premium chrome wheel center cap question

[BirdsAndBugs]

I met one of the original people from the PR company at the time the car was released and she told me that white circle is a retro remembrance of the white walls on the original models of yesteryear.

Ned, I'm not sure that PR persons info is accurate. To me, the white "Ford" ring was very reminiscent of a wheel style often seen on the 55-57 era T-Birds. This was intentional by the Ford designers in my opinion. I've attached photos of a wheel from a 57 Thunderbird and also the wheel on my 2005.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Here's a black 56 with a wire wheel hubcap; still with the white Ford ring. I don't know why people like those wide whitewalls on the 55-57 birds. This car looks so classy with a more standard width whitewall tire. Really gives it a nice stance.

[Rondor]

If my memory is still working all whitewalls in mid 50's were wide. The narrower version came in a couple of years later.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

If my memory is still working all whitewalls in mid 50's were wide. The narrower version came in a couple of years later.

The narrow whites came in with narrow ties..

[007Cruiser]

Some whitewall history:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewall_tire

[BirdsAndBugs]

Thanks for sharing the whitewall history article.

I'll have to rely on Ron and Greg's historical information as well since I'm not old enough to have personal recollections of the 1950's (born in 1963).

[wcoates]

. I'm not old enough to have personal recollections of the 1950's (born in 1963).

Greg, wow I started driving in 1963. Can tell you from experience that from '63 to '69 I wouldn't be caught dead in a car with blackwalls or 4 doors! What goes around...……...

[Welker]

Remember the "curb feelers"?