Home-market HS30 options

[HS30-H]

I'm starting this thread as a companion piece to this thread started by Alfadog: Home-market S30 options

In late 1971, the Fairlady 240Z ( HS30-S ) Fairlady 240Z-L ( HS30 ) and Fairlady 240ZG ( HS30-H ) and their related derivatives were released for sale in the Japanese home market, joining the previously released ( from late 1969 ) Fairlady Z, Fairlady Z-L and Fairlady Z432.

A new sales brochure was released, and this carried information on the optional equipment that could be chosen for these models.

I have scanned the options section of the brochure, and attached photos and the options list below.

Red square denotes "Standard Equipment", and Blue Dot denotes "Option".

The relevant models are listed down the left side of the list. Here's a translation of the top line of the list:

*5-Speed Transmission.

*175 HR-14 Tyre.

*Air Con Kit.

*Leather Handle ( Steering Wheel ).

*Leather Shift Lever Knob.

*Car Stereo.

*Stop Watch Clock.

*Two Hand ( normal ) Clock.

*Reclining Seat Device.

*Passing Light.

*Fog Lamp.

*Dual Exhaust.

*Leather Top ( Vinyl roof kit ).

*Accent Stripe ( with special version for Fairlady ZG ).

*Bumper Rubber.

*Over Rider.

*Heated Rear Window.

*Headlamp Cover.

*Roll Bar.

*Tail Air Spoiler.

*Footrest - Assistant.

*FM Pack.

*New Type Wheel Cover.

*Wiper ( Black Painted ).

*Overfender.

Here are the pics:

Alan T.

[v12horse]

This is very interesting. Were most (all) these options availible in the Datsun Competition parts catalogue in N.A. or is it totally different?

Kats was telling me about the leather knob a while ago and he said it was very rare. What does the leather knob look like?

Alan, did your ZG have the dual exhaust fitted when you bought it? Was this a common option to purchase? When I was at the Z convention in LA there was a US spec 73' 240z that had the dual exhaust setup. I was not sure if it was trust or Nissan. The owner of the car was from Japan, so I would assume that it was fitted later, but I could be very wrong. It is black with the chrome tips, so it is probably the TRUST setup.

Ben

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=11406&sort=2&cat=500&page=6

[Bambikiller240]

Ben:

If you want to see what was offered in the Datsun Competition Parts catalog for USA, just remind me next time we get together. I have a 1979/80 copy with a price list that you can look at.

[v12horse]

That would be great Carl. I would love to take a look at your catalogue. I have always heard about these, but I have never seen one. Thanks a lot.

Ben

[HS30-H]

Hi Ben,

I think its worth remembering that the purpose of this options list was for it to be used at the time of ordering a new car - starting from when the prospective customer chose the exact model of S30-series Fairlady Z that he / she wanted to buy.......

Some of the original brochures and catalogues, and indeed the Sports Option lists that I have, show evidence of the prospective customer comparing prices between different models with different options. There are little notes of prices, star marks next to certain models and options, and other evidence of note making at time of order enquiry written in pencil and ballpoint pen. Its quite interesting to see these doodles.

The point is that some - or most - of these options would be best chosen when the car was being ordered new. In effect, the Japanese customer would have a 'made to order' car to his / her choice of specs. Some of the options however could ( and were ) bought over the counter and fitted to cars later on. You might imagine a customer choosing one of the twin-pipe exhaust systems as a replacement for a worn out original standard system, or adding headlamp covers and a spoiler a couple of months or even years after buying the car new.

I have seen the leather gear knob ( and the leather steering wheel ) and they are hard to describe. Essentially the same shape as the standard item, but with hand-sewn leather covering. Most of these have not survived. I think I have pics somewhere which I will try to dig out for you.

You asked about my car. My ZG had a non-standard exhaust system on it when I bought it. I have used several systems on it, but the current system is a copy of the Nissan twin pipe system - except it is made from stainless steel. Hopefully it will last longer than a mild steel system does in this country ( ie - not very long). Its dulling down nicely now ( it was a bit too shiny at first.....).

