Ok, so I just picked up my Zcar that's been sitting in storage for a long time. ....but now I'm trying to figure out what exactly it is that I have. From this thread, it's obviously a 260Z as it has an RLS30 VIN. But why is it when I try and pull a vin check on it, it fails to be a valid vin? Is there a "known" prefix or suffix I'm supposed to be adding? Tells me not enough digits. Also, is there a link that tells me how to exactly break down the VIN?

RLS30-014283 is the VIN.

thanks.

You can't CarFax (or similar) on cars earlier than '81 when they changed to a 17 digit VIN format for US market cars.

R - means L26 motor

L - for left hand drive

S30 - first generation Z-car chassis

The rest is just the sequential number. Not a lot of info available from the VIN of an early Z.

Know this is an old thread but will add for future reference if anyone is searching

1/74 build date vin# 020523

I have a piece of paper glued in the back of my Fsm with production dates for the Z series. I dont know were it came from, it was in the manualwhen it came with the car.

240z. 10/69 - 05/70. 000013 - 021000. 1970

240z. 01/71 - 08/71. 021001 - 046000. 1971

240z. 09/71 - 06/72. 046001 - 120000. 1972 differential repositioned 35mm to the back.

240z. 07/72 - 07/73. 120001 - 172732. 1973

260z. 08/73 - 08/74. 000001 - 060000. 1974

260z. 09/74 - 11/74. 060001 - 200000. 1974 Federal 5 mph bumper regulations.

280z ....

The list goes through to the 280zxt 06/83. 737691

The numbers fit for my 280z. For the 77 280z its correct.

Hope that helps

Even thought this thread is old and my info is not what Carl is looking for, I think the subject is interesting.

Over the years I have seen 260Z #97 and #99. Both had production dates of 7/73 and both were painted

907 white. My 260 is #1979 and is also painted 907 white. It seems that the tempo of production was a

bit slow for the first few months.

Oops! I meant 904 white

12/73 vin 15896

It seems that the tempo of production was a

bit slow for the first few months.

We had the "Oil Embargo" aka Fuel Shortages at the end of 73 and that put a real damper on the US economy - which was already slow. AIR - when I moved here to Florida in 73 the unemployment rate was over 14% and Mortage Rates were around 12%. Add the effects of the ever stricter Emissions Standards that robbed performance and Sports Car sales were at a snails pace.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Here's another theory, Carl. Quite a few parts changed from the 240Z to the 260Z. There could have been supplier issues with the interior parts, etc., that could have slowed production.

How about considering the effects on supply before demand?

The 1973 Arab-Israeli 'Yom Kippur War' and the OPEC oil embargo that followed it caused huge disruption in Japanese manufacturing and the Japanese economy as a whole. As Japan imported all of its oil, the embargo had massive implications for Japanese industry. That period became known as the 'Oil Shock' in Japan, and its effects lasted for many years beyond the initial events.

Looks like we have the beginnings of a similar situation in the same region again today....

My 260Z VIN is RLS30004231 Date first sold 11/20/1973 Color is Brown...