Wheel cover restoration

[Gordie9]

I've got a 66' with the standard, non-spinner wheel covers. These wheel covers have a black painted ring with "Thunderbird" spelled out in white letters three times within the ring. On a couple of wheel covers, the black paint has worn off in places and I'd like to restore them. Re-painting the ring looks to be a very tedious job because it is difficult to mask around the ring, and then you'll have to hand paint the white letters. Has anyone restored their wheel covers using an easier method??? Do you know of any vendor who sells a self adhesive black ring to apply on the wheel covers instead of repainting them??? Thanks

[RAVEN]

Have you checked with the Tbird suppliers like Pat Wilson, Larry's, or the Bird Nest? You may be surprised to find out that they supply restoration kits for hubcaps just like what you are asking for.

[jtschug]

I think John Draxler at Thunderbird Ranch sells a hubcap restoration kit.

[tbird]

John has been making the decals for over 20 years for a number of thunderbird MY. Have had them on some of my cars for about 21 years, they stand up very well.

[Gordie9]

Thanks,...I will give John Draxler a call.

[whitebird]

I used a fine tip black permanent magic marker on mine. It has lasted for 8 years now. Still good as new even after many washings. It was a little time consuming to do all four but I did during the winter when I wasn't using the car.

[Gordie9]

Thanks,...I used your suggestion and it worked out well.

[Gordie9]

I also used a white Sharpie paint pen to do the "Thunderbird" lettering.

[Burtman]

An off-the-wall question, I suppose, but did Ford use the same stamping for the '65 and '66?

[RedBird64]

An off-the-wall question, I suppose, but did Ford use the same stamping for the '65 and '66?

No, the 64's were unique. I think the 65 and 66 were different from each other too.

I really like th hubcaps of the 64's. As we all know, Ford was big on jet age styling and the hub caps have a great turbine look to them. They also look really good when they're cleaned up and have the scars and dents worked out of them.