Wheel centers...black or chrome...that is the question

[LannyL81]

Always thought that the 81 wheel center caps with the aluminum wheels where all chrome...but now I am thinking I am wrong and they should be black as the rear window trim is black.....or do I have that wrong???

So what is the rear window trim and wheel center caps....black or chrome????

 

[Yoda]

Lanny,

The 1981 wheel is all aluminum NO black center paint. As I recall the last year the Aluminum wheels had a center painted black was 1979. The only exception to this that I am aware of was the 1978 PACE CAR, the PC had all polished aluminum wheels, while all the other production 1978 including the two tone Anniversary had the black centers

The rear window trim is BLACK unless the Owner removed the paint and polished up the chrome under the paint

I don't have the code # for the paint but somewhere within the walls of the Action Center this has been discussed before and the paint code listed and alternative mfr. paints too.

I painted the slot inserts on my wheels with a dark hammered gray paint. I also painted the gills on the front fenders the same hammered gray..

Bud

 

[6880 Mike]

Krylon semi-flat black will give you a very good color match.

 

[LannyL81]

Made a correction to my original posting. I was asking about the wheel center caps....not the wheels themself. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Rawj]

Made a correction to my original posting. I was asking about the wheel center caps....not the wheels themself. Sorry for the confusion.

The center cap is chrome. Rear window trim is black.

 

[LannyL81]

Good to hear that I have it correct. Does not happen often....makes me wonder what I have wrong now since I have something right....???

 

[damoroso]

Yep the center cap is chrome, but the insert in the middle with the crossed flags is black...

 

[LannyL81]

That is what I thought and what I have. When I bought my '81 it came with wheel center caps that were black on the sides. So I got a set of chrome ones with the black in the center with crossed-flags. But I always wondered if this was wrong as the rear window trim was black.

In looking around, I see that earlier years had the chrome rear window trim, but the black wheel caps. Guess GM reversed these for '81. Have not looked at an '82.

Thanks again for all the replies.