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Does anyone know where to get MG TD hub caps that fit 1974 VW Beetle rims? I could use 5 of them.
Thanks!
Real MG TD hubcaps won’t fit VW wheels. Get VW hubcaps that are plain (without the embossed logos). These are available from various suppliers, but you’ll have to do some internet shopping. Some are available with no holes, some have 3 holes, but it doesn’t matter. Get genuine MG hubcap centers from Moss or another supplier and epoxy them to the centers of your VW hubcaps. I had to drill out a hole in the center of my VW hubcaps, and you might have to file down the corners of each MG logo before epoxying. By letting the MG logo extend through the hubcap, you have epoxy on both the front and back to hold the logo securely. I also put paint on the inside, and put sealant around the edges of each MG logo to prevent rust. The hardest part is locating the exact center of each hubcap for drilling. Otherwise this sounds a lot harder than it is. The result is well worth it.
Ditto that. Did the same thing for my Duchess.
But if you really want to use original TD caps, you will have to have studs welded to your VW wheels to give the TD cap something to snap onto. Basically that’s how they attach to original TD wheels too.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Alternatively, if you have 4-lug VW wheels, you can get the flat style hub caps with the Empi emblem and put larger MG stick-on decals over them.
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...All good solutions. For the record, these are the ones I started with:
These have nothing in the middle but a flat surface with three small holes. You can either stick the MG emblem over them like Kent says, or buy the replica MG TD emblems from Moss (or others) and stick them on. I guess Kent didn’t have a problem using the stick-on logos over the EMPI logo, but I would think you’d get a better “stick” with the plain flat surface. You don’t need to worry about covering the three holes — they are far enough inward that they won’t show with the replica logos, let alone Kent’s emblems.I also used these trim rings:I love these trim rings. They look so old-fashioned and are perfect for the car, showing a little bit of my newly-painted green wheels at the outside edge. The only “catch” was that 4 out of 5 wouldn’t “catch” on my wheels, something about the one wheel was different even though all OEM VW wheels and all appeared the same to the naked eye. They could be made to go into the right spot and I held them there with heavy-duty double-stick tape, which now has them stuck on so tight I think it would take a crowbar to get them off.I apologize to Paul, because I shamelessly took his ideas from earlier posts in this very forum when I made my hubcaps and then I failed to give proper credit in my first post.
GREAT LOOK! The wide whitewalls, the sunken, ribbed trim rings, the new dog dish hubcaps with the legit TD MG logo wheel emblems–that’s just right. Love the green too. A+ job on the wheel detailing!
edsnova2015-12-15 20:09:56Aw shucks.
Thanks John.Yup. That’s the approach I took.Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Beautiful look, John. My Lafer came with 14-inch wheels, which apparently were an option for some reason unknown and inexplicable. I’d love to swap them out for some like yours, but it would also entail finding a lookalike 14-inch wheel for the mock covered “spare” at the rear — and then finding someone to cut it in half to replace the one that’s there now.
1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engineTexAg, your own wheels look pretty fine already … but if you REALLY wanted wheels like mine, I think you could do it. Seems to me that you could simply cut a 15″ VW wheel in half (vertically, so there would be an inner half and an outer half). Take away the inner half, and the “inside part” of the remaining outer half should then fit right into the 14″ opening in your fake spare wheel (since the “inner part” of the outside half would be much smaller than your 14″ opening. The outside of the outer half would simply overlap the edge of your fake spare tire by 1/2″ all around, but nobody could even see that. It’s not like you would be losing a usable spare anyway, right? Then you could add hubcaps and trim rings to your heart’s delight. OTOH, it would be a lot of trouble and your present wheels look classy to me with the gold finish.johnsimion2015-12-17 02:56:21
jebarry wrote:TexYour car is great the way it is !!
I agree, the black and gold is a very classy combination.
I vote leaving it!Amor Conquista Todo
Thanks, guys. It’s all pretty academic at this point, not to mention lower on my “love to” list than refinishing the dash and refurbishing the gauges. Just had to replace the gearbox, which ate a fairly large hole in my hobby budget. Still, I do like those wide whitewalls and think a set of 15-inchers would fill the wheel wells a bit better.
1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engineCould match the “fake spare” wheel with a new set of 15s that look like ’em. These Gas Burner knock-offs are close enough that no one would point and laugh, imho. The Pedrini would be even closer to perfect (if you can find a set). Paint ’em gold–or powder-coat–and done.
edsnova2015-12-17 19:59:48I know I’m responding to an old string, but because hubcaps are not an easy option for me here’s a series of progression photos of what I have done with the BCW “limited edition” plastic center caps that came with the car.
Tom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJVersion 3 – thanks to Summit Racing, the Ebay Stickers and Eastwood’s Silver Argent wheel paint
Tom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJAnd here’s a before and after shot of the plastic center caps
Tom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJNow that I’ve looked at the pictures again I’m sorry that the rest of the wheel (besides the spinners) looks shoddy.
The “patina” of the car in general makes everyone think it is an “unrestored” original…. even the folks at the TD Enthusiast’s group (where I posted a photo of “my ride”) who immediately noticed the 15 hole variety were 14 inch wheels (they speculated that they may be MGA wheels), but didn’t notice things like cowl mounted windshield wipers and the GM heater control panel on the dash! LOL!Tom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJ
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