The parts offered in the USA-market "Datsun Competition" catalogues are - for the most part - different to the Japanese new car sales brochure options. The only crossovers I can see are things like the headlamp covers, rear spoilers, Overfenders, stop-watch clock etc. The Datsun Competition catalogues list more serious sports / competition parts, and some of the parts that were available in Japan through the Nissan "Sports Option" parts lists, which were another thing altogether.

Alan T.

[Gee]

Alan,

Any chance of putting up the sports option list, perhaps in another thread? Then we can all drool, wish and dig deeper at those swap meets. Failing that is there anywhere else we can get our hands on the lists?

Great thread..

[HS30-H]

Hi Gee,

That would be a major undertaking. There are several different Sports Option lists relating to first-generation Z cars, and the biggest of these has 12 pages.

Text is tiny ( difficult to scan and save as a jpeg with a reasonably legible size ) and lots of important notes are - naturally - in Japanese, which would need translating to make any sense.

The originals I have are very precious to me, and are very delicate - so they can be very difficult to scan without causing damage to spines and folds.

They are expensive to buy ( when you can find them ) and a couple of them are extremely rare - even in Japan. I don't have any suggestions as to where they can be found these days, except with Japanese automotive literature specialists and auctions.

Cheers,

Alan T.

[Alfadog]

Alan,

I noticed that the 240ZG and Fairlady Z-L both have black painted wipers as standard, and are not an option on any other model. I find this interesting - what were they painted with do you know? I always thought any black wipers on Z's were just painted by an owner at some point in time. That's right, I doubted your car.. uh!! I am ashamed.

Thanks for the new info!!

[v12horse]

In some pictures they are black, but in other pictures they are silver. Hmm. were they black because a lot of the ZG was darker like the bumpers front lower valence, and over-fenders, etc? Maybe I will paint my wipers now. hehehe, maybe not.

Were the headlight covers a later option because in the first list that you posted it did not have them as an option? This is kind of a dumb question, but I just remember the picture of the 920 gold PS30 at the 1969 Tokyo auto Salon and it had the headlight covers.

Ben

[Gee]

Damn.. I'd love to know what the options were. I understand your desire not to go through the whole drama though Alan!

I wonder what the rarest standard dealer option is though. My bet would probably be the vinyl roof, anyone know?

[HS30-H]

Hi Alfadog,

Yes, the ZG and Z-L wiper arms ( and the metal parts of the wiper blade units themselves ) were painted satin black. It seems to be a paint finish rather than a coating or anodising process. Its very similar to that on Nissan products today.

Both the arms and the blade units have different part numbers to the standard silver finish wipers.

I would presume that painting them black was more in keeping with the look of the ZG, and that the 'look' was perhaps seen as more sporty at the time - hence fitting them as standard equipment on the Z-L?

v12horse,

You may have spotted some Nissan advertising or promotion that showed silver coloured wiper arms on the ZG. I have seen the same. It may well be the black wiper arms were a late decision and did not make it into the photo sessions. Its one of those Nissan anomalies again, I think. ****-up rather than conspiracy......

I've also seen silver wiper arms on cars that appear to be original ZGs, but its impossible to be sure if this was original fitment ( doubtful ) as anything can happen over the course of 30 years or more.

I think the situation with the headlamp covers not being present in the 1969 dealer option lists is another Nissan anomaly. They were not in the options list, but they were available. They may have been missed off the list for a good reason - for example, publishing deadlines? I think its very likely. Its possible to see lots of differences on the promo and early photo shoot cars.

Gee,

Yes, I reckon the "Leather Top" would be one of the rarest. I can't imagine it had the same level of take-up as the other less garish options.

But I bet there were a fair few sold, all the same......

Cheers,

Alan T.

[kats]

Hello Alan and Ben,

Great informations for owners out side of japan!I think factory dual tips with completely tubes are still available aprx.$1,000 U.S. in the "Japan DATSUN service" in Yokohama.

They are cool,but I will not to intend to replace my original "SINGLE tip" because this is also rare nowadays and I think it is beautiful too.And many many japanese owners want to have dual tips,I am not going to do samething like them.

And I have to say I am leaving(absent) this club due to I have got so many things to do with my family.But someday I want to come back here,just my passion for Z is going to sleep.

I am sorry for this writing Alan,just keep up for putting great informations!

kats