1969 Hemi Charger Wheel Options

[johnnyseville]

Just checking before I place an order.  Have the F70x15 redlines with poverty caps, looking to update to the nicest available for my setup.  Were the Road Wheels an option for my car, if not, what was other than the hub caps, thanks.

PS.. doing my Daytona also with the Road Wheels, but was not sure if the 15" ones were also available that year.

[hemigeno]

In 1969, wheel options for a Hemi were:

15" body-colored steel "H" wheels & poverty caps - standard equipment
15" black steel "H" wheels and full wheel covers (I think it's Sales Code W11) - a carry-over option from 1968 Hemicars; a similar cover was used in 1969 on Sportsman vans except the center section is red for the vans & gray/argent on passenger cars.
15" cast aluminum styled wheel (Sales Code W23) - the infamous "Recall Wheel", cancelled in early September, 1968

With your Daytona - unless it's a HemiDaytona - the wheels would have been 14" with all of the wheel/cap/cover options available for a base Charger or Charger R/T.

[johnnyseville]

Just want to clarify, can I put the road wheels 14" on the 440 Daytona?  They were an option, right?

For the 69 Hemi R/T, the Road Wheels were not an option?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

No..... Road Wheels were not optional with any Hemi



This one shows the W23 Recall Wheel

[johnnyseville]

Thank you very much, don't know where you got that, but gives me all the info I need. Great!

[XS29LA47V21]

I thought some W11 covers came on some 500s/Daytonas  (not hemi cars)?

[hemigeno]

I thought some W11 covers came on some 500s/Daytonas  (not hemi cars)?

In Chris' first posted picture, you can see that Sales Code W11 had two applications... one for 14" wheels and another application for 15" wheels.  The same Sales Code would indicate two different wheel covers, depending on whether it was a Hemicar or not. 

As far as I know, after Sales Code W23 was cancelled (the recall wheels), you could not order a 1969 non-Hemi B-body with 15" wheels.  When the W23 code was active, I know you could have done so - but I think that possibility went away when the cast wheels were dropped.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Thank you very much, don't know where you got that, but gives me all the info I need. Great!

In my '69 Registry gallery....

http://www.1969chargerregistry.com/gallery/albums.php

Located in my '69 Registry site

http://www.1969chargerregistry.com/

[69CoronetRT]

As far as I know, after Sales Code W23 was cancelled (the recall wheels), you could not order a 1969 non-Hemi B-body with 15" wheels.  When the W23 code was active, I know you could have done so - but I think that possibility went away when the cast wheels were dropped.

Geno I agree that you could not order a 15" rim on a non Hemi B body as a stand alone option but a 15" wheel (G70x15") was standard with the A12 440-6 package. Splitting hairs....

[charge69]

Well, if we are going to split hairs, the "A12" package cars were considered 1969 1/2 cars! My Charger came with the HEMI and the W11 package and, per the buildsheet, came with F70-15 Firestone Redline Wide Ovals and deluxe wheelcovers as shown in Geno's first picture.

[Scaregrabber]

Not a Charger but it drove me nuts when I owned my 69 Hemi GTX that it wasn't supposed to have something more attractive on it for wheels.

Sheldon

[hemigeno]

As far as I know, after Sales Code W23 was cancelled (the recall wheels), you could not order a 1969 non-Hemi B-body with 15" wheels.  When the W23 code was active, I know you could have done so - but I think that possibility went away when the cast wheels were dropped.

Geno I agree that you could not order a 15" rim on a non Hemi B body as a stand alone option but a 15" wheel (G70x15") was standard with the A12 440-6 package. Splitting hairs....

Very true on the A12 exception, Doug - and I stand corrected   

[johnnyseville]

Found these as an option to the dog dishes, would like personal opinions, this or the dogs

They are $100 each and correct for 15" Hemi, would be used with black steel wheels

[70moparman]

I much rather perfer those full size hubcaps over the poverty caps...   

[maxwellwedge]

In 1970 - You could get a 14" road wheel on a Hemi B-Body......15" only on Hemi E-Bodies

Personally - Nothing screams HEMI like painted steel wheels and doggies! 

