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All 1953-1962 Corvettes came with 15”x 5” wheels and full wheel covers as standard equipment. Beginning in 1957 and continuing through 1962 buyers could substitute optional “wide wheels” that were 15”x 5 1/2”. Instead of the standard full cover, wide wheels got a small “dog dish” hubcap that covered only a portion of the wheel.

C1 Corvette

In 1953 and 1954 all Corvettes came with red painted wheels. These were dip painted so they should be red everywhere. Beginning in 1955 wheels were dipped in black primer and then sprayed their final color on the front face. Aside from some color overspray the backs of the wheels were therefore black regardless of wheel color. Also beginning in 1955, wheel color was determined by the car’s exterior color. Polo White, Gypsy Red, and Pennant Blue exteriors came with red wheels, Corvette Copper got bronze, and Harvest Gold got yellow. In 1956 and 1957 wheel color matched the exterior color with the exception of Polo White cars, the wheels of which were keyed to interior color. If the interior was red the wheels were red and if the interior was beige the wheels were silver.

In 1958 all Corvettes came with silver painted wheels regardless of exterior color. The only possible exception is cars equipped with RPO 276 wide wheels, which may have been painted black. In 1959 all Corvette wheels, including the optional wide wheels, were black.

In 1960-1961 Chevrolet once again painted Corvette wheels to match exterior color. In 1962 cars equipped with optional whitewall tires came with black wheels while cars with standard blackwall tires came with wheels painted to match body color. Optional wide wheels were also painted the same color as the car’s exterior in 1962.

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3. Corvette Restoration Tip: Fuel System – Leaded vs Unleaded Gas
4. Corvette Restoration Tip: Understanding Numbers & Codes
5. Corvette Restoration Tip: Cable Driven Wiper Transmission

Corvette Blackwall Tires, Corvette Hubcap, Corvette Tires, Corvette Wheels, Corvette Whitewall Tires