European company´s with Z parts

[Rviper]

Hi all,

Does anyone knows about european stores who have Z car parts? I´m interested in European company because it´s easy (u should read Cheaper) for us who live in the European Union to buy parts from another UE country.

Regards,

Rui

[Z-point]

Hi all,

Does anyone knows about european stores who have Z car parts? I´m interested in European company because it´s easy (u should read Cheaper) for us who live in the European Union to buy parts from another UE country.

Regards,

Rui

Hi Rui,

As far as I know us (Europeans) have no stock over here. Everything we get we have to buy at the Nissan dealer (!) and perhaps from the UK. But those firms also get supplies from the USA or even Japan.

In the recent years I build up my 240 mostly from stock of the Nissan dealer. So try the nearest big dealer!

Greetings from Holland.

[Doehring]

Como stas,Rui?

I agree with Z-point. For improvements we have to look for US

dealers . Some original Datsun parts are still available at some Nissan dealers, but it's becoming more and more difficult. Many parts have been collected also in Europe when Nissan USA decided to restore some 240Z 2 or 3 years ago. Try for instance to get a new engineblock - nothing, not even for a 280 ZX. I tried to convince some big dealers here in Germany to collect and centralise the parts from smaller collegues , no response and no support from Nissan Germany. These people are only interested in selling their boring new bread'n'butter cars and don't have an interest in history. At the moment they start to show some interest in 240 Zs for the presentation of the new 350Z, but in the long run that's a fake, it's not in their heart. European producers are here very different. Look at all the company museums like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes or VW/Audi. They are proud of their history and developments.

What we have are some private initiatives from national Z and ZX clubs to collect parts (new and used). Are you a member to a Z club? If there isn't one in Portugal get in contact with Fred Caen from the french or Steve Burns from the british club.Some dealers are in the UK (look at the pages of the british Z/ZX club). Some of them gather orders to get better discounts and to lower the transportation costs. But: Until you have the parts in Portugal you have to pay another amount of transportation costs. So you can order directly in the US. Watch the changing rates € to $ and ask for special prices.

Bom dia

Rolf

[HS30-H]

Hi Rui,

Amen to what Guus and Rolf said; there really is increasing difficulty in obtaining some of the parts that are needed to look after an early S30-series Z here in Europe.

Rolf is quite right about those "new" 240Z's that NISSAN USA "restored" a few years back; it was a mixed blessing for all of us. They used up a fair few parts that were in limited supply already, and then did not replace them. A few previously "unobtainable" parts were re-manufactured or ordered from specialists who could make replicas, but on the whole it made a little blip in the parts market and now its harder than ever before to get what you need.

Here in the UK there seem to be an awful lot of used mechanical parts still left over after the bodies they were attached to have been scrapped. These are useful for reconditioning or replacement of worn-out originals, or to use as a base for improvement / tuning. Generally, it is the body and trim pieces that are now difficult to get ( almost impossible to find some NOS European-spec. rear light units for example ). The thing that worries me most is the lack of replacement body panels ( whole rear quarters are now in very short supply, and just you try to find a whole rear light panel for an early car....... ).

Just like Rolf pointed out, NISSAN is making a lot of talk about the Z "D.N.A" in promotion of the "350Z" in the USA ( its still being marketed as a "Fairlady" in Japan I notice.... ) but they still have not even got their own museum! They have a good collection of old cars in Yokohama - but they have been like a headless chicken for the last twenty years and completely lost sight of where they came from. Its ironic that they are now looking back at their past for inspiration in the future, without backing it up by continuing production of certain parts that would help in the longevity of their "heritage" models like the early Z car. The more fuss we make about this the better, but I fear that ultimately the parts we need will just gradually dry up.

Here in Europe we Z-owners have the disadvantage of being relatively few in number. This makes it a very risky business for any specialist to make a limited run of replica parts that might be needed. Compared to something like an MGB ( which you can get umpteen replica or OEM parts for ) there are just not enough S30-series Z cars here in Europe to make it likely of breaking-even, let alone turning a small profit. Z owners seem to be very reticent about spending money on parts for their cars, and have a kind of "make-do-and-mend" mentality. That's OK for them ( although many of them have cars that do not work / perform correctly as a result ) but it makes it hard work to set up a business to sell parts for them.

The USA / North America would seem to have a slight advantage over Europe, in that there are many S30-series cars left in useable / restorable condition. Trouble is, again many owners would rather make-do / mend the original parts, and then spend their money on a flashy set of wheels and an audio.

Some specialists in Japan are making "replica" or remanufactured parts for these cars, but its usually cost-prohibitive to import these. There are also issues regarding copyright and licensing which they have to deal with. Many of my Japanese Z-owning friends have been "stashing" the rarer or more desirable parts that they know they will have trouble finding in the future.......

However, we do have a few specialists here in the UK who are being pro-active in obtaining and re-making difficult to find parts. FOURWAYS ENGINEERING have been researching the replication of some important body parts ( they have made an excellent Radiator Support Panel replica, and are now working on a complete rear light panel ) as well as many other parts. TIM RILEY ENGINEERING has developed some great conversions / replicas, with the emphasis on competition use. Many Z owners here in the UK buy parts from MJP Eastern Auto ( a selection of parts from the USA as well as OEM ). The USA has an advantage on retail price as well as availability, but many people do not like to take the risk of ordering parts that they cannot inspect until its too late.

