Original 1972 Hello Kitty Gas Door

[240260280]

[RS02]

Interesting writing on the left... Not sure what it means... dealership?


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[Mark Maras]

22 minutes ago, RS02 said:

Interesting writing on the left... Not sure what it means... dealership?


Sent from my iPhone using Classic Zcar Club mobile

 I'd guess, "Put a tiger in your tank, but that would date me.

[sweatybetty]

20 minutes ago, Mark Maras said:

 I'd guess, "Put a tiger in your tank, but that would date me.

no, that would make you the shell answer man

[Mark Maras]

 I'm hoping that @kats will translate it.

 Esso, actually, but they didn't need an answer man, they had a tiger tail one could attach to one's car. Precursor of the Union 76 antenna orange ball.1965, I was 16 years old, $0.30 gas, new cars were less than $3000.00. Good times except for Nam.

[HS30-H]

The script reads: "Sochaku Rei Sho", the first part of which might be translated as "Installation instructions...". It could easily be an in-joke that we - as outsiders looking in - don't 'get'. Original nuance lost.

The Kanji actually looks like a Photoshop type digital addition to me. It seems to partially overlap - quite unnaturally - the flattened 'U' shape of the hinge doubler, and if you were going to write something on the inside of a fuel filler door, would you really choose to write it there, or on one of the flatter areas...? It also seems strangely offset to the right. Something a little odd about it.

As is always the case, context is everything. An 'Internet Find' photo could keep us all guessing for an age, but its original setting could provide an instant explanation.

[240260280]

It's available for purchase in Texas.

$18.50

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DATSUN-240-260-280Z-GAS-CAP-DOOR-Painted-w-TIGER-Japanese-characters-/292089787026?hash=item4401e87292:g:Lt0AAOSwnF9Y6UrA&vxp=mtr

 

Hinge Detail:

Edited April 24, 2017 by 240260280

[sweatybetty]

it was kind of a joke.

 

[siteunseen]

I had an Exxon tiger tail that hung outside my gas lid. Nothing that nice or meaningful though (I'm guessing).