Correct Color Of Tailight Panel Nd Grill?

[Mckrack]

Hey Guys appreciate the discussion. When I spoke with Les he told me the opposite. That's sort of weird. Can't tell you where I learned it because I forgot who told me. If you look at the Program cars you will see a difference. Now Les told me he did one program car but Pierre and the other guy did the rest and I noticed that on many of those cars the grill and rear panel were lighter.

I want to get it as perfect as I can. I already have to do those parts over again because I made them too light.

If you wnat to get to the bottom of it I think there are a couple of guys in the Tampa or Clearwater area of FLA that might know.

McKrack

[a7dz]

I like Will have had my car over thirty years and the grill and tail light finisher panels are the same color. The texture of the two is different but, the color is the same.

I too would like to know where and how we have came to that conclusion. Not to be argumentive just to get the correct info.

[xray]

McKrack,

If you use the program cars as reference, you may be on a bad starting point. Forum search for those Factory Authorized Restorations shows fairly extensive documentation of variations between what is truly original versus what was used to create the restoration. Best to use photos from 1970-1972 or so to get an accurate depiction.

Perhaps Carl Beck could chime in, as I think he was selling the car when it first came around...

[hls30.com]

Mckrack,

I compaired all three of those areas on my first Z restoration more than 18 years ago, and I have always believed they were the same-I thought I had asked AJ at one time...

So this afternoon I asked AJ about the color differences and he said Nissan supplied and called for only one color for touchup of all of the gray metalic trim on the car-and if they were painted different colors originally, it was not in the original parts specification from Nissan.

As we were talking,

He pulled out a box of NOS hubcaps(hopefully soon to be mine!) compared them to my NOS taillight panel, and NOS Front Grill, and an NOS hubcap-all stored in the red and blue striped Nissan Motor boxes since purchased new more than 25 years ago-I doubt more than a few seconds of sun light-all three are the same color and texture.

Maybe the difference you are talking about is due to the color of the substrate being painted-much like painting a car a over light vs dark primer-same paint two slightly different hues. Painting over chrome plate would look different, and change color faster than painting over red primer.

I have known AJ for more than 20 years, and all of that time I have considered him a true Z expert, When I have asked him something he didn't know, he has always told me what he suspected, and labeled his answer appropriately. He was certian of this answer, and the direct comparason of his parts to mine supported his answer.

I don't want you to have the possability of being given incorrect information because fo your recent introduction to the Z, and your posted lack of a Z mentor. I have tried to help provide better information than the normal NEWbie would have access to because your serious involvement and posted details show that you are not the typical NEWby, and are clearly working on a thorough restoration and not a driver. I would hate to have you put the time and effort you seem to be investing in your car to find out more than your floors were affected by someone who is less than s professional. With the level of detail you are putting into your car, I can't wait to see it at Daytona-if you sign up-or maybe on a side trip if you don't. I would just hate to see you lose points or piece of mind because of misinformation(even if it is unintentional.)

Will

PS, AJ is only human, and could be mistaken, but I think the forgotten source of information is not as accurate as it has lead you to believe.

I'll watch for your signup for Daytona, and look folward to shaking your hand and seeing your car!

I also noticed on older hubcaps the paint is very smooth-probably due to the buffing effect of spinning at healthy speeds in a constant flow of dust, and the scrubbing they got to clean brake dust off them that the grill and the taillight panels hardly ever required.

[26th-Z]

Mckrack IS the idiot, Burt Diamond! He's just trying to start another one of the "cardogman" arguments. Same deal with the shift boot thread. I thought you were kicked off this site, Burt.

[Mckrack]

I am a student of the 240z car and have been saving money for quite a long time now and speaking with and reading all there is to know about this kind of car.

First off I take it as a personal afront that you mention something about me being kosher in a derogatory way. I didn't know they had people like you on this site. As for me being argumentative I believe that you have it the other way around. I am trying to get the correct opinions from some people who know more about this car then me.

Now if you want to pass me off as someone else that's fine but I have no I dea what you are talking about. However if I was this Bert guy I wouldn't blame him for being banned because if you want to keep misrepresenting me and what I have posted then I think maybe you shouldn't respond to my questions huh?