[hemigeno]

Found these as an option to the dog dishes, would like personal opinions, this or the dogs

They are $100 each and correct for 15" Hemi, would be used with black steel wheels

If your car has disc brakes, there is yet another variant of that same wheel cover.  On those, the center bullseyes have "DISC BRAKES" text printed.

[johnnyseville]

Yes I do, the 4 piston caliper.  Was easier than I thought, called them, they have those available, same price, so now just have to decide whether to go for them or not.  Will see what type of feedback I get from you guys and will go with the concensious of opinion.

[charge69]

Correct me if I am wrong here but, I believe the wheelcovers with "disc brakes" printed on them are either C body or Dodge truck wheelcovers. I never saw a B body MOPAR with that style on it as I remember. Below is a picture of a 1969 Charger with the aforementioned wheelcovers on it. It is not me in the picture but the older man is the original owner and I bought a set of NOS, still in the packing paper and Chrysler box, wheelcovers from the other fellow in the picture. The younger man bought the Charger and my wheelcovers were in the trunk of this car as the older man, and original owner of the Hemicharger, bought an extra set from the dealer back in the day. They have the correct part number on them, both on the box and on a sticker on the backside of the wheelcover, also.

The other pic was sent to me to show how they looked installed on another car, turning out to be a GTX.

[69CoronetRT]

I believe the wheelcovers with "disc brakes" printed on them are either C body or Dodge truck wheelcovers. I never saw a B body MOPAR with that style on it as I remember

Still looking through my stuff for definitive documentation for that statement...

The car and a close up of the wheel covers

[69CoronetRT]

As far as I know, after Sales Code W23 was cancelled (the recall wheels), you could not order a 1969 non-Hemi B-body with 15" wheels.  When the W23 code was active, I know you could have done so - but I think that possibility went away when the cast wheels were dropped.

Geno I agree that you could not order a 15" rim on a non Hemi B body as a stand alone option but a 15" wheel (G70x15") was standard with the A12 440-6 package. Splitting hairs....

Very true on the A12 exception, Doug - and I stand corrected   

I would never be so presumptions as to correct you Geno. You've probably forgotten more than I'll ever know....I was agreeing with you. I just wanted to mention that the A12's (non-Hemis) did come with 15's as part of the package. That's the only exception I can think of to what you posted.

[70moparman]

Ok, after seeing pictures of them on other cars, I had them confused with a better looking hubcap I saw earlier on a members red daytona (must of been 14s), so for the record, I change my mind, steelies and poverty caps over the full caps now...   

[charge69]

Well, even though I have never seen one, a picture of a '68 with "disc brake" printed on the wheelcover appears ! Ha ! I guess one should "never say never" to anything MOPAR. The only disc brake Hemi's (2) I have ever seen had full wheelcovers without 'disc brake" printed on them, only a black painted center but, who knows? I do know that the only part number listed by Chrysler for the 1969 Hemicars are for the full wheelcovers with just a black dot there.

My Charger is not here but the wheelcovers are in my garage and have a part number of : 2881753

By the way, certainly not trying to correct anyone as my small knowledge-base would not allow that. Just imparting what I have found out researching my project. Apologies to anyone who thought different.

P.S. I plan to normally run slots on my Charger most of the time but I do have the Coker repro F70-15 Redline bias-ply tires on my original rims for a very occasional car show. Probably will leave the slots on even on most (very few) of the car shows I attend.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

If you're going to run those full wheelcovers, you need either a white line or red line tire to offest it. Blackwalls or white letter tires with full wheelcovers just looks horrible. 

[Indygenerallee]

If you're going to run those full wheelcovers, you need either a white line or red line tire to offest it. Blackwalls or white letter tires with full wheelcovers just looks horrible. 

X2

[70moparman]

If you're going to run those full wheelcovers, you need either a white line or red line tire to offest it. Blackwalls or white letter tires with full wheelcovers just looks horrible.  

