Distributor cap color question - what year

[grimreaper]

What year did Mopar go from the black distributor caps to tan? A friend picked up a 66 Chrysler Newport survivor and is cleaning up the engine compartment. It has a blue distributor cap. I told him to put a black cap on it but then questioned my suggestion. I am 100% sure my uncle's 66 Dodge Coronet had a black cap the day he picked it up but I also remember (but my memory is not as certain on tnis car) my other uncle's 66 Chrysler 300 having a tan cap the day he got it. Anybody got any statistics on change dates?
Thanks!

 

[toolmanmike]

This will be a interesting thread. I always thought the dual points were tan and all the single point distributors were black.

 

[mguner]

I've never seen the Prestolite distributor with a tan cap but that's not a lot of help here.

 

[67Dart273]

I just don't remember anymore, but I know I've had tan caps on single point, and don't recall OEM tan caps on dual point. Accel made a tan dual point fit cap. If you could find some old OEM part numbers that might tell you. They were called "alkyd" caps

 

[toolmanmike]

Let's look at the suppliers and see what they say. Their aplications might not be correct though. "Tan Dual Point Distributor Cap and Rotor. Our part # MP-DPTC" From Mega Parts USA

 

[toolmanmike]

Tony's Parts has some NOS caps. Looks like 66 and newer dual points had tan.


Category Price Part Number Description
NOS C & F-Body / Truck / 1961 & Older $50 1658534 57-65 DUAL POINT DISTRIBUTOR CAP, BLACK "MADE IN USA"
NOS Mech, Elec & Multi-Body $145 1658534 57-65 DUAL POINT DISTRIBUTOR CAP, BLACK "MADE IN USA"
NOS Mech, Elec & Multi-Body $245 2585000 66-71 DUAL POINT DISTRIBUTOR CAP. TAN, “MADE IN USA”
NOS Mech, Elec & Multi-Body $40 66-71 DUAL POINT DISTRIBUTOR CAP. TAN, NO WRITING
Distributors - - - - - -
$75 GOOD USED TAN “MADE IN USA” DUAL POINT DISTRIBUTOR CAP

 

[buck351]

My 67 GTS had a black cap when I got it and it with 16,439 miles on it. Got it from original owner when it was 1.5 years old. When buy relacement caps they are tan suppose i might be able to find a black one.

 

[Daves69]

2585000, 1889800, 1658534 Dual?

1838514, 2444507, 2724647 Single?

 

[krazykuda]

The distributor caps were long changed when I bought my cars....

I can't help you here...

 

[mguner]

It would also be interesting to know when the first vented caps appeared.....