The fitted distributor.
Which version is it?
The latest owner photographs show a black four-outlet cap, rectangular side housing, metal vacuum capsule, retaining clip and electrical leads. That combination resembles the body-mounted Lucas Opus electronic distributor shown in the Midget 1500 catalog. A photo of the distributor number is still needed before choosing its cap, rotor, vacuum unit, amplifier or service procedure.
The Moss Sprite/Midget catalog, printed p. 75 lists Lucas Opus distributor 41593 for 1975 and later remote-amplifier C.E.I. replacement 41804. It says to order by distributor number because components differ. The side-mounted housing in these photos favors the integral-amplifier layout, but does not prove that this car has a 41593 unit or that its electronics are original.
Compare the owner photos
Use the correct branch of the parts catalog
| Item | Documented comparison | What this car still needs |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 original type | Moss lists body-mounted Lucas Opus 41593. | Find and photograph the stamped distributor number on the fitted body. A matching appearance is not enough. |
| Later replacement | Moss lists remote-amplifier C.E.I. 41804 as the 1975 replacement. | Trace the actual module and wiring. A remote unit would change the parts and test path. |
| Vacuum capsule | Moss lists vacuum unit 142-890 for Opus numbers 41593 and 41656; other numbers use different units. | Read the distributor number and inspect the hose and capsule before buying. Do not select by the car's nominal year alone. |
| Cap and internal pieces | The Opus plate separates cap, rotor, timing rotor, anti-flash cover, O-ring and drive resistor. | Photograph these only during a planned inspection, preserving cap orientation, lead order and small hardware. Internal condition is not visible now. |
| Idle timing reference | The 1975 factory tuning table gives 2° ATDC stroboscopic at 800 rpm, consistent with the under-bonnet label. | Identify the fitted distributor and read the full applicable procedure before setting timing. The printed figure is not a measurement of the current engine. |
Capture a parts-order record
- With the engine off, photograph the cap and all five lead positions, then trace each of the four plug leads to its cylinder. Record which wire feeds the center of the cap.
- Photograph the distributor's metal body from all accessible sides with the cap in place. Find the Lucas type and five-digit number; keep uncertain digits as “?”.
- Photograph the side housing, its retaining screws, connector and every wire where it enters or leaves. Note whether any separate amplifier is mounted elsewhere.
- Photograph the vacuum capsule and trace its small hose to its other end without disconnecting it. Record any number or stamp on the capsule.
- Record the cap-clip positions and distributor clamp/adjuster location. Mark the present body position before any planned removal.
- Compare the actual distributor number with the catalog branch, then choose a parts list and service instructions for that number. Record direct measurements if a replacement must clear nearby hoses or filter hardware.