The Difference Between Nos And Nissan Reproduction Shift Knobs

[Mike B]

I don't think the OEM shift knobs were treated like the steering wheels.  The shift knobs are entirely real wood and the steering wheels are some kind of plastic/wood mix.

 

I think the variety of wood and the stain used for the knobs changed at some point between 1971 and 1972.  All the original 1970 shift knobs I have seen are the dark reddish brown color and the 1972 and 1973 knobs are a much lighter tan color and look like a different type of wood.  I'll see if I can find some pictures to post.

[Captain Obvious]

Here's some pics of a pair of beat up knobs. Since color is affected so much by camera, lighting, and other inputs, I included a can of ubiquitous seasoning for color reference:

 

Here on the bottom, you can see some of the red tint:

 

And here's a close up of the tops where you can see the red clearly on the right and even a little on the non-glued portion of the right side knob:

 

 

And here's a close-up of the right side top where it looks like the wood looks "plastic". Even if you scrape at the grain down inside the hole, it doesn't flake off like grain should. On the outside where it's weathered you can dig into the grain (especially on the really beat knob on the left), but I think that's more a factor of 40 years of sun weathering and use:

 

[26th-Z]

Carl's comment is my thought about the example used for this conversation. Both shift knobs are 'NOS' even though they differ in dimension. Mike B points out that the shift knobs are made from wood - unlike the steering wheels which are a composite of wood fiber and resin. But we're talking about wood. Does anyone know what specie of wood? Pine? Oak? Mahogany? You all realize that wood is organic and not the same color, don't you? You realize that wood changes color over time, don't you?

I like this topic but the example is a poor one. No offense, just choose a different example.

[Zup]

About the wood--

 

26th-Z is very correct about the variability in color especially over time.

 

I think the originals were made of birch.

 

I think the Nissan current knobs are made from a "tropical"----appearing to me to be apitong.

 

Jim D.

"Zup"

[26th-Z]

Great reply, Jim. http://www.wood-database.com/

[bpilati]

Obviously whatever Nissan sells is official OEM part, no matter what it's made of. But my shift knob looks a lot like the OP's NOS knob. It's more brown than red in tone. I'm thinking that maybe they didn't originally match as much as we all think they should.

[Oiluj]

I'm usually on the "purist", original parts side of these debates, but,,,   Unless you have an original condition, Z432 or similar, from my perspective, an OEM Nissan shift knob is an OEM Nissan shift knob.   They still have the same style shift pattern insert, which to my eye, is the biggest visually identifying characteristic. 

 

Just my personal opinion. 

[Captain Obvious]

I've yet to see a repro that is accurate enough for me not to notice. Either the size, shape, or font used in the inlay is off.