1941 Buick (70 Series) Steel Wheel Size/Interchange Question

[41Roadmaster]

Hello All-

I'm looking to verify the correct steel wheel size for my 1941-76C. I've heard these were a 1 year only, 15X5, 5-lug, 3-clip steel wheel. I've also heard, these only interchange with the 1941 60 series, otherwise the hubcaps don't fit.

Has anyone been down this road before? Thanks!

[allcars]

For what it's worth here is a photo taken in 1941 of a 1941 Roadmaster (and Century) 15" wheel with the 3-clip arrangement and a Firestone whitewall tire. This is cropped from an image of a '41 Roadmaster stripped of caps, trim rings and bumpers for a May 1941 stock car race (it was leading when this very tire blew and sent it over the guard rail). The 3-clip wheels are 1941 only, but the hubcaps for them were used 1941-1942 except 90 Series and 1946-47 on all, (per January 1, 1949 Master Parts Book, which does not list the 1948-49 hubcap...?).

 

 

[Dynaflash8]

All 1941-1950 hubcaps are the same, except for the Series 90 Limited in 1941 and 1942.  1939-1940 hubcaps will fit the  Limited on the rear, but aren't deep enough to fit the front wheels.  However 1939-1941 Series 80-90 hubcaps will fit all four wheels.  In 1946 they used the 7.00x15 tire on the new "broadrim wheels".  I'm not sure about 1947 without looking it up.  However, I have looked up both 1946 and 1948.  In 1948 they went to 8.20x15 tires on the same wheels.  I found a 15-inch three clip wheel but the hupcap didn't fit.  That is strange.  It appeared that the 1940 hubcap would fit that wheel which led me to believe there was a three clip hubcap used on the Century in 1939 and/or 1940, but I don't know that.  I could look it up in one of my many parts books.  I do have a 1941 Parts Book also.  Maybe that first year book will show something different that my other books.  I have 1947, 1953 and 1960 books that show the hubcaps as all the same.  I should mention that the lettering on a standard 1939-1940 hubcap is smaller than that of a 1941 Limited, also from some distance it looks the same.  1937 standard caps would fit a 41 Limited on the rear but lettering is noticeably different.  The 1938 would fit but the cap is entirely different.  Of course none of this last information has anything to do with the 1941 Roadmaster wheel question, except I question whether or not it was a one year wheel with the three clips, something I have also been told.  I know where there are two parts cars in Virginia, but I can't buy any parts from the man.  Had I been quicker, I could have bought both cars the same day I looked at mine.  The man wanted $10K.  I told him $6K would be closer, and then only because there was a complete spare engine on a pallet.  He said I was probably right.  Two days later I decided to take the chance and called, but the estate had already sold them to a relative.  What's that old saying, "you snooze you lose"?  The paint on the green car was as good as mine and a better color, but the interior was totally trashed and the mechanics unknown.  Mine has a perfect interior and a lot of superficial mechanical problems from neglect, but it "runs like a deer" as they like to say.

Edited December 18, 2017 by Dynaflash8 (see edit history)

[Dynaflash8]

Now I need a wheel.  When I bought my car there as no spare.  I insisted on a wheel, and they said they would supply one.  Today I had my new tires mounted and found the wheel supplied is evident from the 1950s sometime.  It is an 8-inch wide wheel, while the others a 6-inches wide.  Another of many surprises.  Well, one should expect unending surprises when they buy and old car, or at least that is what I've always found.

Edited December 18, 2017 by Dynaflash8
Put up pictures (see edit history)