1978 280z black pearl?

[Carl Beck]

So...clear this up for me, please. The BP came with or without the SAP. Does that include the stripe or not? Did the stripe come optionally?

Hi Chris:

If you look at the Z Car Home Page, you will see the information sent to the Dealers about the BP and the optional SAP. What the SAP contained is specified in the "Dealer Sheet" - just click on the image to view a large version

http://ZHome.com/History/BlackP.htm

Below the "Dealer Sheet" - you will also see two different Window Stickers - one shows the Black Pearl Paint - and the additional charge for it. The second shows the additional option and cost of the SAP.

Now what about the '77 280 Z Zzap? Did it come only with the stripe and SAP? Otherwise it's just a yellow 280 Z, or is the yellow a specific color to the ZZap? Paint code 411

When it comes to the ZZZap - we have only limited documentation. The Nissan Ad.'s that we do have say that you will get the 280Z Special Decor Package on a Sunburst Yellow exterior. Jazz-Z.

The Special Decor Package contains/consists of:

Red, Yellow-Orange and Black multi-color stripes on

- Hood, Deck and Roof

- Equally striking Side Strips

- Racing Mirrors, plus Rear Window Louvers {aka Shade Kit}

I do not believe that the Sunburst Yellow in 1977 was an extra cost option - but is likely that the Special Decor Package was... We'd have to gather copies of window stickers to see what was listed as extra cost options on them.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Edited May 1, 2009 by Carl Beck
review of ZZZap! advertising

[Carl Beck]

Then Carl says; "The SAP option was only available on the Black Pearl edition." So if the Zzap yellow 411 could be purchased without the SAP, I want to point out to Carl that he is wrong once again and that he owes me $1,000;)

Hi Chris:

For the benefit of the elderly living in Sarasota - let me spell this out. Maybe pointing to the visual graphics of the individual letters will will help .

S

A

P

Special Appearance Package

The SAP was available only on the Black Pearl in 1978.

S

D

P

Special Decor Package

The SDP came on the Sunburst Yellow 280Z in 1977.

So a ZZZap Z is a 1977 Sunburst Yellow 280-Z with the Special Decor Package.

BTW Note that it is ZZZap - with 3 Z's. :stupid:

The 240-Z was the first Datsun Z and it had Zap

The 260-Z was the second Datsun Z and its larger 2600cc engine had more ZZap

The 280-Z was the third Datsun Z and its larger 2800cc engine, plus 5spd had even more ZZZap

So "wrong" is as usual a case of a befuddled mind, confused details and incorrectly defined terms. You have the address to which the "check" can be sent. I'd rather have you owe it me than cheat me out of it!!

Chris, you have to get out of Sarasota!!

FWIW,

Carl B.

[sblake01]

So a ZZZap Z is a 1977 Sunburst Yellow 280-Z with the Special Decor Package.

I don't want to open this up again. I'm just curious why that same logic doesn't apply to a BPE.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Stephen:

I think - and who knows for sure what the people at Nissan were thinking at the time - that the logic has to do with the primary focus of the different vehicles.

It seems the logic associated with the name of the Black Pearl Edition 280Z - was that it was logical to use the name of the Black Pearl Paint to identify the car, because the paint color was the primary focus of the car.

The 78 Black Pearl was a limited edition because it was actually a test market vehicle. Nissan wasn't sure that the American public would buy a black sports car at that point. So they built enough to scatter around America and observe the reaction. They were an immediate sell-out and Dealers requested more - but of course being a Limited Edition, Nissan hadn't actually set up to produce more..

There is a very nice man that worked for Nissan/Bob Sharp racing doing video work during that period. He owns the 1979 280ZX 2+2 that was the first prototype for the "Black Gold 280ZX" advertising/marketing campaign. Because of his association with Nissan/Sharp he was allowed to buy the car directly from Nissan Motors USA, and Bob Sharp put a set of Gold Gotti Wheels on it for him as a gift. The ZX has just under 7K miles now, and can be yours for $20K.

I think the logic associated with the ZZZap Z on the other hand, had more to do with the Special Decor Package itself adding some Zap! to the Sunburst Yellow 280Z. There had been many yellow Z's before ... so the color itself was not the primary focus in that case.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[NissanMaster]

Careful gentlemen your risking a British invation.ROFLROFL

[26th-Z]

Carl, you crack me up and I am so sorry that I will miss the Mitty with you. Please work on your thoughts about next year and I'm in! Could be too much fun. FYI - Sarasota isn't what you think. You should come visit instead of making me do all the driving! Of course, any excuse for a road trip eh?

