Why are magnum center caps so long? (they don't need to be)

[MoPar~Man]

That's the question. Why are the center caps so long when they don't need to be? I think the wheels would look a lot better if the center caps were half or even a third the length. I'm going to have some examples 3-D printed and see how they'd look.

I finally have mounted a pair of Hankook 215-75-14's to these old magnum rims. I still have to re-paint the insets black.

 

[CBODY67]

You'll have to consult with Chrysler and/or Motor Wheel Corp. MWC built the wheels for Chrysler, Ford, and their own aftermarket distribution networks.

At this point in time, finding ANYBODY at those places who was around back then is highly unlikely.

Enjoy!
CBODY67

 

[413]

Ford used short centers on their Magnun wheels. I have a some I can photo

 

[MoPar~Man]

Ford used short centers on their Magnun wheels. I have a some I can photo

I didn't know there were shorter caps. The odd time I've searched for them (new/repo or used) they always seemed to be the same (same length) which is what - 3 inches?

 

[CBODY67]

Ford used short centers on their Magnun wheels. I have a some I can photo

So there's one answer. Didn't want to be like Ford OR Ford didn't want to be like Chrysler. Similar but different.

A similar thing to the sizes of the wheels used. Chrysler stuck to the 14x5.5, whereas Ford used the 14x6 and 15x7s on their sporty models. The Chrysler 14x5.5 wheels have a Pentastar stamp on the inside center of the rim, where the size is also stamped. The Ford 14x6 wheels have a Ford Oval logo similarly stamped.

CBODY67

 

[6PKRTSE]

It was all about the looks. I personally have always liked the Magnum 500/ road wheels.

 

[413]

Also 1969 and 1970 chevys used these wheels with painted spokesm trim rings and a medium length cap.

AMC had trim ring versions and caps with their full name spelled out on the center medallion.

Then there was the "magnum 500" center cap with a red foil sticker.

Chrysler had the longest center cap of all of them.

Ford used both 14x7 and 15x7 chrome wheels extensively 1969 to the mid 70's then went with the painted spokes.

 

[bigmoparjeff]

I've always shared that same opinion. The centers stick out too far.

I have seen some reproduction center caps that are about a half inch or so shorter than the originals, but that was a long time ago and it would probably be pretty tough to find a set.

The shorty Ford centers don't clear the Mopar dust cap. Ford used a much shorter spindle than Chrysler.

Jeff

 

[bigmoparjeff]

Also 1969 and 1970 chevys used these wheels with painted spokesm trim rings and a medium length cap.

AMC had trim ring versions and caps with their full name spelled out on the center medallion.

Then there was the "magnum 500" center cap with a red foil sticker.

Chrysler had the longest center cap of all of them.

Ford used both 14x7 and 15x7 chrome wheels extensively 1969 to the mid 70's then went with the painted spokes.

My boss has a 1970 Chevelle with the Magnum 500's. I'll try to remember to measure the length of the center to see how it compares to the Chrysler.

Maybe the repops I saw were a GM cap with Mopar center decals.


Jeff

 

[detmatt]

The Mopar road wheel caps are only 2 3/16”.

 

[MoPar~Man]

These are road wheels? I thought they were magnums. But yes, these are a tad under 2.25 inches:

Part of the problem is that the screws that hold the retainer cup on the inside are somewhat long, so the threaded post and the standoffs are long, I think they could be shortened:

And I would much rather have a center cap that looks like this - (with the fratzog):

Cut the black base off, and the cap is 1.75 inches tall.

 

[413]

Ford caps. They had many center designs for different cars.

 

[413]

The road wheel/magnum caps were 1 7/8" tall when they started in 67 to the early 70's then they got longer.

 

[MoPar~Man]

Ford caps. They had many center designs for different cars.

Did the Ford caps have any recognizable logo's or designs? The ones you posted don't say "ford' to me. And they push on? Not bolted on.

Very informative and recent article:

Chrysler Used Motor Wheels Corporation's Magnum 500 Wheels - Mopar Connection Magazine | A comprehensive daily resource for Mopar enthusiast news, features and the latest Mopar tech

In 1965, the Motor Wheel Corporation introduced the Magnum 500 wheel, a significant milestone in automotive history. The Magnum 500, a product of Motor Wheel’s advertisement campaigns, the “World’s Largest Manufacturer of Custom Wheels” and later the “World’s Largest Manufacturer of Sports...

moparconnectionmagazine.com

The "Magnum 500" rims first appeared as an option in 1967 on C and B bodys. Chrysler referred to them as "chrome plated road wheels" or variations on that, but always "road wheels". Seems they never called them "Magnum". Motor Wheel Corporation made them, they introduced them in 1965 and called them the Magnum 500. According to the Mopar Connection article, they were only available as C-body option for 2 years - 1967 and 1968. The article doesn't say the final year in the 1970's that they were a mopar option, but during the entire time they were only availble as 14 inch, 5.5 and 6 inch width.

 

[CBODY67]

(You didn't recognize the "FORD" Crest on the ones to the right of the left-most caps?)

 

[413]

They push on with those tangs. No backing and no bolts.

Recognizable? Look here.
https://www.cjponyparts.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=Magnum+cap

 

[MoPar~Man]

(You didn't recognize the "FORD" Crest on the ones to the right of the left-most caps?)

What can I say? I'm not a ford guy. If I saw this anywhere I'd have no idea it was ford:

Did that actually appear as a badge on ford cars? Anywhere on the car other than the wheels?

 

[Big_John]

Did the Ford caps have any recognizable logo's or designs? The ones you posted don't say "ford' to me. And they push on? Not bolted on.

Very informative and recent article:

http://[URL]https://moparconnection...-motor-wheels-corporations-magnum-500-wheels/

[/URL]

The "Magnum 500" rims first appeared as an option in 1967 on C and B bodys. Chrysler referred to them as "chrome plated road wheels" or variations on that, but always "road wheels". Seems they never called them "Magnum". Motor Wheel Corporation made them, they introduced them in 1965 and called them the Magnum 500. According to the Mopar Connection article, they were only available as C-body option for 2 years - 1967 and 1968. The article doesn't say the final year in the 1970's that they were a mopar option, but during the entire time they were only availble as 14 inch, 5.5 and 6 inch width.

They were a dealer installed option in 1965 on the Newports and 300s and according to this letter from the sales manager, they were to be available on the '66 models from the factory.

 

[CBODY67]

What can I say? I'm not a ford guy. If I saw this anywhere I'd have no idea it was ford:

View attachment 687221

Did that actually appear as a badge on ford cars? Anywhere on the car other than the wheels?

Ford Crests were on the cars of the 1950s and 1960s and later. That is a later version of it, though. Grilles, instrument panels, and other places, back then. Usually multi-colored with sharper upper edges. Do a Google Image search . . . for "Ford Crest 1963", otherwise it comes up with a bunch of Blue Oval stuff.