1979 Road Wheels Question

[SeaFuse]

Question about 1979 Chrysler road wheel options. Of the below, one is with “volcano” center cap, and the other with the bolt-on “finned” cover. Do both of these use the same wheel? The wheel for finned cover I believe is aluminum, and does not have provisions to mount a typical beauty ring. The wheel with the volcano cap has a beauty ring - is this with a steel wheel only?

1979 300 Cordoba in both pics.

 

[CBODY67]

By 1979, the "Volcano" (AMC) and "ribbed" 1970 W23 center caps were long gone. The smooth-top center caps of the approx 1976+ W23s were in the salvage yards. The 1979 alloy wheels were 15x5.5" wheels, light weight, which is why they were not offered with any "HD" options.

The Cordoba 300s were not considered "HD Use", obviously. The 15x7 Magnum GT wheels, or similar, would have been better, but never were "Chrysler Use" per se. So the light-alloy 15x5.5s got the extra ribbed add-on and specific center caps as a result, I suspect.

When I was looking for a factory wheel upgrade for my '79 Newport, I verified the width was no better than the stock wheels, at 5.5" wide. Then the Magnum GT wheels and hardware went on factory closeout sale and that decision was sealed! Factory high-metal paint and all.

CBODTY67

 

[Mr C]

To directly answer the question...No they are not the same wheel.