Kaiser wire wheels

[Gordie]

While going through the accessory section of the 1954 Kaiser-Willys  passenger car data book I noticed that wire wheels are no longer an option but wire hubcaps are as they were introduced in 1952.  There sure are many '54 and '55 Kaisers and Darrin's restored with wire wheels.  Are these incorrect for the later year cars?

[DTort96646]

Those would probably be dealer installed.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Gordie brings up an interesting quandry.  The February 1953 Parts List Supplement to the 1951 Kaiser big book makes no mention of wire wheels even for Dragons...it went to press before the Confidential Bulletin was released to dealers.  The Confidential Bulletin, also issued in February 1953 lists them as a factory installed option for Dragon, Manhattan OR Kaiser deLuxe models (the Carolina was not out yet and it may be possible that dealers could order wires for them as well).  The 1954 Kaiser parts book does list what may be the tubeless tire type wheels but does not list wire wheels for 1954 Kaisers.  The April 1955 Willys Motors Accessory and Special Assemblies Price List also shows no reference to either the wire hub caps or regular wire wheels.

If the world of Palentology (I probably speld it wront...I am refering to study of dinasours) got it wrong on Brontosarus skulls for nearly a century, it could be that this was another Fred Walker deal to help him move parts to members.  I was told when I first joined the club that wire wheels was one of the "tie breakers" used on 1953-55 Kaisers by Fred.  (The 1975 KFOCI National Convention in PA).
 

[Gordie]

We know that wire wheels are incorrect for 1955 Kaisers as that is the year that Kaiser went to tubeless tires and you could not use wire wheels with them without using tubes.  Kaiser appears to have used the same wire wheels as what Chrysler used on the Dodges and Plymouth's but with different center caps and the spokes went almost to the outer edge of the rim.  Most of the wire wheels seen on Kaisers at our meets are not of that style or they are using Chrysler knock-off style center caps as used on the Chrysler wire wheels.  A note for our judging guidelines!

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

I was told Chrysler & Kelsey Hayes was Correct Spoke Wheels for 53 Dragons. My center Cap has ( K ) in the Middle. Yes You have to have Tubes...

 Our Original All Vinyl Dragon had Built Expressly For, but also had Original Gold Letters of Original Owner on Driver Door. I will Check Pictures if Passenger Door From L A.  Plus, it’s Still In Our Club.
We was Second Owner 1955. It had Original Tires 4 inch WW.

Gordie knows LA Dealer’s Well. It had Spoke Hubcaps with Gold Anodized Spinner. Dealers would do this Like Pinstripe Today on Vehicle’s.

My Show All Vinyl Dragon was From San Francisco. No Letters on The Door, Built Expressly For, but Chrysler Spoke Wheel I heard Add on Later.

My Other From LA No Letters but Built Expressly For, Original K Hubcaps.

[pjkaiser]

You also talked about Wire Wheel Hubcaps.  I have them on my car, I love them.  When I purchased the car Harvey Hedge****** restored, my car had these Wire Wheel Hubcaps on them along with the paper work that came with the car when I purchased it from John Ruth.   

[Gordie]

I don't believe that the initials on the doors were ever an authorized K-F accessory but they were very popular in their day just as were a variety of tail pipe exhaust deflectors, gas tank filler door guards and I probably have twenty examples of different aftermarket K-F hood ornaments for the early cars and all were popular accessories in their time but not correct for having your car judged for originality as our judging system supports.  Those nice wire wheel covers were announced in 1953 and were available until the end of production unless the supplier ran out of them at some point.  They are listed as available in 1954 and not much is available for parts lists in 1955 as it was the same car in 1955 except for the hood ornament and tubeless tires.

[DTort96646]

The wire wheels on my Darrin were dealer installed. I know that because the dealer was my uncle and when I purchased the car from the original owner the wheels were still on it. That was in 1968. The Darrin had wire hub caps originally and no emblems on the fenders.

[Gordie]

There were several suppliers for wire wheels and I'm sure most dealers bought the least expensive that he could find that would fit the car and that is why there are so many different wire wheel styles and hubcaps,

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Kaiser-Frazer Experimental Engineering tried to use the Kaiser-Frazer wire wheels on the Darrin.  Unfortunately, Howard Darrin used dimensions associated with the HJ chassis when he designed the production Darrin body.  There was a clearance issue on the front fenders when you did hard right or left turns.  It is severe enough that Goodyear would NOT honor any warranty claims submitted by dealers or the factory if they used the K-F wire wheels (with 6.70 x 15 tires).  The wire wheels were "5" width but the Darrin fender clearance would just barely accept a "4.5" width (works with 6.40 x 15 tires) and was designed for tires that used "4" width regular steel wheels (5.90 x 15).  I have the Experimental Engineering report (with photos taken by that group) showing the clearance issue.

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

You also talked about Wire Wheel Hubcaps.  I have them on my car, I love them.  When I purchased the car Harvey Hedge****** restored, my car had these Wire Wheel Hubcaps on them along with the paper work that came with the car when I purchased it from John Ruth.

Harvey was a Good Friend & Helped with The Research on My All Vinyl Dragon’s. He knew a Lot of K F History.

[njpatera]

Here’s a previous link to pics I posted before. These are pics of mine in 1956 (in better days)...wire wheels. The vehicle was purchased as what I guess you would call a demo model...sort of. The dealers son served in the Army with my dad. Dad’s buddy “drove” the car but had to sell it. Dad bought it in early 1956....
http://kfclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,11283.0.html

[Gordie]

It is great to have found pictures of your car when it was almost new.  That is an interesting rear bumper protector which would have also fit a Henry J.  Those are wire wheel hub caps not wire wheels.

[njpatera]

Correct on both Gordie...also, no fender badges. But, I’ve mentioned it before there were flag badges affixed on this one. I guess my dads buddy(dealer) thought it needed something there. Took me awhile to realize they were 55 Tbird fuel door/upper grille emblems.