But many many thanks for doing all that typing and expaining those ads. I noticed all the same stuff. Let me post them here.

One ad implies to introduce the '77 model year 280Z with more Zzzap. The other specifies the special decore package available for the 411 sunburst yellow color, dated April 1977. The Zhome paint swatch page identifies the 411 paint color specific to the '77 model year and shows it with the Zzzap decore package. I would like to see more information, specifically if the 411 paint color could be purchased without the decore package as in the case of the Black Pearl.

Ok, allow me a Beckism, please...Zzap = oops! my bad! Would you not agree that 'decore" and 'appearance' especially in this case, are synonymous? Point being, the Black Pearl was a '78 280Z color 638 with an optional package just as a Zzzap was a '77 280Z color 411 with an optional package.

Edited May 1, 2009 by 26th-Z
Insanity

[Mike B]

I would like to see more information, specifically if the 411 paint color could be purchased without the decore package as in the case of the Black Pearl.

Chris,

Take a look at this eBay auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-280Z-1977-Datsun-280Z_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQihZ020QQitemZ300311832325QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

I assume this would be the 411 paint code, since it is a 1977, and I don't see any other yellow paint codes on the Zhome site for 1977. If that is the case, then it would be an example of the 411 paint code being available without the ZZZap package. It also looks to be a very nice low mileage example if anyone is looking for a clean 280Z.

-Mike

[sblake01]

Wow! That gives me hope for when I sell mine. Mine is in similar condition, not convinced about the mileage claim and I have documentation for mine, it doesn't appear to have AC which mine does, we know it doesn't have power windows, non stock steering wheel and rims, and my asking price will be less than where this auction is now and I don't have a reserve.....

Edited May 2, 2009 by sblake01

[26th-Z]

Nice car. Thanks, Mike! I'm prodding the tender spot for a couple of reasons; the first being the ZCCA judging rules. I judged a 638, '78 280Z in the last couple of conventions. I also judged a Black Pearl or two. Wouldn't you imagine that the 'Special Decor Appearance Package' was applied / installed AFTER it arrived on American shores? Were the 411 and 638 colors available anywhere else in the world? And what about something I heard several years ago that the cars were actually painted in the US? In other words, how did they leave 'the factory'? Were these "promotional cars' available anywhere else in the world?

Edited May 2, 2009 by 26th-Z

[HS30-H]

Careful gentlemen your risking a British invation.ROFLROFL

Or even an English correction.

That'll be 'you're' and 'invasion'. Feel free to make a note of them for the next time you want to take a shot at the correct use of the English language.

[26th-Z]

Oh, I'm so glad to see you. Carl is in Georgia for the weekend. We can talk freely!

Can you shed any light on my questions? My appologies if this subject has been kicked to death previously. I don't seem to find what I'm looking for and what I find isn't accuarate - or at least I'm not convinced.

BTW, I stumbled across a source in Tokyo to buy Japanese motoring literature. Pricey! Just ordered "Great Cars Memory - Fairlady Z".

[HS30-H]

Oh, I'm so glad to see you. Carl is in Georgia for the weekend. We can talk freely!

Can you shed any light on my questions? My appologies if this subject has been kicked to death previously. I don't seem to find what I'm looking for and what I find isn't accuarate - or at least I'm not convinced.

BTW, I stumbled across a source in Tokyo to buy Japanese motoring literature. Pricey! Just ordered "Great Cars Memory - Fairlady Z".

Sorry, I don't know very much about the 'ZZZap' or 'Black Pearl' special editions at all. And what little I do know about them has been gleaned from previous posts on this forum. My impression is that there seems to be a lot of difficulty in authenticating genuine examples of both, so judging them in car shows must be a little tricky?

Glad to hear you have a new source for Japanese literature. Volume 2 of 'Showa Motors' ( NEWs Publishing, ISBN978-4-89107-581-1 ) has that three page article on the modified VZ car in Japan, and also a nice interview with Matsuo san. Recommended.

Whilst teacher is away, can I ask you to have a stab at explaining what this might mean:

The 240-Z was the first Datsun Z and it had Zap

The 260-Z was the second Datsun Z and its larger 2600cc engine had more ZZap

The 280-Z was the third Datsun Z and its larger 2800cc engine, plus 5spd had even more ZZZap

.....especially those bits about "...the first....", "...the second..." and "...the third...".

You can tell he used to sell cars for a living, can't you?