Fuel filler cap finish

[Mark H.]

What was the finish on the original GT40 caps; polished, natural, etc...?

 

[Mark H.]

After looking at time period pictures, filler caps appear polished aluminum, thought I read they were originally magnesium? Polished mag looks good, but doesn’t last. No input from original 40 owners in the know?

 

[Lee Patterson]

The early pics from Slough do not appear to be highly polished but pic quality is poor. Every real 40 I have seen has an aged dull patina look to the filler caps. They do look like aged Magnesium but I don't know the material.

 

[Mike Christian]

Here is a photo of P/1086 I took in 2009 at a gathering at Road America. The car looked original and unrestored:

 

[Mike Christian]

Issue with posting...

 

[Mark H.]

Mike's picture looks like the cap is painted?

 

[Mike Christian]

That photo was taken outdoors on a partially cloudy summer day. I will see what others I might have as there were a few originals there.

 

[Mike Christian]

 

[Mark H.]

Thanks Mike for those. The "chips" on the edges are suspect, maybe they are magnesium painted to avoid corrosion.

 

[David mono]

One from 1016.

 

[Mark H.]

So...looks like magnesium painted. Thanks to all

 

[James]

I remember seeing the fuel filler caps on P1034 and wondering the same thing. I also remember seeing something about the original caps being produced by Sterling Materials and having “SM 450” cast on them.