NOS GMC Hubcaps...on Ebay...

[darkhorse970]

Wow! That's a pretty awesome find!

Might be time to put these on there!!

[special-K]

None are common and in excellent condition they are all worth as much as someone is willing to spend

[davepl]

Originally Posted by special-K

These are 69-72 caps. Congratulations!! I wouldn't say the 73-75s are all that abundant. They are three year only and these are four years. How often do you see N.O.S. 73-75 sets for sale? I actually prefer the 73-75s for being stainless, concave, and no black paint in the center. I have N.O.S. GMCs in 73-75, as well as 4wd caps. A pair of those just went off auction at $600+. I'm glad I stocked up before the money got crazy. The problem I run into is finding drivers reasonable enough to run.

I have an almost identical set, the one without the paint in the center. I thought they were 71-72 (incorrect for mine) and they changed again in 73.

So I -think- there are 1970, 1971-1972, and 1973+ but I could be wrong.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Sicklajoie

I guess totally lucked into mine 5 years ago.
80 bucks for the set, 20 bucks for the polish, and 100 to have my signpainter do over the black and change the yellow to blue.

That you did. I have the same blue bowties....Not near that nice.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by davepl

I have an almost identical set, the one without the paint in the center. I thought they were 71-72 (incorrect for mine) and they changed again in 73.

So I -think- there are 1970, 1971-1972, and 1973+ but I could be wrong.

Convex with blue bowtie or GMC and black center are 69-72. I have seen concave yellow bowtie or GMC with black center as well as with hubcap color. Not sure what the deal is there, but I believe the ones with the black paint are post '75 ValuVan. I have a near mint argent one as well as some 1/2t versions.

[MikeB]

That's a crazy-high price, even if the buyer has $$millions. Hope he keeps an eye on them at car shows! I mean it's what, a 30 second job to remove all four? Then again, maybe he has some restored hubcaps for shows. Or the truck could be part of a collection and sits in a showroom.

[srvivor71]

I worry about my dog dishes and tow hooks whenever I'm at a show and feel like walking around... Transfer case shifter knob too...

[davepl]

Originally Posted by davepl

I have an almost identical set, the one without the paint in the center. I thought they were 71-72 (incorrect for mine) and they changed again in 73.

So I -think- there are 1970, 1971-1972, and 1973+ but I could be wrong.

Key word being "Almost". A 318 Barracuda is "almost" a Hemi 'Cuda. Price is very different though.

Doesn't matter how much the buyer (that's me) has, it's what they're worth. And quite frankly an auction is the only real way to know what they're worth, presuming you have enough people bidding, and we had 27.

You can call me foolhardy, you can call me spendthrift, just be sure to call me the only guy with an NOS set of the correct caps too!

[special-K]

Originally Posted by MikeB

... I mean it's what, a 30 second job to remove all four?

Why would a thief be attracted to these hubcaps? Because he knows the value, right? Well, if he does a 30 second 4 hubcap removal he'll be lucky to get $200-300 for them. They certainly won't pass for N.O.S. and hopefully not so maimed they wouldn't be worth as much as all the others around. Not to say a thief couldn't be so stupid. It takes a lot of care to remove these w/o damaging the edge. I just bought a N.O.S. K/20 hubcap for $100 because someone popped it on and took it off and it's obvious where they pried. It will look fantastic on my truck, but no longer N.O.S. pristine value.

And, these caps are going on a meticulously restored prime example of a top-of-the-line best-of-everything in a beautiful color combo Big Block Longhorn. I think they are going on the right truck.

[davepl]

Before I ruin one, how about a quick tutorial of how to do it safely? I guess the big flat blade screwdriver isn't the answer... I have a plastic pry tool, but don't think it's strong enough.

[Sicklajoie]

I have something similar to this to pry them off.
http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/tire...Cvw&kpid=15486

[Acorn]

I use the above tool but I plasti dipped the end.

[special-K]

I'm a carpenter and for decades have been using a cat's paw (nail puller/lamb's paw)*. I align it at an angle with the edge of the cap. It's more sideways than straight on. I kind of roll it to the side as I pry, but just enough to feel if I'm on a nub or not. That's where you want to be. Never pry between the nubs... there's no point anyway, you are prying the cap off the nubs. I just barely start the cap and work my way around to the other nubs located at each 1/4. I have thought about Plasti-dipping one for this purpose, but have only had pint pop off the wheel once or twice, and that was the fault of too hard paint. Powder coat, no problem ever. The deep 16.5s only leave enough room for the cat's paw to go in the way I do it. I guess that's how I came up with my fool-proof way to do hubcaps. Now putting them on is another story. A kink in the edge isn't even an issue once cap is installed. And you can work those out easily anyway. It's the dents in the face from people hitting them willy nilly that funks up a hubcap. I use my hnd and only bump on the outer bend and work my way around. It takes gradual effort to do it right. You're not popping them on or off in 30 seconds, that's for sure

* I also open my beer with my hammer. All trades have their tool of choice for this

[PICKMUP]

HUBCAP TOOL(S): Don't pry! Pull or pop with a wide blade tool.
1. This is the tool to start with. A bondo spreader helps save the paint, but it is still prying...and a little iffy.
2. Here is my second design. Gently go around the cap, pulling & popping, and when it gets over the nub...pop...off the cap comes with no pry marks/dents.
3. Here is my last design. Use a cheap small slide hammer and the wide blade. It works even better than #2.

That will be $100 from each of you that uses one of these designs. I have to do something to recoup the sellers' fees I pay on here. Just kidding, don't delete me.

[PICKMUP]

These tools work on both 1/2T & 3/4T caps. Notice on the last pic one of the blades is shortened for clearance on extra wide/deep wheels.

[sboris]

I like the slide hammer idea.. No prying. Wouldnt be hard to modify a special end for it.
Send me a bill..