This view shows several of the 180 ton presses used at Carpenter Industries to produce 1955 wheel covers. A total of 6 stamping press operations are required to form a flat sheet of stainless steel into one wheel cover. Here Dennis Carpenter looks on as production is in full swing. Carpenter Industries also utilizes FORD tooling to make wheel covers for 1957 T Birds, 1967-72 & 1975-79 F-100/150's.

Shown to the right is the the bottom half of an opened stamping die mounted in a 250 ton press. This is the first stamping operation done to create our 1955 wheel covers. The stainless steel sheets are first coated with a lubricant before they are stamped. This lubricant aides the stretching of the stainless steel as it's compressed between the dies. Five more stamping operations are necessary to complete to a finished wheel cover.

Once the wheel covers are made they ares sent to an outside source to be annealed. Annealing is heat treating process that relieves stresses which were introduced to the steel by the stamping operations. Without this process the wheel covers would crack. After polishing, each wheel cover receives a flash coat of chrome then finally the red and gold Ford crest center medallions are installed.