G-nose

[CoastGuardZ]

Right! So basically I'm going to look like a bloody idiot...

What the heck is a G-nose?

I am indeed an idiot:stupid:

I read about it in another post, and was completely clueless. Also anyone that so feels inclined to answer this here post, if you could please leave URL's or images of the evasive G-nose and your personal opinons of them it would be greatly appreciated!

[carguyinok]

I think this one is A kit but this is what it looks like

[Ed]

A G-nose is a nose conversion where you replace the hood and install headlight extensions. You also have to replace the lower panel and the hood hinges. It costs about $750 U.S. to do the conversion (Parts only in the MSA catalog). Don' t know of any url's but if you look at "Alfadogs" avatar you will know what I mean.

[CoastGuardZ]

Thanks fellas!

Whats the deal with the G-nose was it ever factory.

In case your curious... I'm not in the market for one just wanting to get a little ed-u-macation:D

[carguyinok]

I am sure HS30-H will be posting on this one for you. He will tell it . I dont know my Z history well enough so rather then say something thats not rite. :tapemouth

Look up HS30-H and look @ his avatar. Thats the real deal.

[HS30-H]

I could not sit back and wait on this one - I just have to throw a lifebelt out to the Coastguard..............

What is commonly referred to as the "G-Nose" was a set of additional body parts that were fitted by the factory to a Japanese-market version of the Fairlady 240Z. This was called the FAIRLADY 240ZG, and the factory model designation was "HS30-H".

Basically, Nissan wanted to homologate ( make legal for use in racing ) these parts so that they could use them on their Group 4 racing cars. Under the rules of the F.I.A and J.A.F they had to build and sell a minimum of 500 cars with these parts on them. In homologating the parts, it allowed Nissan to use an even wilder version for racing, and this evolved through the gradually more extreme "Type A" and "Type B" versions as the factory race cars were further modified for Group 5 and 6 racing in Japan. As the basic "ZG" model existed, the factory only had to make these even more extreme parts available to the public through their "Sports Option" parts lists in order to be able to use them legally on their racers.

The HS30-H Fairlady 240ZG version of the S30 was designed by the Chief Designer of the S30 - Mr Yoshihiko Matsuo.

The "ZG" ( the "G" standing for "Grande" according to the factory ) was a factory-made version of the S30 Z, and simply bolting a G-nose kit of parts onto an unsuspecting 240Z does NOT make it a genuine ZG. However, the factory sold the parts through the aforementioned Sports Option lists and anybody could buy the kit and add it to their car. The genuine parts comprised a five-piece nose kit and four fibreglass "overfender" flares, along with plexiglass headlamp covers that had a stainless steel trim ring around them. The main parts of the nose were fibreglass, but the bumper was made of expanded urethane foam. The bonnet hinges on the genuine cars were also different, to allow the bonnet to clear the front filler panel properly. The true "HS30-H" model had an extra rubber strip on the rear bumper, that joined together the two corner pieces. The rear bumper was painted gunmetal to match the front bumper, undertray and overfenders. At the time of its launch, the Fairlady ZG was the most expensive of all the versions of the S30 then on sale in Japan. They only came in three colours; Grand Prix Red, Grand Prix White and Grand Prix Maroon ( another Japanese typo - which should have been "Marron" ).

In the USA, Datsun Competition offered the genuine factory parts for a short period. When they ran out, they started to sell replicas made locally, and as far as I am aware some other companies also offered their own versions of varying quality. Somehow, these were always known as "ZG" or "G-nose" kits, even if they were not all that accurate.

Mr K's famous yellow 240Z was fitted with ( I believe ) a genuine factory-made G-nose, but this does not make that car a genuine "ZG". Only the factory-built HS30-H can claim that.

As the owner of a genuine HS30-H, I will naturally be most vocal in preaching the difference between "real" and "replica" G-noses. What's most annoying is when people fit a replica G-nose and start calling their cars ZGs. If I point out that I could take the G-nose and overfenders off my car and it would STILL be a ZG, then it tends to make them scratch their heads. In fact, if I put a Ferrari 250 GTO body kit on it then it would STILL be a genuine ZG ( and it most definitely would NOT be a Ferrari!! ). The point is, only the factory made the Fairlady 240ZG. Only the factory made genuine Sports Option G-nose kits, and even putting one of them on a 240Z does not make it a ZG.

Take a look at photos of my car for clues on how a genuine factory-made HS30-H body looked when it left the factory.

Don't be embarrassed about knowing what it is. Plenty of other so-called Z enthusiasts have no idea either...........

Now how do I get down from this soapbox?

Alan.

[CoastGuardZ]

Holy Cow Alan!!!

I'm going to start sending my questions directly to you via e-mail!

I thought I was going to have to print that just so I could read it in sections!

I really appreciate the info and was wondering if you may have ever thought abought writing a history of the Z book?

If so I'd like an autographed copy!

[HS30-H]

Thanks for the vote CoastGuard, but I don't know enough about 'em to make THE definitive book. I only concentrate on what I like, and particularly the Japanese scene in the mid sixties to mid Seventies period ( especially Circuit racing and Rallying ).

"DATSUN Z - Fairlady to 280Z" by Brian Long ( published by Veloce ) is probably the best English-language book out there on the S30 Z subject, but in my opinion the definitive book is still waiting to be written. There are a fair few publications in Japanese ( I collect them ) but these tend to skim over certain very interesting areas just to avoid rocking the boat. There are still a real lot of skeletons in Nissan's cupboards, and the Japanese journalists find it easier to keep them closed. This might sound a bit cryptic to you, but you have to bear in mind that there are lots professionally litigious people in the world who are also liars or at the very least gross exaggerators. In my mind its a crying shame that Nissan never really stood up for the team who actually designed the S30, and the Chief Designer in particular. In the months leading up to the inevitable hoo-ha about the "350Z" and with Nissan talking about its heritage, its ironic that Goertz is still getting the credit and namechecks for something that he had so little to do with................ ( so sue me, Albrecht! ). If I wrote a book about the Z I would just HAVE to confront the Goertz thing, and it would be difficult to be diplomatic about it.

Very kind of you to thank me like that, but I can tend to run away with enthusiasm and get pretty persnickety ( 'specially at 2am ). Some people just tell me to "shut the hell up"!.............. hence the "Soapbox" / "Thoughts of Chairman Al" stuff.

Hope you get a Z soon ( buy the best / most expensive one you can afford ). Don't think you will regret it ( even a left-hand-drive version!!........... ).

All the best,

Alan.

[halz]

Hear hear Alan. Don't ever shut up and don't ever lose your soapbox! I'm sure our internet club hushes respectfully when ever we see one of your replies... keep it up!

[Alfadog]

Moreover, Coastguard, DONT just send him emails. I think I can speak for us all when I say we wanna soak up the knowledge too !

[Dazza]

If there is anyone in the Brisbane (Australia) area with a 240Z, that is after a fibreglass "G" nose and also a whale tail; I have one of each for sale. Size and weight do not lend the items to being freighted easily.

[Alfadog]

No thanks, but what else do you have? :D