X3 

[charge69]

Agreed again !  Even with the correct F70-15 Redline Firestone Wide Oval tires it looks funky on my R6 Red Charger but that is, apparently, the way it was built! My buildsheet confirms this and that is why I will usually run slots.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Dog dishes for me please but I must admit it would be refreshing to see the full wheel covers (different) and I agree with Mark about the red or white line tire

[XS29LA47V21]

   Ok, I guess I am still confused somewhat, my car is a Sept car as I recall, mostly original paint, 15in black steel wheels are behind these covers as I bought it several yrs back which I believe have been on the car at least back to 1980ish best I can guess.  I understood the red plastic portion indicated a "performance" wheel cover (not the gray ones).  

So this would have been available or likely ordered during the availability of the recall wheel period of time?  So we car really talking about the ones with red right?

ps - I would like to find a nice set of these, mine are good not great.

[hemigeno]

 Ok, I guess I am still confused somewhat, my car is a Sept car as I recall, mostly original paint, 15in black steel wheels are behind these covers as I bought it several yrs back which I believe have been on the car at least back to 1980ish best I can guess.  I understood the red plastic portion indicated a "performance" wheel cover (not the gray ones).  

So this would have been available or likely ordered during the availability of the recall wheel period of time?  So we car really talking about the ones with red right?

ps - I would like to find a nice set of these, mine are good not great.

The red centers as shown in that photo are the version used on the Sportsman vans (and maybe A100's too), but were never installed AFAIK on a passenger car as original equipment.  They would obviously fit passenger car wheels, though.

There's no telling what happened with a car coded for the recalled W23 wheels after it was built, unless you get the story from the owner at the time or the dealership to which the car was initially delivered.  Only a small number of Charger500s were built early enough to fall into that period, and some were apparently fitted with Polara wheel covers (e.g. the press release cars).

When in September was your car scheduled to be produced?  It's a 440 car, correct?  If it's a really early September SPD, I'd be interested if it has W23 on the Broadcast Sheet.  If it's late September, those wheels were likely swapped out from 14" to 15" by a previous owner rather than by Chrysler.  The Broadcast Sheet should tell the tale though.

[moparstuart]

 Ok, I guess I am still confused somewhat, my car is a Sept car as I recall, mostly original paint, 15in black steel wheels are behind these covers as I bought it several yrs back which I believe have been on the car at least back to 1980ish best I can guess.  I understood the red plastic portion indicated a "performance" wheel cover (not the gray ones).  

So this would have been available or likely ordered during the availability of the recall wheel period of time?  So we car really talking about the ones with red right?

ps - I would like to find a nice set of these, mine are good not great.

The red centers as shown in that photo are the version used on the Sportsman vans (and maybe A100's too), but were never installed AFAIK on a passenger car as original equipment.  They would obviously fit passenger car wheels, though.

There's no telling what happened with a car coded for the recalled W23 wheels after it was built, unless you get the story from the owner at the time or the dealership to which the car was initially delivered.  Only a small number of Charger500s were built early enough to fall into that period, and some were apparently fitted with Polara wheel covers (e.g. the press release cars).

When in September was your car scheduled to be produced?  It's a 440 car, correct?  If it's a really early September SPD, I'd be interested if it has W23 on the Broadcast Sheet.  If it's late September, those wheels were likely swapped out from 14" to 15" by a previous owner rather than by Chrysler.  The Broadcast Sheet should tell the tale though.

 

[charge69]

If you are neither the first owner nor know the first owner to verify original wheels, those, likely, were put on later by someone other than the factory. If you have a bradcast sheet for the Charger and the "wheel" code is "W23" , then almost anything might be there now subject to an agreement with the original owner and the dealer.

It Being a September built car, it might be interesting to know what the broadcast sheet has to say.

P.S. The buildsheet numbers for my black 15" wheels is "W25"

[XS29LA47V21]

Great I have truck hub caps    Thank you, better now then later, need to put them on my trailer then .  It is third wk of Sept car as I recall.  I have a set of those Polara wheel somewhere, but those I just can't force myself to like.  Will not matter much for a little while as I plan on running a set of old Ansen Sprint slots on that car anyway (on the unrestored old car). 

