quite a few Citroën trims already, did we have this one yet?

[PhilA]

Do these qualify as wheel trims? They're almost as heavy as the rim...

 

Phil

[Datsuncog]

Bought some fairly dreadful Ring wheeltrims the other day, purely to take the bad look off the Yaris for its MOT.

I get a vague early-2000s Golf/ Passat alloy vibe off them... I mean, they look pretty shit on a Mk1 Yaris, but they were the least objectionable examples to be found in a dormitory town on a wet Wednesday lunchtime.

My other two options were these...

Or these.

See what I mean?

[davocano]

I've only seen this trim twice, both times on the same 240 GL and nowhere else ever.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

Oops! Forgot to post this beauty* here... 

[Formula Autos]

13 hours ago, davocano said:

I've only seen this trim twice, both times on the same 240 GL and nowhere else ever.

Trims from a facelift 440/460, I think.

[JeeExEll]

On a 1-owner 1970 Mk1 Escort estate currently on ebay.   

WTF, the people of the town must have been amazed and astounded. 

Some said at the time it was pure audacious extravagant bling. 

Sill-integrity not for discussion in this thread.   (Hmmmm, 'magnet may be faulty').

Interesting period items.  Maybe home made?  (I mean the hubcaps, not the bodywork made of cake).