Question: Interest in C 3 Turbine (RPO) finned hubcaps for '69-72 Corvettes

[Nick Pramov]

GENERAL INTEREST ?

I own a mid-year 1963/1967 but will always LOVE the C 3.
I am fairly new to the show circuit; I go to shows in the Northeast,
in NJ mostly. I like the upscale shows in particular and see some
breathtaking C 3 corvettes.

My ? is this: Since I am old enought to remember, and since I
have access to literature regarding C 3 ORIGINAL Corvettes,
WHY DO I NOT SEE TURBINE HUBCAPS on these cars? In my
OPINION (opinion only), WHY ARE THESE NOT DISPLAYED
ON A VERY LARGE SEGMENT OF C 3 - 1968? Mostly all sported
the "ralleye" wheel set up with no display of turbines in shows.

Why are these unpopular? Dislike looks? Scarcity? ?
Thanks, Nick

 

[Mac]

You mean this kind...?

I haven't seen too many of them around but I never really thought much about it. I have rally wheels on my 73. As far as I know, that's what came on it.

-Mac

 

[SVO]

You mean the optional PO2 hubcaps? If so, I don't know if they were that popular an option. Only about 10% of '72's had that option. Don't know about other years. They remind me too much of the hubcaps found on Impala's of that age.

 

[6880 Mike]

P01 and P02 wheelcovers were optional; some buyers liked them, some did not.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

They were last offered in 1973 and only 1700 sets were sold out of a production run of almost 30,000 cars. They were quite heavy and easily damaged, many thought they looked like something from Dad's Oldsmobile.

 

[ZZ1-70 LT4-96]

Dealers ordered

I bought my 1970 Corvette new in August in Texas. Every new 1970 that I remember looking at in Dallas did not have the "turbine" hubcaps. My new 70 did not have them. The car dealerships did not have an interest in ordering them I guess. One thing I found out quickly, only had me new 70 a few months and the hubcaps were stolen from the apartment parking lot. Hubcaps were also stolen from my 68. I liked the looks of what came on mine.

 

[6880 Mike]

...Every new 1970 that I remember looking at in Dallas did not have the "turbine" hubcaps. My new 70 did not have them...

The P02 wheelcovers were optional. You had to order them and you paid extra for them. Ralley wheels were standard and were included in the base price of the car.