To keep on topic, sorry derailed some, I do think many do like the correct look  which I am one of, but some items are so easy to make a small change for period of time or occasions or preference.  I put a wood grain on every car, every time, if it has that other padded one (and put the padded one back on when/if I sell it).  Lots of Daytonas have the road wheels, I guess I like them too and likely would do the same and have on many past cars, but it is nice to see them with different combo's including the hubcaps at times.  Do the hub caps

[Scaregrabber]

Jeez: That's probably the coolest looking 500 ever. I think I'd live with those "second rate" wheel covers.

Sheldon

[69CoronetRT]

If your car has disc brakes, there is yet another variant of that same wheel cover.  On those, the center bullseyes have "DISC BRAKES" text printed.

Geno, as a follow up...

Checking the '68 parts book it shows the "With Disc Brake" medallion, as pictured on the 68 Charger above, as PN 2881757 and PN 2881753 as the cover for non DB cars.
The 69 parts book only shows the 2881753 cover.

Was the "With Disc Brakes" medallion a '68 only item?

[6bblgt]

If your car has disc brakes, there is yet another variant of that same wheel cover.  On those, the center bullseyes have "DISC BRAKES" text printed.

Geno, as a follow up...

Checking the '68 parts book it shows the "With Disc Brake" medallion, as pictured on the 68 Charger above, as PN 2881757 and PN 2881753 as the cover for non DB cars.
The 69 parts book only shows the 2881753 cover.

Was the "With Disc Brakes" medallion a '68 only item?

AFAIK, the "DISC BRAKE" wheel cover was '68 ONLY & C-body ONLY. Unless someone has a '68-'69 b-body b'cast sheet with "57" on it.

[6bblgt]

Also, above in reference to '69 b-body HEMI cars - TIRES were mentioned.

U65 - F70-15 red fiberglass-belted - STANDARD
&
U64 - F70-15 white streak fiberglass-belted - OPTIONAL (no-charge)

At the beginning of the 1969 model year, the only OE fiberglass-belted tire that existed was the Goodyear Polyglas - I do not believe the Firestone "WIDE OVAL" fiberglass-belted tire existed until mid-model year 1970.

I would love to see any support for or against the use of Firestones on a '69 HEMI b-body, or the existence of a pre-'70 dated fiberglass-belted Firestone 70 series perfomance tire.

Firestone "WIDE OVAL" nylon construction tires were "Super Sports" (Goodyear's "SPEEDWAY") & their fiberglass-belted tires were "SUP-R-BELT" (Goodyear's "POLYGLAS").

[charge69]

Well, all I can tell you is the fellow I bought my car from in 1976 said that when he bought the car in early 1971 from the original owner, it had redline tires on it. No mention was made of brand.  They were not there when I bought the Charger but the wheels were black and original and all 5 were there. He had 3 beat-up wheelcovers out of 4 in the trunk of the car. Everyone said I should put some custom wheels on it and it would help the "look" of the car but, I never got around to doing that before I garaged the car and did not drive it again in 1982.

I do have the buildsheet, in fact, 2 of them were in my Charger and the T-U-W code there is "U65".

My Charger's production date on the fender tag is "314". I have no way of knowing for sure my Charger originally came with Firestone or Goodyear tires but I am going with Firestone and the Firestone Wide Oval Redline tires have already been bought so, I guess the point is moot! I came back from Vietnam in April '68 and I am pretty sure I remember Firestone Wide Oval Redline tires from that era but ... that is a long time ago and I could be wrong.

Here is a picture of my Charger as we tore it down for restoration.



P.S.  I know Coker Tire is not the "authority" on this but if you look at their Firestone Wide Oval Redline series, they claim it was used on cars from 1967 thru 1974. I certainly cannot say for sure.

[hemigeno]

If your car has disc brakes, there is yet another variant of that same wheel cover.  On those, the center bullseyes have "DISC BRAKES" text printed.

Geno, as a follow up...

