New Z's, Cosmoline, Cold, Chokes and Same Old

[carperson]

Back is 1971 my first job out of the Navy, was Port/Distribution Manager for Datsun in Chicago.

It basically involved organizing and running the distribution of Datsun vehicles from a huge "port" parking lot/holding area to dealers in the MidWest.

Some of the memories from those times include how incredibly hot the Zs still were and in great demand, the heavy amounts of cosmoline that Datsun covered the cars with before shipping them from Japan (and the smells that stuff made as it burned off engine components), the art of choke usage to start those cars and keep them running in cold Chicago winters and the same old tactics the manufacturer used to force dealers to take slow sellers (1200s) in order to get Z's. (Dealer wanted a Z, he had take six 1200s with it). Dealers also tried some pretty shady stuff to get more Z's, or get Z's early. (Some things never change) The Navy officer training helped...

Took quite a while to teach new yard guys how to choke the cars...and to check paperwork and not let dealers "sneak" Z's out early.

One of my personal memories of back then was trying to quickly get in and out of the little 1200 hatchbacks as a 6'1" and 180 lb guy wearing heavy winter clothing in those Chicago winters. The Z's were downright spacious compared to those little 1200s!

Biggest regret, not buying a new "demo" Z, for well under dealer invoice. Didn't want to borrow the money. A buddy did, and I lusted after that car for months. Seems to me the price was going to be around $2800, not sure if that included tax and fees.

[mdbrandy]

Some of the memories from those times include how incredibly hot the Zs still were and in great demand, the heavy amounts of cosmoline that Datsun covered the cars with before shipping them from Japan (and the smells that stuff made as it burned off engine components),

What is "cosmoline"?

[carperson]

What is "cosmoline"?

It's a rust/corrosion prevention liquid/spray/wax.

http://www.schafco.com/cosmoline.asp

As it got colder in the winter, back then, the stuff would get stickier-stiffer-yellower. We ended up jumping a lot of car batteries, and invariably if you spent much time under the hoods the cosmoline would end up on your clothes and gloves.

Made a very distinctive smell when it burnt off the exhaust manifolds. Stronger than today's new car smells.

The dealers loaded most of the Z's with lots of accessories and overcharged.

Same old...

[george71z]

Hey, don't be ragging on the 1200 coupes. I had a new one in 72, and would love to get my hands on another one. Had my baby for 14+ yrs., never a lick of trouble. Spent more $$ to fix the rot in the strut towers than the car cost me new. Sold it when I planned to move to Fla. and the buyer drove it away. Learned all about mechanics and maintenance with that car and gained a love of Datsuns.

[carperson]

Those 1200 coupes were neat cars. Felt like driving gocarts, compared to the "big" sedans and Z's They were a little tough to get quickly and easily in and out of when bundled up for the windy Chicago winters. We moved a lot of cars most days!

[ZSaint]

I remember the first Z I ever encountered. It was at a race track and was driven by Jack Scoville, a Datsun dealer. It was quite a hit with all of the racers and fans. I do remember Jack asking people to not lean on the fenders. He said they will bend from the weight. (Oh really!) He had a very light-weight Orange 1969 model. I feel in love with that car right there at Delta Park (Portland Raceway) and now I finally have another 240Z. This is the 5th Z that I have owned and I will have this car and until I go to the big pre-grid in the sky. It is great reading your thoughts about the Z's. Great memories!