FILMS "Road test in the U.S. & CANADA Oct-Dec 1969"

[240260280]

Another photo of one of the silver test cars w/o badges and open hood.

 

 

Edited January 3, 2017 by 240260280

[240260280]

On 2005-02-18 at 8:19 AM, Carl Beck said:

Hi Kats:

When I spoke to Mr. K the first time in Atlanta 1995, he said he took the "FAIRLADY" badges off the first Z Cars and replaced them with "DATSUN" emblems. Although we did not specifically state it... I believed at the time he was talking about the first three production cars to arrive in the States... they are also known as the "Press Cars" which were later given to the race teams HLS30 00006, 00007 and 00008.

According to articles written at the time, the first ship from Nissan that contained Z Cars for sale to the public, held 36 DATSUN 240-Z's and arrived in early Jan. 1970. According to Mr. Brock, BRE received their first Z from the second boat-load which contained several hundred 240Z's in Feb. 1970... that is why BRE started their race car program three months after Bob Sharp Racing got one of the Press Cars in Dec. of 1969. You may recall that John Morton had to use a 2000 roadster, up-classed from D-Production to C-Production to gain enough championship points, to make the 1970 SCCA C-Production Class, American Road Race of Champions for 1970.. (which of course he won for BRE).

Years later, in Dearborn at the Induction Ceremony for Mr. K into the Automobile Hall Of Fame in 1998, Les Cannaday and I were standing in the Hotel hallway around our rooms talking to the man that was the L.A. District Sales or Service Manager in 1969... I'm sorry I can't think of his name right now and I'm not sure of his position. He told Les and I the same story and said he was there at the time and he was the person that went and got the "DATSUN" emblems to put on the cars.

Sorry I can recall the man's name, we meet so many people from the very early days of Nissan USA at that ceremony I had a hard time keeping them straight.

That same person is the one that remembered selling the BRE Baja Z for Peter Brock in 75... so Les or I should have his name somewhere.. He was a tall/big man and may be the person in the films... I'll let you know if I can find his name again..

I don't think that there is any question that Mr. K personally removed the "FAIRLADY" badges from the Z... He said he did and others that were there at the time have confirmed it.

FWIW,

Carl

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

IZCC #260

 

 

Hi Carl,

It would be great to see more pictures of HLS30-00006 (Green) at the NYC International Preview at the Pierre Hotel.

HLS30-00007 (Red) at ARRC Daytona Nov. '69 seems to have no badges on the hatch as per what Mr. K said

It has the B Pillar badges, front hood badge, and the front fender badges in the video.

HLS30-00008 (Silver) seems to have correct badges in all photos I have seen. (btw 7 & 8 seem to have white stripes on tires but not 6)

 

Edited January 3, 2017 by 240260280

[240260280]

 

Hi Kats,

Could that be Mr. Masataka Usami standing to the right of the model in the photo above? Also would he be the expert tuner in this still from your videos? (with Mr. Hitoshi Uemura on the left)

 

 

Edited January 13, 2017 by 240260280

[Carl Beck]

Standing to the Right of Mr. Katayama's Secretary is Mr. Shiro Tsuchiya - responsible for Complete Vehicle Testing.

There is some confusion related to the colors of #7 and #8 - which may be my fault. The Red 240Z at Daytona is #8. It is pictured in the B&W Photo on Jan. 1970 R&T Cover.

 

Edited January 15, 2017 by Carl Beck

[240260280]

Like for Carl!  I used my limit of 5 likes per day.

Many thanks!

[240dkw]

Does anyone know where this video can still be viewed? All of the links to it seem to broken. Even the later ones on YouTube. I wanted to show it to someone and now it seems to be gone.