Question Regarding Distributor Cap

[Mckrack]

Very Interesting, your comments. Now I would hope that any early car over the years would have had tune ups. If they were done years ago at an authorized Datsun Dealer and the replacement cap was used then it might be as valuable as the cap that came on the car from the factory.

You said the early cars had black caps and the later ones dull green. I consider that however some what ambiguous for you then go on to say the replacement cap was dull green. What actually are you saying. The way I read your response is that the early cars had black then the newer maybe 70s and 71s had green but then if you parted the original cap out no matter when you got green.

Could you be more specific.

You see if my uncle wore a dress he might be my aunt. PHEW

[Arne]

Chris may be right about the early cars having black. And he is definitely correct about the brass contacts. My original cap is much higher quality than most anything you can buy these days.

However -- I can't consider the original sales brochure to be the definitive source for the color. Not because of pre-production photo cars, lack of clarity of the photo or anything like that. But because the camera can't pick up colors buried in the dark and covered by black plug wires.

I know this for a fact, because the cap in the attached picture is the pale gray-green cap that I now have safely tucked away. Looks pretty dark in this picture, even though I lightened the exposure a bit. But trust me, it's not black.

[Mckrack]

Now that's a picture Arne. Thank you.

[Arne]

Further info, now that I am home. My cap is apparently not original, but probably a later factory replacement. It has aluminum contacts, not brass. But my rotor my well be original, judging by the color, brass contact and the logo on it, which I have seen on other early ignition parts.

And my car is not a "Series 1" but is actually a late '71 "Series 2". So the color of mine may not be indicative of the true first generation factory original, even if it is original. Probably close enough for me, but maybe not for others.

[Mckrack]

I like it. It sets the engine compartment a part.

[hd240z]

FWIW my 2/71 240Z with 62k miles has a cap exactly like Arne's and it resides on a shelf along with the rest of the distributor following an electronic upgrade. As best I can tell it was the original cap as the PO maintenance records dont mention a cap change prior to 1975 when I got it.

[1 Bravo 6]

How can you tell that it's an original Datsun 240Z part anyway????.

Does it have a part number or stamped with "240Z"????

Would Datsun have used the same dizzy and cap on other models in the range????.

Just curious.

Rick.

:devious::devious:

[sblake01]

We didn't get any other L series 6 cylinder powered cars over here during that time but that cap was probably used in other parts of the world on other models.