Lots of person-to-person trading / swapping / selling goes on here in Europe, so the best idea is to start making friends with as many Z owners in Europe as you can!

What kind of parts do you need Rui?

Good luck,

Alan.

[Doehring]

Alan,

you hit the nail !

Rui,

stay with us few european Z owners. Together we become stronger and this is in line with Alan's words. There are also some very beautiful Zs in Holland, Switzerland and Austria, not many in Italy, about Scandinavia and Greece I don't know much Scandinavians please report. What is the situation in the other european countries? For Germany I think that we have about 25 240 Z, perhaps 10 280 Z (was never sold here) and up to 50 260 Z and 260 Z 2+2.

We have Porsche 356, Mercedes 300 SL and 190 SL and even old Ferraris in a bigger number than Zs. Very rare are the early roadsters here, about 10 I guess.

Rolf

[Rviper]

Thank You all for your quick answer´s.

I don´t have Z. Z´s are very rare in Portugal (only the 240 and 260 were marketed, and only 120 Z´s were sold). I would like to have a Z (talking in years) so i´m begining to look for dealers with parts. The portuguese Nissan´s dealer doesn´t have any part.

Well, this story start´s like this: I love the 70´s japanese cars, i started with the 1971 Toyota Celica ST TA22. Last december i received an e-mail from Toyota saying that they had stock of many the parts that i needed, so i invested a lot of money on the bodywork and now.... there are no parts available!!! So ím a bit disapointed by now.

Last night at 3:00 AM, i was talking with a friend about the japanese cars never be considered as Classic´s, due to that lack of proud that Doehring talked about, but we excluded the Z series.

So that´s why i´m starting to look for possible "escapes", to avoid a "no end" project.

I prefer european country´s just to avoid the taxes and duty´s. As HS30-H said, the USA has an advantage on retail price as well as availability, but in the end the Taxes and Transport will make things dificult.

The 240Z costs here about 12.500€ in good conditions, but he always will need spare parts.

Regards,

Rui

Note: Is the 240K GT a good car to donate parts for the Z?

[Doehring]

Rui,

12500 € is so much that this must be cars better than new.

If you can get such a car you shurely don't need much parts that are expensive. Have a look around in EU countries because within the EU it's not that difficult to import a car. Even if you can get a good car from the US (top cars are much cheaper there than here) and you make an arrangement on transportation (in a container) import papers and tax with an professional import agent for oldtimers you can have a Z for a fair price. Some days ago here an austrian Z in nearly new condition was offert for 9500€ but everybody said that's too much.

If you get a much cheaper one you will need parts. Have in mind,

the Z's engine, tranny , differential and drivetrain are so solid. There you will normally have no troubles. Look out for rust and all interior panels.

By the way, if you want to prepare the car yourself you will save money for the work. For a top car in the end you will reach the 10.000€ level. But you can have big fun with a Z for less. Also a little "patina" makes the car interesting. To drive a Z at the Historic Madaira Rallye is one of my dreams. Madeira is one of the nicest places in the world and the roads are so challenging.

Rolf

[24OZ]

Its not unusual for a British 240Z in excellent condition to be offered for that amount and as Doehring says you shouldnt need any parts for a car in excellent condition.

[Rviper]

I have a friend that invited me for the Madeira Rally this year (car 000, 00 and 0) but i couldn´t make it. So whenever you wish to complete that dream let me know. He is the tecnich director of a rally team that finished in 12º this year, he does it for pleasure.

Your biggest problem should be the boat transport, i´ve heard that the port of Funchal is the most expensive in Europe.

3 minutes away from my house is a beautifull blue Z, the car is parked and looks like an abandoned car. I know that the engined has been repaired due to a lack of oil engine! Apart of the really bad shape of the paintwork the car stills being beautifull, blue turn to be my favourite Z colour. Even so the guy want´s 9.000€ :stupid:

If i don´t find a good deal in next years (during the Celica project) the best way is to get one from North America. I´ve seen 2 european car import companies with Z´s, but prices were about the 8.000€ + legal stuff + portuguese plates (a lot of €€€).

3 Questions: 1st - Does anyone know´s the Datsun 240K GT? it´s a 4 dr sedan, i´ve seen 3 or 4 with good prices. So is this a good donor for Z mechanical parts?

2nd - What are the differences between the euro and the us Z? I´ve noticed only 2!

3rd - Were can i see web information about the different Z codes? I´ve seen codes like someone said above

:tapemouth (i can´t see o did it) L32, L28... i bought a 240Z book but it doesn´t say nothing about it!

Regards,

Rui

[germanz]

Hi friends,

have a look on this.

http://www.ricardo.ch/cgi-bin/auk?cmd=viewlot;list=1;lng=de;lotid=246547801;

The price is about 4500 € and located to Luzern.

Not Original,but nice.

Bye Rainer