Please share … with our fellow hobbyists.
Thanks, Hal
Past Chairman of Va Fall Classic
President of Va Peninsula Car Club Council
"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit!" Harry S. Truman
Harold D. Hartel
100 Kayla Court
Yorktown, Va. 23693
757/867-6336
halhartel@gmail.com
www.VaFallClassic.org
www.VPCCC.org
From: HubcapEmpire [mailto:hubcapempire@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 6:24 PM
To: halhartel@gmail.com;
Subject: An Old 1950s Hot Rodder Has Lost His Mind
Hello Auto Enthusiasts of the Virginia Penninsula,
Yep, I was a teenager in So. Cal. in the 1950s. Was at the first race at Lions Drag Strip and most all of them after that. I've owned around 55 old cars, mostly Hot Rods. Owned 2 tire shops in the 60s and 70s, sold out and moved to Idaho in 1979. That's a little of my history, very little, but enough.
A little over a year ago I went to an auction in a small town and found about a 65 year accumulation of classic and vintage wheel covers and hubcaps. This guy had been collecting hubcaps forever, almost as long as I have been taking up space on this planet and that's a long, long time.
There was every make, model and year from the "40s", "50s", "60s" and "70s" with quite a few from the 1900s thru the "30s". 98% of them are original. I went nuts when I saw them and had to have them. Reminded me of my tire shop days when we would sell a hundred or so sets of custom wheels a week and got the stock hubcaps and wheels for free. I had almost every one of these hubcaps, except mine were mostly new. I HAD to have these, all of them.
Well, I now have them (moving them was sort of a chore) in an old bean warehouse in a thousand piles just waiting for someone to need them. The floor of that 8,000 sq. ft. building filled up very quick. Since there is no electricity, heat or water in that warehouse it took dang most all of the winter, spring and summer to sort through all of them.
I also have a business to run. We have been embroiders, for over 30 years, of hats, shirts, jackets, etc. and business is very good, thank goodness. Last winter we acquired another full time job, two Black Lab Puppies, they are training me very well. So, the hubcaps are a part time hobby to get me away from the other 2 jobs and I'm lovin' it.
Yes, they are For Sale and I thought I'd offer the car club members the first chance at what they want or need before I advertise them to the general public. So, if you or anyone in your club is looking for one or a hundred let me know. You will also get pictures of the specific hubcaps you will get and it helps if you can send me a picture of exactly what it is you are looking for. If you have a question or want me to look for some for you, please contact me and I'll be glad to do it.
Some are dented and with those I'm going to make into clocks. Great gifts or just fun to have in a garage or shop.
Oh Ya, how many hubcaps do I have ??? Approximately 30,000. Yep, 30,000 of these wonderful shiny saucers. As it says in the subject line, "An Old 1950s Hot Rodder Has Lost His Mind." My Wife totally agrees with that.
If you are thinking that I don't have what you are looking for, you better ask me because there is everything. How many people do you know that have an Oakland hubcap from the 1920s, I do.
Thanks Much,
Tom Mc Mahan
Phone: 208-734-0459
Email: hubcapempire@gmail.com
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