I’m not sure when the cut off occurred (’78, maybe, but not sure). The older F’s, the gas caps had a metal outer cover that was painted body color. The handle was plastic and can be left black or painted body color as well.
The newer F’s, the gas cap still used the (same) metal inner part but the outer cover is now plastic (and painted body color). The handle and cover is molded into one part. The metal inner part (that screws onto filler neck) is the same part.
Now, all replacements come in chrome (one color fits all) – but I have seen a couple of woodgrain colored plastic caps in Mopar boxes, lately. The early woody wagons had metal covers with the same woodgrain plastic wrap on them as the rest of the car had.
I recently lost my original blue metal gas cap and I miss it. Currently it has a chrome replacement on it for time being. I bought a couple more chrome gas caps which I’ll remove the chrome plating then get caps painted to match the blue paint – so that way I can have a spare if I lose another cap. The caps have been acquired and taken apart. Now, I just need to get the work down (de-chromed & painted).
On another subject, three years ago this ad popped up
https://www.forfmjbodiesonly.com/classicmopar/threads/flip-top-gas-cap-adapter.4777/ .
I purchased one (adapter) thinking this would be great as a replacement for our clunky gas caps. i already had a pair of ’67 GTX flip-top gas caps as well as a locking gas cap I purchased for my ’68 Charger (it fits under the flip-top). After pulling out my old caps (a couple of years ago) I found one cap has a major crack in it and the other one, the rubber seal is cracked bad. If I could swap the seal over to the other cap – I’d be doing great.
However, when Drilling out my plastic adapter on my drill press – the adaptor jumped from my hands and hasn’t been seen from, again (and I spent two solid weeks looking for it).
After looking at the plastic ring and looking at how the ’67 GTX flip-tip gas caps were made – I think I found a solution that I will try out shortly.
The large silver textured trim fits the contour of my station wagon nicely. The gold adapter ring
Is the only part I don’t have, and I believe I can make the metal one fit (without using the above mentioned plastic adapter) by making new screw holes into filler neck. I’ve been waiting to purchase this package – but keep finding more important things to blow my money on.
This is a picture of the locking gas cap from my ’68 Charger. If fits inside the fuel filler neck but will not go any further than flush with outside of neck. It works great – but finding another locking cap like this one, is not easy to do.
I bought this cap from Dodge brand new back in the ‘80’s (but this picture was swiped from eBay).
BudW