Correct Color Of Tailight Panel Nd Grill?

[BRE-240Z]

It was brought to my attention that maybe one of the reasons the right side of the rear panel is lighter on this car just as it it is I think on Anes car or someone else who posted a response on the paint colors is maybe because the exhaust fumes overtime on the drivers side of the car darkened up the panel.

The left side of the car is in the shade.

[sblake01]

This Z has a 4spd automatic that works great. A very rare option on an early Z.

Never heard of that before.:surprised

[Mike]

You know if you folks want me to move on and not use this site then just ask.

Hi Mckrack,

Nobody here is asking you to leave. I must also admit that there is no reason to prove who you are. This is a website where we freely exchange information about the Classic Zcar. As long as that concept is maintained, there is no reason to worry.

Now, back to the topic.... Did we ever determine the correct colors of both the hubcaps and the rear panel? I'm interested in this because I have a car under restoration and would like to know...

-- Mike

[Arne]

Now, back to the topic.... Did we ever determine the correct colors of both the hubcaps and the rear panel? I'm interested in this because I have a car under restoration and would like to know...

After following this thread (and ignoring the bickering), here are my conclusions.

1.) The evidence for and against slightly differing colors being used on the grills, hubcaps and tail finishers is inconclusive, mostly anecdotal, and often contradictory. None of which is surprising after 30+ years have gone by.

2.) Because no firm conclusions can be made, the question is moot for 99+% of the cars still on the road - those which will never be judged at a high level. Even for the best of these cars, the paint that Les at CDM sells is plenty close enough, and will likely be considered "correct" at any venue they may be a part of.

3.) For the very few cars competing at a high level, the question may not be moot, but it may still be impossible to be "right". Since there is no clear consensus even among the most knowledgeable people on this forum (and we DO have some really knowledgeable people here), the judges at any given event may be judging based on a different conclusion than yours. If you use Les' paint and the judge believes that the original was lighter, you're wrong. But another judge at a different event may believe that the darker color is correct. So it might be a roll of the dice.

You know, when I started with my 240Z project(s), I told myself that I wouldn't get obsessed with strict originality. This was because I felt that toeing that line with the restoration of my MGB a few years back hampered my ultimate enjoyment of the car. This vow didn't mean I couldn't follow discussion like this with interest, but I really didn't plan on worrying too much about stuff like this. Close counts, was what I figured.

This promise was easy to keep with my yellow car, since it is/was not matching numbers, and has now had a transmission swap from auto to manual. Who cares if the color of the tail finishers is absolutely dead-nuts accurate? Close counts.

The addition of the red 240Z to my stable (with its almost startling originality in many ways) has made it much harder to keep that vow. For example, look at the recent shift boot thread. For the yellow car I wouldn't think twice about using the later lace-up boot, even though we all agree that the '70 and '71 cars should have the grommet-style boot. But for the red car, I feel I need to find/make the proper early style boot. I can't quite bear to use an obviously non-original replacement for a rare original part on the red car.

But I do not plan to enter the red car in concours-level events. I plan to keep it as original as possible, but I will drive it - as much as possible. So it's going to get rock chips, and it will be dirty now and then. That's life. Because of that, I figure my car is one of the 99+% for which Les' paint is "close enough" and that is what I'll use.

[jmark]

I agree Arne. We used Les' paint on our '78 280Z and it looks great IMHO. I'll do the same on my '71 240Z.

[geezer]

Well said Arne! Although I am a seeker of the truth, just like most here, and sometimes have questions about things pertaining to correctness, a lot of it doesn't really matter. We all have a natural curiosity, and a lot of questions will never be answered simply because it would only be a best guess.

[Jim Frederick]

The left side of the car is in the shade.

I can't agree with that. Can you honestly say that this car has been in the same position ( in the shade ) all its life? I have to conclude after 30 plus years driving the 240z that the heat of the exhaust fumes will definitely discolor the finishing panel and tailight assembly. I can't tell you how much black soot I clean up off those two parts on my cars when I wash and wax them. Its totally amazing.

