240Z Dash Information

[Gas Monkey]

Hey guys, i've got a 73 240Z and i've got a funny feeling that the dash is out of another car, maybe a '70? I looked at a '72 rust bucket 240Z yesterday that the guy said was absolutly stock and never mucked around with, and the gauges had the same font type just larger. Does anyone have pics of '70 '71 '72 and '73 240Z dashes so i can try and figure out whats been done to my car. I'd really like to get it as close to a factory '73 as possible.

Cheers, any help in this is much appreciated.

Gerard

[EScanlon]

The differences in the size of the font are an interesting bit of news, as I've never heard anyone mention that.

The very early dashes did not have the hole above the Hazard Switch opened up, just the indent. Additionally, they did NOT have a label nor an indent for the label to the side of the Hazard Switch. Once the cigar lighter had to be moved from the ashtray / fuse area cover to the dash, is when the hole began being used for the cigar lighter.

The "next" style of dash, added an indent to the side of the Hazard Switch, into which a decal / sticker was placed, denoting how to use the Hazard Switch.

As far as I know, the dashes stayed pretty much the same for the next few years.

I have noted slight differences between the various years, in the construction of the internal metal framework of the dash, but very little as far as the dash itself.

The 73 Z, at least here in the U.S. was the one and only year that offered a back light Heater Control Panel. Because of the added thickness of the HCP and the width of the backplate for the lights, there were some very subtle dimension differences in the HCP opening, but not so much that I could help you discern one from another.

I'll have to query regarding the font size.

Enrique

[Bambikiller240]

How about a picture of the gauges that you have in the dash you're refering to? All the gauges I have seen in 240Z's here in the US have seemed to have same font sizes for the 70-73 years. Or are you refering to the font of the mfg name plate on the glovebox door, which could have been replaced separate from the dash itself?

[karst]

Is you hazard switch a pull out green lit round knob or a toggle switch? Only 73's had the pull out round knob. All prior had the toggle. zHome.com has a pretty description somewhere of the differences.

[beandip]

My '73 dash and center consol look the same as the '72 .

[Gas Monkey]

Thanks guys, ive got some pics of my console here, the ones i took of the '72 didn't turn out at all, but they look the same except the font is almost twice as large.

I've also got a dash from a domestic market 260Z which has the L20 engine and looks very different from the 240Z, i can post pics of that if anyones interested.

[Bambikiller240]

Difficult to say with nothing to compare to, but it looks like the gauges we have in the USA for 240Z's (except the Km/h speedo)

[kyteler]

Hey guys,

I've attached a picture showing the difference between the font's. As you can see the difference is quite clear (despite the '73 dash being a bit fuzzy ) the '71 has a larger font and you'll also note the middle notch/mark that disappears on the later '73 dash.

Gas Monkey is my brother BTW guys .

[xray]

definitely comes from a 70-71 Z. Speedo begins at 20 mph, which was with the early model from what I recall...

Scratch that...missed the km/h...Sorry.

[Bambikiller240]

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[kenz240z]

Here are some photos of the dash in my '73 240Z. Mine has the pull out hazard switch that is backlit. The guages in my dash appear to have the larger font. Also, notice that the heater control panel is different from the earlier Z's, where the control levers are.

My Z has had a few previous owners, but the dash is original (cracks & all, conveniently hidden under a full dash cap!) as far as I can tell.

Hope this helps.

Kenny P.

[EScanlon]

Ken

That's a 73 Heater Control Panel. It is the only year that it was made with backlighting. The next year, the 260 came out with a different HCP and Dash if I recall corectly.

Enrique