Morris Minor Owners Club

Having just bought a 1971 Austin van I would like to know what type of hub caps it should have. Were they plain ones or did they have the 'A' badge in the centre? If the latter, which Austin hub caps would fit a Minor wheel? Do A35/A40 caps fit? I'd be grateful for your knowledgable comments.

No the chrome hubcaps for an A 35 will not fit. The vans (from '53 onward) used wider rims and consequently used different hubcaps. Try ESM or Bull Motif. Van hubcaps are usually plain.

Thanks for your helpful reply. Has anyone got any plain hubcaps to sell?? My van's fitted with 13" Minilites and I don't like them!

Hi,
You can buy all types of hubcaps new from the usual Minor specialists, in both chrome (most shiny but rust prone) and stainless steel (long lasting better for every day use).
They are the same size as all the cars, from 53 onwards regardless of wheel width. the later 8cwt vans with the wider rims use the same centres as the narrower car type rims so the fittings are the same. From the mid 60s onwards, after the introduction of the Austin badged vans (no doubt someone will kow the exact date, not got a moggy book to hand!) the commercials used plain hubcaps, presumably to simplify the production line process when both Austin and Morris badged vehicles were being produced simultaneously.

Therefore, a 71 van would be correct to have plain hubcaps probably in stainless as later ones were. What you choose to put on however is up to you. I have seen Austin LCVs with A logos in the middle of the hubcaps, I'm guessing these are from Austin Cambridge type vehicles.

All post 53 Minors have 8 3/4" dia hubcaps whereas the earlier cars had slightly smaller 8 1/2" ones. (unless they've been upgraded to later axles).

Hope that helps!

Thanks, Ian, that's very comprehensive. WHen I work out how to load pictures I will post some!

To upload a photo:

When posting a message you'll see an 'upload picture' box at the bottom left of the text box.
Click on the 'browse' button and find the photo on your pc that you wish to upload.
Click the 'preview' button to check that your photo has uploaded.
Press 'submit' and hopefully we'll all be able to see your photo

To upload more than one photo at a time just follow the above procedure and click on the 'preview' button every time you wish to upload a new photo then 'submit' when all the photos are loaded.

Thank you very much Louise - I should be able to do that now. Have printed out your very clear instructions and try them out after dinner! By the way, Gormley was the name of my last MM, because it was a very old Minor. The van doesn't have a name yet.[frame][/frame]