[Zedrally]

What an interesting thread!

I always thought that the grill was black (perhaps, it was/is on HS models)?

Is it possible that different colours where supplied for different markets?

MOM

[geezer]

There were many things done and never documented during the rapid expansion and increasing production counts. I have seen the parallel events happen here during the same time period. It could very well be that both opinions expressed here are true. At that time running changes were commonplace. If the existing facility could not keep up, out buildings or other facilities were opened to keep pace. And not for only paint. Now that's just my best guess.

[Jim Frederick]

After following this thread (and ignoring the bickering), here are my conclusions.

1.) The evidence for and against slightly differing colors being used on the grills, hubcaps and tail finishers is inconclusive, mostly anecdotal, and often contradictory. None of which is surprising after 30+ years have gone by.

2.) Because no firm conclusions can be made, the question is moot for 99+% of the cars still on the road - those which will never be judged at a high level. Even for the best of these cars, the paint that Les at CDM sells is plenty close enough, and will likely be considered "correct" at any venue they may be a part of.

3.) For the very few cars competing at a high level, the question may not be moot, but it may still be impossible to be "right". Since there is no clear consensus even among the most knowledgeable people on this forum (and we DO have some really knowledgeable people here), the judges at any given event may be judging based on a different conclusion than yours. If you use Les' paint and the judge believes that the original was lighter, you're wrong. But another judge at a different event may believe that the darker color is correct. So it might be a roll of the dice.

You know, when I started with my 240Z project(s), I told myself that I wouldn't get obsessed with strict originality. This was because I felt that toeing that line with the restoration of my MGB a few years back hampered my ultimate enjoyment of the car. This vow didn't mean I couldn't follow discussion like this with interest, but I really didn't plan on worrying too much about stuff like this. Close counts, was what I figured.

This promise was easy to keep with my yellow car, since it is/was not matching numbers, and has now had a transmission swap from auto to manual. Who cares if the color of the tail finishers is absolutely dead-nuts accurate? Close counts.

The addition of the red 240Z to my stable (with its almost startling originality in many ways) has made it much harder to keep that vow. For example, look at the recent shift boot thread. For the yellow car I wouldn't think twice about using the later lace-up boot, even though we all agree that the '70 and '71 cars should have the grommet-style boot. But for the red car, I feel I need to find/make the proper early style boot. I can't quite bear to use an obviously non-original replacement for a rare original part on the red car.

But I do not plan to enter the red car in concours-level events. I plan to keep it as original as possible, but I will drive it - as much as possible. So it's going to get rock chips, and it will be dirty now and then. That's life. Because of that, I figure my car is one of the 99+% for which Les' paint is "close enough" and that is what I'll use.

Hey Arne,

I have to say that my theory is pretty conclusive as I have an original car that sat covered in the air conditioned enviroment of CA all its life with only 16k miles that was not driven since 1973. Granted its a 1972 car and not a 1970 car but still it's as brand spanking new as it gets.

As far as the judging goes I have volanteered to be a judge in the past, met and been briefed by the chief judges and judging rules and I have never receieved any type of specs or rules of what is OEM correct for the 240z especially for series 1 cars. I really found this quite disturbing and think there should be some type of guildelines set so we can all try to get our cars done correctly and on the same playing field.

As far as Les's paint I have its say its a perfect match for the D hubcaps but for the grill and finishing panel I believe it's not and have asked him how he determined that was the correct color and he told me that he based it on the D hub cap only and not on that grill or finishing panel.

[geezer]

Jim - I think it would be senseless to second guess your evaluation. A documented well known survivor. It obviously is what it is. It is only the reasons for it that are not known.

[26th-Z]

Jim,

Your car was a wonderful example but as we both know was NOT all original. I think you may be misrepresenting your example. The original question had to do with what color, not speculation on different colors. With all due respect, I would ask that the conversation drift more toward the fact side of the issue rather than the subjective. What specific color? A color code might be in order.

Chris