Improved car wheel color advice

30blutudor

30blutudor

Senior Member
Not fond of the gray wire wheels on my 1926 Touring. Thinking about painting them this summer. I realize the body paint color is not original so I'm torn on which of the originally offered wheel colors would look best. I'm between apple green and straw. Would like some help with the decision. Thanks!
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I have a '27 Touring which was green with straw colored wheels when I bought it in 1989. After I saw #15,000.000 at the Ford museum had black wheels, I painted them black. I do think that the straw colored wheels look better though.
 
Kinda reminds me of the Chicle Drab/Copra Drab Model A paint scheme, which I think came with either black or Straw wheels. Either would look nice, IMO.
 
Thanks for all the great responses so far! I would like to stick with one of the original wheel colors available at the time. Wonder what color Ford or the dealers would have done?

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I agree with Robert/Texas: black. Black has its own special charm, as long as the wheels are kept clean and you have the authentic plated valve stem hardware. I would imagine the majority of Model T wire wheels were painted black in the day, as people back then were accustomed to seeing black wheels more than flashy colored ones.
Please excuse this comment on color taste, but in my opinion, ANY color you paint those wheels other than black will make your T look gaudy. Although your question is for a '26-27 Model T Touring, it's a kissing cousin to a '28-29 Phaeton aesthetically. To get an idea what black wheels might look like on your car, I am attaching two photos of our late '28 Phaeton, top up and top down.
Marshall
 

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Oh, I just noticed that your profile photo shows a Model A Tudor Sedan with black wheels. So, you're already familiar with the look of black wheels on an antique Ford. :) Maybe you just want to put some pizzazz in your Model T instead of yet another set of black wheels? If you don't want to go to the dark side again with your T Touring, then I'll switch my vote and go along with "J Franklin" and recommend leaving the wheels matching the body color.
However, if black is definitely "out", in order to remain authentic with the wheel color as you state you want to do, your choice is really limited to red, green, or straw (which is actually a bright yellow). Can you really envision any of these colors looking good with the gray body on your car? Of those colors, my choice would be green, which resembles the Apple Green wheels on Model A's. Follow the link to play with color combinations on a '30-31 Model A Roadster to get an idea what Apple Green wheels look like. This website was created by Model A great Marco Tahtaras: https://web.archive.org/web/2019020...rd.com/roadster/colorchange/colorchange.shtml

Marshall
 
Hi Marshall, Thanks for the kind advice! Yes, I too love the look of classic black wheels and went with them on my 30 Tudor to stay with the original understated look. I also own a 1914 Runabout with black wood spoke wheels so already plenty of black! Looking to jazz the 26 up a bit while still staying somewhat period correct.

The car was restored in the 1960's and sprayed with what I believe is Fawn Gray. The best I can tell this was a closed car only color in 26-27 but still correct for the year. I am between Straw and Apple Green at the moment. The current wheels are a gray different than the body color so either way they gotta go!

I found this photo on the MTFCA forum and really think it looks great. This will be a though choice!

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Not an "Improved" model but I prefer black wires too !
 

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Avoid whitewalls and the straw wheels will look good, but whitewalls on straw wheels would definitely be a bit gaudy.

Whitewalls on black wheels are a good look to my eye, but they don't say "1927" to me.
 
Definitely agree, no disrespect to whitewalls, whatever the wheel color the tires will be black.

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Hand's down , absolutely STRAW !
Since you are going to paint them anyway , buy two or three can's of spray paint , and give the wheels a few shots .
You will find that Straw will take that car to the next level !
Anyway that car is SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET !
 
Keep in mind that light colors show every bit of road crud that gets on them. A person will have to clean them often to keep the look sharp. Get a spoke brush to make life easier.
 
vinmanr2d2 said:
Hand's down , absolutely STRAW !
Since you are going to paint them anyway , buy two or three can's of spray paint , and give the wheels a few shots .
You will find that Straw will take that car to the next level !
Anyway that car is SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET !
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Totally agree with you, I also like straw more. And yes, it looks GREAT!
 
Never bothers me to be in the minority. I chose apple green and the compliments are endless! I personally very much like it.
 
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