Original color for the wheels

Werner

Werner

Well-known member
Hey und guten Abend.


I've read conflicting accounts about the factory-installed wheel colors for the Roadster. For example:

Beige, light gray, red, or green.

But some other sources claim that only black wheels were used in 1928 and in 29, with the colored ones appearing from 1930-31 onwards.

Other sources state that all wheels were always delivered in black, and that the Ford-dealers only repainted them to match the original pinstripes upon special customer request.


Does anyone know what the actual situation was back then?
 

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Prior to June 1930 wheels were black,colored wheels beginning in Jun 1930 were available as an accessory on all passenger cars except Deluxe Roadster , Deluxe Phaeton,Convertible Sedan and Deluxe Tudor which were equipped with colored wheels as standard equipment.See area 22 JS
 
Gary WA said:
Prior to June 1930 wheels were black,colored wheels beginning in Jun 1930 were available as an accessory on all passenger cars except Deluxe Roadster , Deluxe Phaeton,Convertible Sedan and Deluxe Tudor which were equipped with colored wheels as standard equipment.See area 22 JS
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I suspect that the "option" always existed to have the dealer paint wheels a different color, at least that's how I'm justifying having red wheels on my January 1930 Town Sedan. However I cannot recall ever seeing a 28/29 with wheels anything but black.

What is kind of subtle, but addressed in the Paint and Finish Guide (4th edition) is "...Black wheels were painted by dipping in Japan Black enamel. Two coats were applied...Wheels to be finished in color were delivered to the branches with just a single coat of paint on them. These were then spray painted with two coats of the colored enamel..." So the black wheels came that way from the factory, but colored wheels were painted at the assembly plant. Interesting.

Your '28 Roadster would never have come from the factory or assembly plant with anything other than black wheels. And it looks great with them.
 
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The wheel colour will depend on country of manufacture. In Australia, some 1928 to 1930 colour combinations had coloured wheels as well as coloured mudguards.
 
Its your car so paint the wheels a color you favor. That what Model "A" owners did when the cars were new. There is no need to justify any color. I do have one practical comment about colored wheels. Light colors show brake & road dust, so they are a pain to keep clean.
 
Bob Bidonde said:
Its your car so paint the wheels a color you favor. That what Model "A" owners did when the cars were new. There is no need to justify any color. I do have one practical comment about colored wheels. Light colors show brake & road dust, so they are a pain to keep clean.
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Good point, Bob. I have Apple Green wheels on my ‘31 TS and they do show road dust. I make it a point to thoroughly wash the wheels, front and back, whenever I have them off the car.
 
Guten Morgen!


Thank you so much at all for your helpful tips and opinions. They are especially helpful to me.
I'm leaving them black because I'm also a bit lazy. -


By the way, the picture #1 and #3 is the oldest one that I could find. It's the sales photo from the second-previous owner. Presumably in Florida.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get in touch with the previous owners, which I find very disappointing.
I think it would be very nice to exchange photos about the car's long life. A real shame for me.


Dankeschön an alle!
 
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