[427TJ]

I had the same thought a few years ago when I decided to run a set of the RPO N96 mag wheelcovers. The cost of having them professionally restored far outweighs their value. After asking around I realized that restoring them myself was the only way. It turned out that the N96 type is fairly easy to restore but the wire-spoke units might be a little more complicated. I bought three sets of the N96's on eBay and then swapped the best cast centers with the best chrome outer rings (street side) and came up with a very nice, near show-quality set for my Camaro.

The local hubcap shop (now out of business) wanted $75 each for lousy ones. I searched eBay patiently for several weeks and I bought three sets for just over $200. No shop really wants to work on hubcaps unless they're being paid very well to do so.