67 Hubcaps

[Bob Gaines]

so, my set of original wheel cover with centers.....the centers are the same as the "shelby cobra" steering wheel center.

A different size I believe.

[Bob Gaines]

so, my set of original wheel cover with centers.....the centers are the same as the "shelby cobra" steering wheel center.

The steering wheels that the horn button foil centers read "Shelby Cobra" are service replacements . The "Shelby Cobra" version meant less service inventory instead of have a GT350 and also a GT500 like the assemblyline buttons read.

[JD]

"67 GT350" - Can you post a photo?

as Bob said above, the original steering wheel centers have GT350 or GT500 and very thin like foil, the replacements do not have the model designation.  See reply #10 of this thread, the far right image.

The wheel center emblems are thicker aluminum, too thick to crumple in your hand.

[JD]

Here is an original '67 Wheel cover with the center enlarged on the right and a 10-spoke wheel center on the left, the emblem is not placed on top but captured below the Wheel cover center, note the lack of space between the "S" and the "A" at the edges of the 10-spoke emblem.

[Bob Gaines]

Here is an original '67 Wheel cover with the center enlarged on the right and a 10-spoke wheel center on the left, the emblem is not placed on top but captured below the Wheel cover center, note the lack of space between the "S" and the "A" at the edges of the 10-spoke emblem.

Great comparison job as usual JD. That should help anyone to understand the difference.

[67 GT350]

I will try to post what I got, wheel cover centers and a horn ring foil, so you can see what I am talking about..

[67 GT350]

here
so middle picture shows the shelby cobra 67 center foil, the CS foil shows that it fits the wheel cover. Thus the steering wheel foil shelby cobra must also fit.

[Bob Gaines]

The subject is a moot point regardless because it will be quite a trick finding 3 more service replacement horn button foils since they were never reproduced and the hubcap emblems never came with GT350 or 500 designations that are available. At least they used to be sold separately. Another issue is the Shelby Cobra service horn button appears to be the same mustard shade as the service replacement hubcaps.

[TLea]

Answer is obvious, somebody needs to have them reproduced.

[JD]

here so middle picture shows the shelby cobra 67 center foil, the CS foil shows that it fits the wheel cover. Thus the steering wheel foil shelby cobra must also fit.

The only emblems that I'm aware of that were foil were the steering wheel horn button emblems.

Again, just so some don't mis-understand the all of the wheel center emblems (Wheel cover, Mag Star & 10-Spoke) are aluminum but not "foil" thin - they are heavy enough gauge to be rigid, the faces of these were subjected to the elements!  "foil" like steering wheel center emblems were captured between a clear plastic top and a black plastic bottom pieces both curved and the foil is thin enough to conform to that convex shape.  Take your steering wheel center button apart and you'll see - BE VERY CARFUL as it is easily damaged!!! 

Steering Wheel emblems is not a good solution for a wheel cover center, also as Bob has stated, trying to use the steering wheel, generic version - no model designation - IF it fit well enough to try and use finding 4 might prove rather difficult and not likely they would survive the use conditions - subject to real world elements and if touched will deform as they are too thin.

I do think that the original '67 Wheel cover emblems were captured between the Thunderbird molded plastic and the chromed finish outer part, held in with some tabs.  There are other wheel emblems that can be used/made to fit such as the 10-spoke wheel centers.

It seems someone did make some ridged aluminum disks - not foil thin - that would drop-in from the front but I think they must have had to be glued in/adhered. I have seen them on a couple cars that were judged at SAAC Concours events - the tell was that they were not embossed like the original wheel cover emblems!

My suggestion for anyone looking to have Shelby emblems for the '67 Wheel Covers is to get 4 of the 10-spoke centers and disassemble the center of the wheel covers and capture them in place like the originals were.  The "S" and "A" will be a bit tight in the opening, as illustrated in the photos already posted in this thread, but there aren't too many options.  Making some would need to involve Ford and or Shelby licensing ??

[67 GT350]

Answer is obvious, somebody needs to have them reproduced.

yup, What are the complications in doing do? I would use my steering wheel foil....

[JD]

The right reference is an original '67 Wheel Cover emblem, not a steering wheel label.

Artwork and specs created from the Wheel Cover emblem will need to be made as a starting point.

Proper gauge, correct color anodized aluminum plate with correct finish, will need to be sourced, Trimming die, embossing die, printing plates (black and matte clear) and approval, licensing agreement from Ford/Shelby.

[Bob Gaines]

The right reference is an original '67 Wheel Cover emblem, not a steering wheel label.

Artwork and specs created from the Wheel Cover emblem will need to be made as a starting point.

Proper gauge, correct color anodized aluminum plate with correct finish, will need to be sourced, Trimming die, embossing die, printing plates (black and matte clear) and approval, licensing agreement from Ford/Shelby.

This issues raises its ugly head every year or so. You could have some made using all of the steps JD laid out for yourself and not raise any eyebrows but if you start selling to others expect legal push back to the extreme. Unfortunately I see the costs assosiated with having some authentic looking ones made up for ones self most likely exceeding the cost of buying a set of NOS hubcaps. Unlike 68 Shelby's where all cars got hubcaps there is a much smaller fraction of a market by comparison for selling 67 Shelby hubcap emblems . That has no doubt influenced others on making the financial,time consuming and stress related commitment .

[TLea]

What JD is talking about using the 10 spoke emblem IMO is the only viable option. Honestly unless you're right on top of it it's is hard to tell. Looks way better than the non embossed version.

[Bob Gaines]

What JD is talking about using the 10 spoke emblem IMO is the only viable option. Honestly unless you're right on top of it it's is hard to tell. Looks way better than the non embossed version.

I agree it is the next best thing short of concours correct. Of course that is the first thing I check for if the centers look nice.