Question - My 1973's dash has no cross shaped indent mark near the hazard switch (it is smooth) - is this correct? How can you visually tell the difference between the '72 and '73 dash? According to Zhome.com, my dash should have the indentation?

My 7-73 dash is smooth around the hazard switch and crack free, which is a rarity for these early Z's.

Bonzi Lon

Documented on the Z Car Home Page http://ZHome.com

See: http://zhome.com/Classic/Restore/dash.htm

welp-- after looking at these comparisons, and recently finishing my dash, thanks to BD240Z's write up on his fix, and had the dash in the house..... my car is a 72 not 73. My title states 73, but after checking the ID on the door, sho-nuff, manufactured 02/72. Dont know why i didnt catch this sooner. Thanks Carl.

Bonzi - thanks for the confirmation of the smooth area to side of the hazard switch.

Carl, I think there is a difference between the '72 and '73 dash. My '73 and Bonzi's looks like the early dash in your picture (smooth area, no cross indent) with the exception that it has the green pull hazard switch/lighter. Maybe only the '72 has the indent?

Documented on the Z Car Home Page http://ZHome.com

See: http://zhome.com/Classic/Restore/dash.htm

Oh the self-promotion is starting to get to me...LOLLOLLOLLOL

Bonzi - thanks for the confirmation of the smooth area to side of the hazard switch.

Carl, I think there is a difference between the '72 and '73 dash. My '73 and Bonzi's looks like the early dash in your picture (smooth area, no cross indent) with the exception that it has the green pull hazard switch/lighter. Maybe only the '72 has the indent?

1973Z:

Maybe... send me a picture of your dash in that area.. and I'll ask some of our original owners to do the same. Give me the build date on your car and if Bonzi can do the same - we'll see what we come up with.

thanks,

Carl B.

welp-- after looking at these comparisons, and recently finishing my dash, thanks to BD240Z's write up on his fix, and had the dash in the house..... my car is a 72 not 73. My title states 73, but after checking the ID on the door, sho-nuff, manufactured 02/72. Dont know why i didnt catch this sooner. Thanks Carl.

Hi Robin:

In your signature line - you list HLS30 140770 as your 73 240Z. That would be a correct VIN for a 73 Model Year 240-Z, even if it had a build date of 07/72 through 12/72 and beyond.

If the date of manufacture on the data tag on the door jam says 02/72 then the VIN would be something less than HLS30 103xxx.

Are we talking about two different cars? Or is it possible your build date is 07/73? Something is out of wack here.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Hi Carl, I will send you a picture of that area in the next few days - thanks for helping with the mystery! My car by the way is vin 162340 produced 5/73. There was a '73 dash that sold on ebay (cracked) for over $170 recently, it too had the smooth area by the hazard switch. I can't believe cracked dashes are fetching money now .. we are in a sad state of Z affairs!

Steve/ Bonzi Lon

Feed back from our Original Owners, that know they have the original dash in their cars - supports your position. I've updated, edited the description on "the Z Car Home Page" to make that distinction clear.

http://zhome.com/Classic/Restore/dash.htm

Thanks for pointing that out...

Carl B.

Carl,

Thanks for researching this further. Glad I could contribute to some Z knowledge!

Regards,

Steve

Carl you are correct, my old eyes missed the "1" before the 2, in other words it is stamped 12/02.. that brings the vin in to correctness with being a 73 model. Picture of my dash is included

Carl you are correct, my old eyes missed the "1" before the 2, in other words it is stamped 12/02.. that brings the vin in to correctness with being a 73 model. Picture of my dash is included that does not have the cross shape indent, but does have the toggle hazard switch.