I collect hubcaps.  Believe it or not, I used to collect rims, but let’s face it; a person needs a lot of room for a collection of rims not only because they’re big, bulky and heavy, but also because it’s hard to find just one especially when they come in sets of four.  You’ll never find anyone who will just hand over one rim no, no that’s something that’s just not done. So, after more than one move (including a few across country), I parted with my collection of rims in various sizes, but managed to hang on to a sweet set of old Crager’s, given to me by a very good friend.

But, back to the hubcaps…

The collection isn’t large by any means and while the older and smaller center caps are getting much harder to find, I keep my eyes peeled and in the event that one happens to show itself, I’ll snag it.  Usually, I can find the larger hubcaps at garage and yard sales, sometimes at flea markets, or just hanging around.  If a friend happens to have one perched on a rusty nail, I generally make it known that in the event they get a wild idea to toss it in the trash; I’ll gladly buy it for a few bucks.  If I’m meeting someone new and notice they have a hubcap or two hanging in the garage, I make it a point to ask about it because 9 times out of 10, there’s a great tale to be told; whether it be about the car it came from, a road trip taken years ago, or if it’s a true collectible, just how they came to be in possession of such a rarity at all.

In the early days, hubcaps or wheel covers – were very small (about 3 inches in diameter) and served the purpose of covering the wheel bearing to seal the wheel hub to the axle to keep dirt and debris out of the spindle nut and wheel bearings.  In the mid 1930′s and continuing throughout the 1960′s, hubcaps got bigger and eventually covered the entire wheel.  They were made of either chrome-plated steel or stainless steel, and began to take on a more ornamental look.  Manufacturers took note that car owners grew to have quite an affection for the shiny, silver orbs and in tune with the times, began to give them a more distinguished and unique look, but by the mid 1970′s, the days of the ornate specialty hubcaps were becoming a thing of the past and were replaced with good ol’ plastic.  These days, a lot of alloy wheels use small removable center caps, but they’re nothing compared to the original early hubcaps of the day.

Spinners on the other hand, are seemingly the old hubcaps of yesteryear ornate, pretty to look at and come in assorted styles to fit the owner’s personality, with one notable exception – spinners rotate separately from the wheel. They’re available in various sizes and assorted prices, from the affordable to the expensive, and can make even the most plain-Jane car standout from the crowd the same way hubcaps did in their heyday.

While I can’t see myself collecting spinners, I’ve been fascinated with the concept since they hit the market a few years ago and truth be told, I wish I would have developed the idea myself.

Now that I’ve shared my aversion to hubcaps, I’m curious about your automotive collections. Do you collect shifter knobs? Are you a hubcap collector like me? Do you have a prized keychain collection or are you a fuzzy dice aficionado?  What’s your prized car collectible?

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