Here's a quote from Jim earlier:

"To expand on what Dennis Haynes said, there are actually two versions
of this hubcap and one will not fit on a Vanagon:

311 601 151 D - This is the first incarnation of the "flat" hubcap
that went on 4 lug Beetles, Ghias and Type 3s  They were also
installed on the 71-79 Bus.  The height on the edge is rather shallow,
but OK for these wheels.

251 601 151 A - Introduced in in 1980 with the height of the hubcap
edge increased to account for Joe Luther's problem as described.  The
front axle center stub/grease cap does stick out further than it's
previous incarnation as the venerable Bus, hence the hubcap redesign.

A lot of vendors sell both styles (and most are ignorant of the
differences), but VW superseded the "311" to the "251" over two
decades ago.  The current Hella Mexico production is the "251" style.
The "311" style is generally made in either Brazil or the Far East.

As a reminder, the 71-79 Bus and 80-91 Vanagon wheels are the same and
never changed.  They're still sold as a "211" prefix wheel by
Volkswagen in many parts of the world.

How the woman who sold Joe the earlier style of hubcap got on them the
front, I'll never know.  My 84 GL, when I bought it had "311" Caps in
the rear and "251" Caps on the front.  How's that for confusion for
the person who would not know?

YMMV,

Tom

On Feb 28, 2011, at 12:41 PM, <mcneely4@cox.net> <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:

> Tom, whether you saw it or not, some of the commentary DID leave the impression that front and rear had different wheels.  Ron Salmon clarified the situation.