Real FIA race car #26 on ebay !!

[Alfadog]

Thanks Alan, I thought you'd be the one to chime in with more info about this car - it's just unfortunate that it is not as special as claimed to be. Still a very exciting car I think, and the story is great. Anyway Alan, you could always buy it and then squelch this rumour/misinformatiion??

Looks like the true story is half there now though -

I have contacted the owner and have hopefully got tho the bottom of this. The car had been rolled by Roy Fidler and was re-shelled by Bradburns the chassis plate from 26 was then transferred (this plate bearing original Japanese characters, had been overstamped prior to Bradburns ownership) Fia scutineers would not have been able to read this. A second hand shell had to be found due to Datsuns rarely importing spares themselves. A period shell was found from the USA in good clean and rust free condition. Bradburns re-jigged the car and fitted various new body chassis part to complete the rebuild. ALL of the parts from the original shell (which was scrapped) were transferred to this shell and the car then competed in further events in the hands of J Bradburn.

Though from what little I know about the Works cars transferring over "ALL" parts would be difficult, if not impossible!

[HS30-H]

Well, I wouldn't say it was "half there" quite yet. In fact, the vendor is simply quoting some of the things that were written in the Bonhams sale catalogue - so nothing new there - but still can't get the story straight. Some observations:

I have contacted the owner and have hopefully got tho the bottom of this. The car had been rolled by Roy Fidler and was re-shelled by Bradburns the chassis plate from 26 was then transferred (this plate bearing original Japanese characters, had been overstamped prior to Bradburns ownership) Fia scutineers would not have been able to read this.

The vendor is saying that "the chassis plate from 26 was then transferred" - but the plate on the car now ( as can be seen from the photo I posted earlier ) is categorically NOT the original VIN plate from HS30-00026! It is the original plate from the Fairlady Z shell that the car now uses, and was OVERSTAMPED with the number of HS30-00026.

What's this nonsense about FIA scrutineers "......would not have been able to read" the Japanese characters on the original VIN plate? Note:

FACT: The original VIN plate of 'HS30-00026' was an 'Export' type VIN plate, written in English.

FACT: The original VIN plate of 'S30-02552' ( the Fairlady Z body that is being sold in the auction ) was a 'Domestic' type VIN plate, written in Japanese. THIS IS THE PLATE THAT IS STILL ON THE CAR - and has simply been overstamped........

The vendor is again telling a story that doesn't add up, and you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to see what has been done here. The facts speak for themselves.

Bradburns re-jigged the car and fitted various new body chassis part to complete the rebuild. ALL of the parts from the original shell (which was scrapped) were transferred to this shell and the car then competed in further events in the hands of J Bradburn.

The car being sold is actually fitted with a mixture of standard road car parts and ex-Works rally car parts, but many of the ex-Works rally car parts are of later vintage than the original 1970 RAC Rally spec.

Many of the parts from the 1970 Fairlady Z 'donor' car were retained, such as the steel tailgate, all glass windows, standard dashboard, standard pedals and pedal box, for example.

If the vendor had started out with a totally upfront and honest description of this car, many of these things would not be a 'problem'. It is a very interesting car, with some wonderfully rare and interesting parts attached to it, but it is categorically NOT HS30-00026.............

[26th-Z]

A few pictures from my files. What I believe to be closest to the truth of the issue. I will also note that I have communicated with Mr. Bradburn about this particular car as well as others.

Here are what I believe to be the real HS30-00026 and HS30-00027.

[26th-Z]

Here is what I believe happened to most of the Rallye / Competition parts from HS30-00026. Start comparing pictures. And finally, the car we are discussing at the Bonhams auction. See the differences?

I just went back to the auction - 14 bids up to $9,000 and the seller maintains authenticity.

(Edit) In support of what Alan is saying, it is my understanding that the real HS30-00026 was crashed - rolled - and written off.

[HS30-H]

.........And this is what happened to the real 'HS30-00026'..........

[EricB]

Thanks Alan for the facts...

-e

[SteveJ]

.........And this is what happened to the real 'HS30-00026'..........

I bet that would buff right out.

[Alfadog]

Excellent photos and information! Would it be too much to direct the eBay seller to this thread? :cheeky:

Anyway, thanks guys This is the kind of stuff that I come to this forum for.

[sblake01]

Excellent photos and information! Would it be too much to direct the eBay seller to this thread? :cheeky:

Anyway, thanks guys This is the kind of stuff that I come to this forum for.

I think we need to just leave that seller in his own dream world.

[Carl Beck]

.........And this is what happened to the real 'HS30-00026'..........

Hi Alan:

I can see that the car is damaged... but please tell us the "story".. who are the people in the picture, where are they and what were they doing just before the road side stop .... and how did they get the car to begin with.

thanks,

Carl

[Unkle]

The ebayer emailed me not to clarify the statement '' it's the real thing '',

but to state simply '' what do you want ? I've got the paperwork ! I'm not

misrepresenting anything ( because he's got a few live ones bidding RIGHT

NOW ... ) . Now , where's that wascally wabbit ha ha ha ha ha !!!

[240zwinter]

I have a question.

I thought that the early Z's had fiberglass head lite buckets like my 71? The car in the pictures has steel ones since you can see them crumpled from the crash.

So did just the US Z's have fiberglass or maybe that picture was taken after the late model 240z steel ones where available?