Hub Cap Color

[Mike]

I'd like to get some feedback on the accuracy of a statement that I found while researching our data base about the correct/typical color for hubcaps.  The data base says that both wheels and hubcaps  are typically painted the same color as the hardtop.  I question the accuracy of this statement for those cars whose hardtop color differs from the body color.  For instance, my car's body is signal red and I think that my wheels should be the same color.  I am planning on painting my hardtop black and I think that my hubcaps should be painted black to match the hardtop even though my wheels are red.  Thoughts?

Also, if anyone knows where I can get my hubcaps painted without having them look like they were painted by "Shaky Jake" I'd appreciate hearing suggestions.

Michael L. Hund

[n/a]

'Shaky Jake' is fine for the blues, but not for 113 cars.....actually there is a tool that MB paint shops had which is colloquially known as the 'branding iron'. It is made of cast metal and you put it down onto a 113 (or any similar era car) hubcap and spray the paint. Then you lift it off and wash it in lacquer thinner and you're done.
  If you see the tool you figure out really quickly how it got its name...it really does look like a branding iron..if the name of your ranch was "The Star" or something like that. The tool is not made anymore, I think. You can tape off the new hubcap but it won't really look the way it is supposed to- the edges of the paint are not quite sharp when the branding iron is used and oddly it looks better. Or more original at any rate. Good luck. Finding the tool is the hard part, the rest is easy.

[ja17]

Hello Mike,
I believe all the wheels were originally painted black?


Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Benz Dr.]

The wheels on early cars are the same colour as the car. When they went to the one piece wheel cover then the rims were black inside and out.

 Personally, I wouldn't paint my hub caps to match the hard top unless I was going to drive the car with the hard top on all the time ( I know those who do)If you drive with the top down or up it looks as though you just grabbed a handfull of caps that don't match the rest of the car.
This is one time where the correct look seems out of place IMHO.

Dan c

Daniel G Caron

[J. Huber]

A couple things I would add ... The "branding iron" apparently came in more than one size. When I had my car painted, I got word of a body shop that had it -- got there only to find it fit the one piece wheel covers, not the early 2 piece style. So I was forced to do a Shaky James with a can of spray paint and some masking tape!

Second, its not very often I disagree with the Dr. Benz but in my case, a white 230SL with dark blue tops and interior, dark blue hub caps look best ... call me crazy.

(oh and I believe the hub caps have always been dark blue)

James
63 230SL

[ja17]

Thanks Dan,
"early wheels with small caps painted color of car and later wheels with full wheel cover, painted black."

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Cees Klumper]

I've seen photos of this masking tool and, to me, it seems like it should be fairly easy to replicate. Maybe using an old hubcap as a basis. I did the masking routine on my last repaint and although it did come out o.k., it's definitely not perfect and costs a lot of time. Does anyone know for sure whether these tools are still made or not?

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Ben]

So to summarise !!

Early cars with the two piece hub caps and beauty rings had their wheels in body colour but the centre caps matched the hardtops.

The later cars with one piece wheel covers had black wheels and the covers matched the body colour !

Somehow, to me, the early version seems more glamorous !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[Naj ✝︎]

The branding irons are made by Hazet and were still listed in their 2002 catalog.

Ben,
I think your summary is quite aaccurate!!

Download Attachment: DSCN0203.JPG
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naj

[Bob G]

Talking about the infamous hub cap mask tool. There are two peices to this tool. If you have a later style one peice hub-cap you will need the outer mask that has prongs that fit into the slots and cover the outer part of the hub-cap. The second part is a metal mask branding iron tool with star nice and weighty that covers the star and rest up to the side rim of the inner face of the hub-cap for a factory stencle look. My self and Tom purchased one but I think the outer mask is No longer availible so as this inner mask. I was talking with a company who makes the masking tools for Ford , General motors & chysler and I am sure they can duplicate this tool with out any problem. The question is is there enough volumn from body shops and restorers to warrant me going to them with this request?
the palce I last got this tool was Samsag tools.com

Bob Geco

[Klaus]

I'm getting mixed up in some nomenclature here. Wheels (rims?) and hub caps. As far as I know the wheels were never body color, always black. The hub caps (later version) were hardtop cover.
My car is light blue metallic (906) with dark blue hardtop (904) and dark blue (904) hub caps (which are in my garage since I'm driving around with bundt alloys).
In my previous life in Germany, I once bought a new R107. It was thistle (light) green metallic, olive (dark) green hardtop and olive green hub caps, ex-factory. At that time, a typical German choice, Americans would cringe.
I think the different colors make the car look more strechted.

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[rwmastel]

Klaus,

Your 280SL's hub caps would cover the whole wheel (rim), so it makes no sense to paint the wheel (rim) body color.  Therefor I would assume your wheels (rims) are black.

My 230SL, which is very original still, has the wheels (rims) painted gray just like the body.  The small hub caps are painted grey-white just like the hard top is.  Between the small painted hub cap and the chrome beauty ring there is some painted wheel visible.

You can see this technique in the graphic posted by NAJ and here:
Download Attachment: white230.jpg
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Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[LFrank]

If hubs were painted to match the hard top color, what color were the hubs on those cars sold without a hard top? (My car was sold as a roadster/no top, and it came to me with all-chrome hubs, which I had always assumed were replacements...).

LFrank
Washington DC
65 230 sl - auto
DB334/Hellblau

[J. Huber]

Hey Lfrank, Pure speculation but I would bet yours were Dark Blue to match car.

PS if you decide to paint your hubs blue and get a hold of the 'ol brandin' iron - let me know, I'll send ya mine to do as well! (mine are 332 which I believe is really close to 334)

James
63 230SL