Checking the '68 parts book it shows the "With Disc Brake" medallion, as pictured on the 68 Charger above, as PN 2881757 and PN 2881753 as the cover for non DB cars.
The 69 parts book only shows the 2881753 cover.

Was the "With Disc Brakes" medallion a '68 only item?

AFAIK, the "DISC BRAKE" wheel cover was '68 ONLY & C-body ONLY. Unless someone has a '68-'69 b-body b'cast sheet with "57" on it.

After digging through some paperwork, that does appear to be the case.

I can only find a reference to the 2881753 wheel cover (with no wording) in any of my 1969 stuff, even in the C-body papers.  The 753 wheel cover was added to the roster of available 1969 B-body wheel covers during the model year, probably after the W23 wheels were eliminated.  It was never added to the 1969 C-body available wheel cover lineup either before or during the model year run, and they really wouldn't have needed to do so with as many other 15" wheel cover offerings as were available that year.  The Styling Department may have felt they needed SOMETHING other than dog dish covers available on the B-body hemicars, and the previous year's offering was an easy one to dust off the shelf for re-use.  My '69 Parts Book has a wheel cover illustration page date of April 1970, and the illustration's title references the 753 wheel cover as if it were a C-body offering, although the only application listed on the chart is for B-bodies with 15" wheels - which would imply hemicars.

I can't say for sure whether they used the 2881757 (with "Disc Brake" wording) on any B-bodies in 1968 or not, but had assumed they did - primarily based on the fact that I had seen the disc brake version of that cover.  That's what I get for making assumptions!  

[69CoronetRT]

FWIW for 68 Hemi BS, I have

Two RM21J with 478 CODE (11" DRUMS) wheel cover 01
WM21J8 with  478 CODE (11" DRUMS) wheel cover 53
WM21J8 with  479 CODE (disc brakes) wheel cover 53
WS23J8 with 478 CODE (11" DRUMS) wheel cover 07
XP29J with 479 CODE (disc brakes) wheel cover 07

[hemigeno]

FWIW for 68 Hemi BS, I have

XP29J with 479 CODE (disc brakes) wheel cover 07

Do I spy a base-model '68 HemiCharger?   

[69CoronetRT]

FWIW for 68 Hemi BS, I have

XP29J with 479 CODE (disc brakes) wheel cover 07

Do I spy a base-model '68 HemiCharger?   

Fat fingered typer...should be XS. Nice catch.

[XS29LA47V21]

FWIW for 68 Hemi BS, I have

XP29J with 479 CODE (disc brakes) wheel cover 07

Do I spy a base-model '68 HemiCharger?   

Fat fingered typer...should be XS. Nice catch.

I do have memories of a 69-XP29L back in high school on east coast (circa 1986ish), I have second guessed my memories several times over the years on that friends car.   In the day it was extremely nice straight tired F3 green on green as I recall.

[hemigeno]

Fat fingered typer

Join the club, the line starts back there...     I just wanted to make sure you hadn't been holding out on a piece of Mopar history.

I do have memories of a 69-XP29L

Strange as it may sound, I'd have a harder time believing you saw a base model 440 Charger than a XP29J car.  The paperwork I have (and not just one document, but several) all points to the availability of a XP HemiCharger at least in '69... not that they made very many of them, of course.  I have not seen any documents that allow for a XP29L car, but I'll stop just short of saying they absolutely positively never made one.  It's MUCH more likely that another fat-fingered typist made an error on the VIN tag back in '69.

[Dragon Slayer]

Can some one tell me what an Early 69 Hemi Charger (Sept 68) would have for Steel Wheels.  Would they have been 1968 15"x 6" Wheels with NO H.  Thank you,

[hemi68charger]

FWIW for 68 Hemi BS, I have

XP29J with 479 CODE (disc brakes) wheel cover 07

Do I spy a base-model '68 HemiCharger?  

That would be a '69 Hemi Charger R/T.. Lives not that far from me... Love the 6 max capacity...... Like someone's going to really be comfortable on that center buddy seat.... non-applicable to center console cars I would say...