So moving on I still believe that the colors are different. The closest thing I can come up with is maybe the response about the substrate of the meatl or the difference in texture. But wouldn't the program cars be accurate since they were inspected by Nissan before delievery to the specific dealers?

McKrack

P.S. If the guy 26 or something wants to chide me and insinuate that I am an idiot then do you think that maybe he should be reported to the webmaster for this. You know this isn't too fair and I would appreciate it if who ever knows this guy to tell him to stop.

[mally002]

Ok, the mystery is solved, I have found the answer..............

After carefully inspecting my little green 240z model that I bought at a local toy store years ago, and comparing it to the recent little silver model my wife bought me years ago and factoring in how much sun comes thru my office window, and the speed at which the negative ions react within the atmosphere of my desk, the color actually turns out to be .........just plain ole flat black......

The point being I have absolutley no idea what I'm talking about, and just wanted to break the tension a little......(but really my little model has flat black...

[Jim Frederick]

McKrack,

You are correct that the hubcaps, grill, and 3 piece finshing panel are different colors but this only applies to the early cars with D hubcaps notably 69 thru 71 cars. The lighter color of the Z hubcaps on 72 thru 78 cars are identical to the grill and finishing panel. The paint Les sells is the correct color match for the D hubcaps but not for the other pieces including 72 thru 78 hubcaps. I have debated this for years with other z car restorers and Carl Beck who also aggrees with me. We have compared new OEM grills and new OEM finishing panels with a new OEM D hubcap. I have also compared Les's paint and it indeed matches my new OEM D hubcap. I have also compared these new OEM pieces with my 1971 Vintage Z car restored by Pierre and a 1972 240z with 16k original miles that 99% of the miles were put on the car in 1972. The owner's wife who was the principle driver of the car died in 1973 and surviving spouse could not part with the car. This car was from Thousand Oaks, CA and was always garaged. When I purchased this car a few years ago its condition was as new and fresh as the day it left the showroom in 1972. It was truly a time capsule car. I am convinced 100% that these colors are correct.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE POST A PICTURE OF THE CORRECT COLOR OF THE TAILIGHT PANEL AND GRILL IN A SERIES ONE OR TWO VEHICLE. JUST ONE IS FINE. IT IS NOT THE SAME COLOR AS THE HUBCAPS AS SOME MAY THINK. IT IS LIGHTER. MOST CARS NO LONGER DEPICT THE CORRECT FACTORY COLOR. IF YOU HAVE THE PAINT FORMULA THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME MATCHING THE COLOR. I KNOW IT'S A FUZZY TEXTURE BUT THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE NOZZLE ON THE SPRAY GUN. :stupid:

THANKS ALOT FOR THE HELP.

MCKRACK

[Mckrack]

Thanks for the help and the clarification. My car is a 1971 240z manufactured 7/70 so it's an early series one car. My hubcaps are the D Hubcaps and I was convinced that the caps and the gril and panel were a different color.

Now the hard part getting the rear panel and grill paint formula or a good picture so I can get it right. Thanks for everyones help I appreciate it.

Chime in if there continues to be other opinions please.

McKrack

[7T1240]

Snipped:

I have also compared these new OEM pieces with my 1971 Vintage Z car restored by Pierre and a 1972 240z with 16k original miles that 99% of the miles were put on the car in 1972. The owner's wife who was the principle driver of the car died in 1973 and surviving spouse could not part with the car. This car was from Thousand Oaks, CA and was always garaged. When I purchased this car a few years ago its condition was as new and fresh as the day it left the showroom in 1972. It was truly a time capsule car. I am convinced 100% that these colors are correct.

Jim, hello.

After reading this post, I immediately clicked on you user name, and then the photo gallery link...and was disappointed to see no photos of these incredible early Z's. Will you consider posting some photos? It would be a treat for all of us!

Gary S.

[dspillman]

HI Guys,

I'll throw in my 2-cent worth.....

I can tell from looking at my caps both early D and later D caps, that they are same in color These are NOS caps in the wrappers never in the sun...should be accurate shade.

Daivd

[jmark]

I believe Les (who was part of the Nissan restore program) would know.