1972 Orange Oil Filler Plug

[Paul O.]

Re: 1972 Orange Oil Filler Plug

Monte

Not to say it never occurred but reviewing my 4th addition of 1968-1972 Vette Vues Fact Book the items you have listed are on different pages but are the same photos. 1 is an A/C equipped 72 454 and 1 is not but both have been restored or heavily massaged and repainted. One can not make the assumption that all items are original and being the photos are in black and white being able to determan if the cap is a painted cap or a solid orange caps can not be made.

With that said to make a change to what is Factory typical per the Judging Guide many more cars would need to be found with this anomaly. If you are up to the task all information you could gather concerning the orange cap could then be forward to the NTL for review and a possible change to the Guide.

I for one will keep my eye out now for this different cap.

[Paul O.]

Re: 1972 Orange Oil Filler Plug

Monte

The way I can tell 1 has A/C and 1 does not is 1 has a Brass expansion tank and the other is Aluminum.

I am just saying since you have black and white photos you can tell the cap is not black but you can not tell if it is painted or orange rubber. The Fact Book was a product of years of information gathering from many and assembled by Dr. Dobbins does it mean it is 100% correct No. It has many very good photos and data but by no means are all those photos of 100% all original unmolested cars. In the statement the cap is Orange one could assume it is a Orange rubber cap but does that mean the assumption is correct. Just because a car has 8K or less miles does not mean it is 100% original have seen through the years many cars with similar or less miles totally restored or heavily massaged. So for you to make the case for an Orange rubber cap more evidence needs to be collected sorry to hear you will not support that effort.

I have an open mind if you view the photos one has to see the entire picture and what all the details are indicating that do not appear typical or are typical not just 1 item. I and many others are here trying to dig up all the facts we can to widen and deepen the data base for the cars we enjoy. I am also here to give the knowledge I have gained from my experience and from others given to me. But also to learn about items that are unknown at this time. If I have not learned something new today for me is a lost day in my life.

[Monte M.]

Re: 1972 Orange Oil Filler Plug

As time goes on we may find a few pictures that show the orange rubber plug was there for sure. Again, my experience with my folks Chevelle exposed me to the orange one on their car.

At this point in time I dought we will ever really resolve the issue.

Maybe there was a supply of them and they were put in the cars until that supply ran out.

The fact that a number of members remember their cars having painted ones tells us for sure that at least some were painted.

So, maybe during the 1972 run there was a box of orange oil filler plugs dropped off and used until they were gone? Or, maybe not.

There so few examples left out there that we will not be able to say anything definitively. If enough were to show up, all that would tell us is that they were used for a little while at some point. To determine how many and how often they were used, there is just too much water under the bridge to really know for sure.
M