Looks Like an Early Z to me - on eBay - your Opinion?

[DeesZ]

There is a 240Z listed on eBay as a 1972. It looks "earlier", to me anyway, because of a few things like the console design, where the lighter is, the defogger not horizontal, etc. Or could it just be a very early '72?

What's your opinion?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=110015474345&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT#ebayphotohosting

I emailed the guy asking for a VIN # and a few additional pictures. He got back to me promptly but said the car isn't where he is right now and that he won't be near it until the auction is over. He couldn't answer any questions about what the cam cover had on it either (OHC vs. 2400). He did add that the dash has a cap (we can see that), so we can assume it's relatively rough.

I gave it some thought as a potential donor car for my '72, or maybe even a fixer-uper, but the round trip would be 400 miles for me with a come-along or a borrowed truck, and it's just too much of a pig in a poke for me right now....the eBay listing really leaves me with more questions than answers... (I can just imagine the look in my wife's eyes.... she wouldn't say much, but, you know, that look!)...

If you are interested, it's sitting in Virginia....

John

[nwcubsman]

Escanlon also has a late '71 or very early '72 that has a series one dash and console, but has series 2 vents on the pillar. This is fairly common, as Nissan used parts that were left over as they were changing designs. That is why we all go to the dealer parts counter armed with the build date.

Good observation!

[hls30.com]

I think the car is "a survivor", it has had a good many parts replaced through time. Check the door weather strips- The pictures really don't show that much, probably on purpose(how much harder would it have been to pull the felt out of the floorboards), other than parts from several years/countries. As a parts car it may be a good buy at its current price, but with no visual indication of rust, no showing of the included parts, and no information until after the end of the auction, you won't know unless you win. Not a good way to buy in my opinion, add to that time it takes to pick up the truck, trailer, load the car and drive 400 miles, and you have way too much time and money(don't forget the cost of gas when borrowing a truck and trailer) in an unknown parts car.

Will

[DeesZ]

Thanks for the comments and information! I learn a lot here every day thanks to so many good hearted members.

Just too many "unknowns" for me on this one. On eBay there are often reasons for the lack of information. If the seller was new at this I may be tempted, but he's been around the block with over 100 feedbacks. The distance added in to the issue kills my interest, but there may be someone on this board out there within a reasonable distance who would have interest. I need another Z that doesn't run like I need another hole in my head.... That won't stop me though (until they find a cure for the fever)! I'm sure one will turn up nearby that I just can't turn down. I'm the same way with animals.... got too many around here, but keep taking them in.

John

Millersburg, PA

[CoastGuardZ]

I'd be interested to know the rough VIN of the first '72 model HLS30. Mine is 47945 with a build date of 9/71. I can't imagine there were too many before that and I have most if not all of the "typical" series II stuff. I'm interested in the VIN of this one... but that's about all the interest I can scrounge up for the reasons Will already posted and the "look" that John mentioned.

Nate

[Carl Beck]

Hi Nate:

According to Nissan - the Series III, 1972 Model Year Datsun 240-Z's in Left Hand Drive started at HLS30-46000, with build dates of 09/71. However HLS30-43496 is the lowest VIN we have found that has most of the changes for 72, and which was sold as a 72 Model.

We have no cars with VIN's in the 44000 nor 45000 ranges recorded at present... and lowest VIN after 46000 we have found is 46354.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

[MikeW]

I'd be interested to know the rough VIN of the first '72 model HLS30. Mine is 47945 with a build date of 9/71.

I'm 47431, also 9/71.

[cbudvet]

It is always amazing to me how the 240z seem to be pieced together with whatever was on the line that day. I have a 70 and a 71 parts car and they have a lot in common but yet they are a very different. The 71 has a series one console, dash and steering wheel but has the pillar vents. It also has one steel headlight bucket and one fiberglass. They appear original. Go figure.

[EScanlon]

H L S30 - 43274; 9/71; AT

Series I Dash (now replaced awaiting restoration of the original); Console; Seats (also replaced);

Series II Tool Boxes, Vents & Hatch, with Vertical Demister Glass.

[Carl Beck]

H L S30 - 43274; 9/71; AT

Series I Dash (now replaced awaiting restoration of the original); Console; Seats (also replaced);

Series II Tool Boxes, Vents & Hatch, with Vertical Demister Glass.

So someone swaped the seats out..?

What differences do you see in the Series I and Series II dash and center console?

Carl B.

[Carl Beck]

It is always amazing to me how the 240z seem to be pieced together with whatever was on the line that day.

Little question that during the few weeks that Series were changing, there are some overlap of parts or body configurations. But that is about the only time we see that happening. 01/71 and 09/71

I have a 70 and a 71 parts car and they have a lot in common...

Could that be because they are both Series I examples? The Series I 240-Z's were sold and titled as both "70" and "71" Model Years here in the States.

.... but yet they are a very different. The 71 has a series one console, dash and steering wheel but has the pillar vents.

Quite possible if it was built in 01/71...Several 01/71 Series II cars did show up with the Series I steering wheels.

It also has one steel headlight bucket and one fiberglass. They appear original. Go figure.

The headlight bucket - NO - they didn't start production until the Series IV 1973 Model Year... when they had to meet the 2.5mph bumper impact standards.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[EScanlon]

So someone swaped the seats out..?

What differences do you see in the Series I and Series II dash and center console?

Carl B.

Actually, I "swapped" the seat reclining mechanism from a 72 onto the original 71 seats. IIRC the original seats had the cloth bands for support on the seat cushion. The cushions had been recovered by an upholstery shop here (did a real nice job) and I just wanted more of a recline than the Series I Tilt mechanism offered.

The Series I (original) dash, had had the OEM Fog Light hole drilled out and a Cigar Lighter installed AND a Cigar Lighter above the ashtray located in frong of the shifter. Curiously, both Cigar Lighters had OEM Lighting (as discovered when I removed the dash).

The biggest obvious difference was that the Hazard Switch Indent Mount did NOT have the associated Label INDENT. There WAS a label (all faded and bleached to white) to the left of the switch, but mounted on top of the vinyl. Another difference is in the mounting legs on the right and left sides of the lower part of the dash. The 72 has plain sheet metal with a bend and edges at 90°, whereas the 71 has a built up "box" at the end of the sheet metal. Nothing major, but obviously a construction difference.

Unfortunately, the original dash had a series of cracks (NO! Really?) along it's top surface and when I obtained a 72 parts car with a blemish free dash, it was pulled awaiting a proper restore when funds become available.

These differences came to light when I was first addressing the problem of the cracks, I had bought a dash cap. Unfortunately, it arrived with the Indent for the Hazard Switch and caused problems in getting the cap to fit properly. So I requested a replacement and they just shipped me a new one. However, this was a Half-Cap...not what I wanted. Again, I got on the phone and contacted my vendor and a new one was again dispatched. The new one didn't have the indent, but was just a bit snugger than the other cap....almost to the point of asking if it was the correct one. In talking to the dash cap manufacturer, it turns out that there were at least 2 different "molds" for the Series I dash, as far as they knew, and I had the "wrong" one as far as their mold for the cap. Well, they did refund my money except for the shipping so, I felt it would be "ok".

Then the parts car popped up on e-Bay for $250.....

Series I and II center console differences are well documented here and at Zhome, so I'll just concur with them.

E