Clear Distrubutor Cap

ctvpa

ctvpa

Senior Member
These clear distributor caps come up for sale every once in awhile on eBay. Those are original Ford marked, and I have bid to $100 and lost each one as the price soars past reasonable logic. Now they are reproduced (saving me $90).
I know they are not for fine point.

But for a reproduction of a period aftermarket item they are fun.
http://www.mikes-afordable.com/product/A12115C.html

It seems to be of good quality, and it works well.

As Spdway1 said, "$10 to see little blue sparks,,,, Whoo-Hoo "
 
Joop said:
But no FORD script on the new ones!


Correct, but I think this is a good thing. This makes the original ones still valuable, and a positive way to tell the difference.
I am waiting for someone to post the repops on the auction sites as the real thing.


BTW Joop, The brake handle is great, thanks.
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I'd like to see an entirely CLEAR distributor body. So you could see the wire leads inside the housing.

Joe K
 
Be careful! Don't forget the 1980's reproduction clear caps with Ford script. I keep this one in my touring tool box.
 

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I am running one of the 1980's reproduction clear caps on my 30 Roadster right now. I got it back in the late 80's. Interesting conversation piece.
 
Three of these currently on Ebay priced at $18.56, $20.45, and $36 delivered. The middle one of these is a bid. None have script.

Joe K
 
I sent an email to Bratton's about the new clear caps. They said that the manufacturer did not want to send them one for their quality review. Seems that business is so good they don't need any other sales locations for the product at this time. Go figure, maybe Mike's has an interest in the manufacturing with exclusivity.
 
Ford itself did not ever make these. The ones with the Ford script were made back in the 80's as mentioned earlier. These were probably made without Ford's approvel as I don't think the lawyers had jumped on the copyright infringement bandwagon as of then. Just my 0.02 worth:p

I also note that Mike's has jacked up the price of his since when he first offered them.:eek:

Bob-A:D
 
Yes, I got mine during the 'Weekend Sale' when you got more than one they were $7.50. I got 3 figuring that they would be a good gift.
The ones from the 80's sell for over $100, (well they did before this reproduction) Clo2jim you might want to take it out of the toolbox.
Joe K, I figured they would start to resell. Like the guy with the $15 reproduction ford pail he sold several for the $130-170 range. So many rip-offs. Yet when I posted the rip-off, many defended him.
 
I also note that Mike's has jacked up the price of his since when he first offered them.:eek:

Bob-A:D



Not so Bob, Price was only lowered for the weekend special.

 
I believe the 1980's era clear cap with script was made for and sold by Gaslight. They also marketed a black script body and cap in that era.
 
ctvpa said:
Yes, I got mine during the 'Weekend Sale' when you got more than one they were $7.50. I got 3 figuring that they would be a good gift.
The ones from the 80's sell for over $100, (well they did before this reproduction) Clo2jim you might want to take it out of the toolbox.
Joe K, I figured they would start to resell. Like the guy with the $15 reproduction ford pail he sold several for the $130-170 range. So many rip-offs. Yet when I posted the rip-off, many defended him.
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I tried not to opine on the valuation the sellers had set for themselves. There may be those who view Ebay pricing as some sort of gold-mine to be plucked as required. (Note this comment can go both ways, for buyers or sellers.)

And not one to do a seller an injustice. The free marketplace will out.

And caviet emptor to all who partake.

I may get a clear one eventually. More likely for me if they could sell the whole unit top in clear like so many of the 'dressy' distributor bodies.

Given that the complete two piece setup in black now runs about $20 plus shipping. I could see $30 for the same items in clear. (and that would be clear profit since it takes the same technology AND the same plastic to make the cap whether clear or red or black.)

Here's one for a VW Bug

msMwtjT3k9TpVu0S6-9-kjA.jpg

$9.50 as a Buy it Now.

Joe K
 
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ctvpa, The one I have with the Ford script is plastic. The one I received from Mike's during the weekend sale, appears to be cracked in the radius between the cap lid and the wire tower. Do any of the three you received, have this flaw ?
ctvpa said:
Are the clear caps from the 80's glass or plastic?

The ones I bought from Mikes appear to be well made, thick construction, and the car runs. So I'm satisfied.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylEhznfTj70#t=35
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