"Champagne" Fuchs Center Caps - What Metal/Material?

[Dan in Pasadena]

I am buying some Fuchs center caps from fellow Pelican Steve911. I intend to have them polished by Al Reed along with a set of 15x6's I already have. The question:

Steve says the caps don't look painted, they look like the metal itself is "champagne" color. I assumed these caps were just powder coated by the factory or even had some kind of baked enamel. Does anyone know what is the deal? Can they be stripped and polished just as any black cap for example and without losing the details on the cap? All advice appreciated. Dan

[steve911]

These definitely have a tint to them, but they are not painted (as far as I can tell).

The caps in question

[strother]

Did the '80 Weissach have those centers on it? I seem to remember that it did. Nonetheless, it has to be paint, doesn't it?

[MBAtarga]

Yep, they're painted - why are they all scratched up otherwise?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Sounds like I'd better give Al Reed a call. He's probably dealt with these before and will know if they are painted, powder coated or some different kind of metal (???)

[darkbeer]

Dan....those peskey penny pinchers at the factory would never have OK'd making center caps out of differing metals for differing applications....those puppies are painted or anodized & will polish up shinny enough for a run down Malibu Cyn. Rd.....
Sounds like your car is coming along real sweet....keep up the good work!!!

[Eric Coffey]

I believe the caps are anodized from the factory. I have seen quite a few where the anodizing has faded over the years to a nice "patina". That might be the case here, but they might be painted (hard to tell from that pic). If painted, you can use aircraft stripper to remove the paint prior to polishing. If anodized, use oven cleaner. Either way, Al Reed should definitely be able to handle the job, if that is your intention.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Eric, I knew someone would know. I'll go ahead with the purchase.

[RickM]

What were the centers made of? Aluminum, steel (i doubt) or pot metal?

If a magnet sticks to the surface then they're not anodized.

[Dan in Pasadena]

They're aluminum I'm pretty sure. They polish out just as brightly as the rest of the wheel.

[sammyg2]

You can annodize aluminium to just about any color you want. A good example are the aluminium fittings on braided stainless hoses, red, blue, gold whatever.
Those caps are annodized and Al Reed can make em look great. His wife, Diane also hand paints the porsche crest on them for cheep, definitely worth it.

[Eric Coffey]

Yep, the caps themselves are aluminum. The mounting "rings" to which they are secured to are cad-plated steel.

[Dan in Pasadena]

It's neither here nor there - as I am buying the caps - but my 15 x 6's have a gap, cut or "recess" inside where the centercap ring goes to secure itself. I've heard that the older three prong caps will work on them too, but it seems to me that the prongs would be holding onto nothing and the caps would be easy to steal, or just fly off eventually.

Were the Fuchs that those caps were originally for have some different internal config than the ones for the ring type? Or did Porsche just figure it out and the ring type are the "upgrade"? Just curiuous if anyone knows.

By the way, why were standard 6's and "deep" 6's both necessary? What was gained other than possibly a deeper appearence on the deep 6's? What years were they made that they are so hard to come by they trade for premium prices. Anyone know how they look/if they fit on mid year cars? Picture?

[Carl83911]

get a set of these!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

ooooh pretty.

If I had one of those, I'd make it my horn button, not put it on my wheels! What do these cost? Probably an arm and a leg, huh?

[Carl83911]

Originally posted by Dan in Pasadena
ooooh pretty.

If I had one of those, I'd make it my horn button, not put it on my wheels! What do these cost? Probably an arm and a leg, huh?

__

Yeah, an arm and a leg and another arm and another leg.

$400.00 for the set. ouch!!!