Need help identifying interior console piece

[porschephile]

I will post a pic tomorrow since I am at work at the moment. Basically, I have this interior console piece that has had me baffled since I purchased my 240z. It is a small clamshell or banana shaped plastic "mini console" that bolts onto the side of the existing center console right by where the dash meets the center console. It had 2 buttons on it. One was for the heater, and I believe the other was for the defroster, but I will have to doublecheck when I get home. It has the letters "ARA" on it. Does anyone have any idea if this is an actual factory piece? I've currently modified it to mount my remote VDO tach control pad, which I think will look really cool and discrete once installed! :classic:

[Bambikiller240]

It is for a dealer installed, or aftermarket air conditioning system. Definitely not a "factory" piece.

[porschephile]

That's just it though. It looks kind of like it is factory. I mean the plastic looks almost identical to the rest of the dash and console.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by porschephile

That's just it though. It looks kind of like it is factory.

It isn't factory, that's a fact. Looks or not. Guaranteed!

It is an add-on panel to engage either a "dealer installed" (NON-FACTORY) A/C; or an aftermarket A/C. Dealers installed A/C packages on many cars, since the factory did not offer A/C on 240Z's, and to pad the prices that they could demand for a car.

[Alfadog]

Have you got a picture? Sounds interesting!

[MikeW]

Here's what mine looks like; I suspect it's the same.

[ChrisA]

Mike's picture is exactly what was on my 73. The round knob controls the thermostat with the long stiff capillary tube that goes over to the evaporator. The switch is on/off for the compressor clutch. My compressor said "ThermoKing" on it and there was installation paperwork in the glovebox when I bought the car.

Thanks for the memories Mike.

Chris

[sblake01]

ARA is a HVAC company that did a lot of a/c installations for dealers back in the 70s. There's still and ARA shop in Ontario, CA. They repalced some parts and recharged my system back in 1997 before R12 became really expensive. My 78 has the ARA system and has a smaller version of that pod with just a single knob to control the compressor. In 78, you could get Nissan factory air or 'dealer installed air'.

[PrOxLaMuS©]

that's a dealership install package...

not factory, but an aftermarket accessory to match factory

[lordbiotree]

I've got a Z with dealer installed air. They used the preexisting heater/fan controls. I don't know nothing more. After acquiring the car I dropped all a/c junk... I do have everything I took off on the parts shelf.

-Brandon

[rdefabri]

Reviving an old thread - I have something similar in my '72 240Z, but the control unit sits on top of the center console, just aft of the shifter, ahead of the ash tray.

It has a snowflake on the knob and an embossed graphic of the United States with a logo that says "Factory Air". There are wires connected to it, but there's no switch to turn on a compressor, nor does it work as far as I can tell.

I know ARA and Frigi-King were the period correct dealer options. I've had a devil of a time identifying this - any ideas?

I'll try to post some pics later...