[HO455]

Originally Posted by factorystock

We have all heard the term "poverty caps" used countless times in the car culture to describe the small hubcap or base model hubcap. IMO, the term was always inaccurate and insulting as well. It was to be construed as "poor people buy models with small hubcaps". In reality, small hubcaps were the norm on most base and deluxe pickup trucks till the 90's, when styled wheels took over in most lines.

I believe the term had its origin with cars not trucks. The simple cap was the upgrade in trucks until the 70's. Whereas my GTO came with the simple cap that was the lowest possible cost wheel available. Making it the cheap version that sat on the back lot, not the showroom floor. My dad at one point mentioned that hubcaps were very important to how people regarded cars in the 50's and the small ones were looked down. Its the same old story about money.