Proper wheel color 1958 CJ 6

Okay, after years of nothing but Volkswagens, I have once again dived into a Jeep project. I bought a 1958 CJ-6 which is in solid, but unfortunately, not unmolested condition. I'd like to put it back to bone stock before I am done.
Most immediately, I need to get rid of these 16" white, wagon spoke wheels and huge tires. I want to replace them with 15" or 16" rims and NDT tires.
My first question -- and I am confident there'll be many more -- concerns the correct wheel color. For some reason I seem to remember it was white, but were other colors also used? My Jeep was originally yellow, has had one repaint in a very close to original color and I intend to keep it that way.
I've only found 3 rims so far. Anyone out there in the Albuquerque Santa Fe area who might have a couple of rims?
Thanks for any help and keep on jeepin'

1958 CJ 6

 

Welcome from Chicago!

Though I'm pretty sure other colors may have been used, the only ones I can remeber were white. I'm sure someone else will be able to answer your question better than I.

BTW- good to finally see another '6 on the boards (J/K ), and I wish you were closer- I have been looking fo a wider set of 16" wheels.

 

Hey from Phoenix!

I've got a '57 CJ5 and recently posted the same question on WT without a solid answer. Anyway, I think I can at least offer an option. My CJ came original Glenwood Green Metallic. I know this for fact as I stripped it down myself. Also in my possession are the original 5 rims that came with the Jeep, and interestingly enough, while the outsides of these rims were painted spray bomb silver, the insides are...you guessed it....Glenwood Green Metallic.

I had it suggested to me that CJ's came with white rims, but this I would believe my situation to be proof that they at least painted them to match the body on occasion. It could be that some colors had the rims to match, and others went with white/offwhite to offset the color some. For example, I couldn't imagine going with President Red and having the rims to match. The body is red enough, and doing the rims that color would only make it more like a circusmobile!

I'll be watching this thread, as I'm curious as to any solid answers. Otherwise, I think I'll go with basic black. 8)

 

You know I bet jim would be the one that could answer this one. You know I remember walking the lots back in the 70's and 60's and remember black and white depending depending if it had hubcaps seems like. Have bought them back then with both.

 

I have a couple Jeep books that have a lot of pictures, of course most of the older ones are black and white, so it is kinda hard to tell, BUT some of them look suspiciously like they are painted the body color.

I have also seen pictures of flatfenders (don't know if they are "original" or "restored") that have red wheels on a grey body, yellow wheels on a green body, etc, don't know if this is factory, and if it is, if it was carried over to the CJ-5 -6 lineup.

You might check the CJ-3B website, I seem to remember he has a whole section on wheels, including wheel pinstripe colors (I know, that is for CJ-3Bs, but good for general info).

I don't think you could go wrong either way, white(off white) or body color.

 

1958 CJ 6: First of all, welcome from Havasu. Fill out your profile, just might be someone around the corner.

 

I have a picture in one of the coffee table Jeep books and it appears that they were an off white on this guys 62. His is listed as fully restored.

 

And what is wrong with red and red? It is all in how it is presented.

Seems like I've seen original literature with a grey jeep with red wheels. Guys, what am I remembering? CJ3B literature maybe?

 

dont tell me gray with red wheels was stock? dangit dads idea might be a decent one. then its one more thing that is era correct.

 

Check the early cj pages2A, 3A 3B
grey w/red blue w/red green w /yellow etc
Didn't see these combinations with the cj5 and 6's IIRC.
Tended to be more conservative white or creme some black.

 

I just finished up restoring a 56 CJ 5 that had never been re painted. The wheels were the original comet blue color the same as the body of the jeep. (For what it is worth, I painted my wheels white. Thought it looked better.)

 

I looked in a bunch of jeep books and it looks like the rims from some date on maybe starting in the very early 60's were cream colored but it shows some 50's jeep 5's and 6's w/ other than cream colored rims.

 

Thanks for all the advice! What a great community!
I am just about convinced that the wheels were white or maybe off-white. A lot of factory photos show them that way. I had a 1960 CJ-5 some years back and the last coat of paint on those wheels (as I was scraping them clean) was white and that Jeep was green. I have seen some photos with body color wheels as well. I guess the CJ-2 & 3 guys are one up on us with their extensive wheel and body color charts.

Okay, all of that said. I was think about a set NDTs and can't decide between 15" or 16." According to a sales brochure I have, they were both available. I only have one original wheel and that would be a 16." I either need to find 4 16" wheels or 5 15" wheels. Anyone have any? Anywhere close to Albuquerque?

While I'm thinking about it, I also need those gizmos that go around the wiper shafts on the outside of the windshield that cushion the hood when it is raised. Also, would this '59 Jeep have had a hand-operated wiper or a vacuum one on the passenger side?

Slowly but surely I am going to put this thing back to stock condition. It's going to take quite a while. For now, it runs great, and the body is in amazingly good condition. I bought it from a guy in Phoenix. I don't even think I'll repaint it for now and live with the handful of scratches and nicks.

Thanks for all help in locating.

Keep it real and keep on jeepin'

 

The Military jeep sites have the windshield bumperettes for the M38A1. They are the same except the paint color
I've been told that NDT's suck in rain and snow so take that into account.
My 62 has a pass side hand wiper.