Hi all,

Does anyone have any insight on the different fonts used on the Series 1 AM radio faceplate for the numbers? I can see two styles:

1. A more rounded sans serif font, as seen here, here and here (on the $310k BaT sale)
2. A stenciled, almost "military" style block font, as seen here and here

I'm unsure if it's factory differences, a different model (I've seen references of a Hitachi TM-1081 with different Z and B codes), or simply restoration work.

Any information would be appreciated as I'm trying to acquire an original, correct radio for my 10/71 Series 1.

Attaching images here also incase the links go dead in the future.

I just happened upon this topic, did you ever get your question answered?

Here is a picture of the faceplate from the radio for my 7/70, #6521. It has the "rounded font". I've owned the car for 47 years, so I'm quite sure it's original.

I also have 1/70 fully restored Zed, #957. TO my surprise it's OE radio faceplate has the "blockish type font". I don't believe that it is the original radio to the car. Here's a pic.

I had a look on BaT at a number of 70 and 71's, early and late with the early radio, and all had the rounded type font. I think that the block font ones are reproductions. Just a theory.

Here is a snippet from 240zrubberparts.com. If you zoom in and squint It looks to me like a blockish font. Does anyone have one of these to check?

https://www.240zrubberparts.com/product-page/70-71-am-radio-faceplate-complete

https://www.240zrubberparts.com/category/all-products?page=3

Edited Wednesday at 12:39 PM5 days by CanTechZ

Maybe he'll get a notification or something.

@GoldAir

I assume the volume knob is on the rh side for the original RH drive cars.

2 minutes ago, Yarb said:

I assume the volume knob is on the rh side for the original RH drive cars.

Makes sense. I have not had a problem reaching that extra distance from my left seat. 😄

I don't think they ever made a Hitachi TM-1081 with a left-hand side volume knob? At least I've never seen one.

And interesting theory about reproduction vs. original. It's definitely a strong one.

One person I talked to reminded me that they threw parts at the early cars and couldn't keep up early on — often outsourcing production to multiple suppliers (not sure if that is 100% accurate or not) — so it could just be that one factory made it one way, and another made it another.