How can i tell if my 1972 is an early or late year car?

Usually people check the date plate on the driver's door jamb, there you'll see the manufacture date stamped on the plate.

You can also check www.zhome.com and gauge the production date based on the production sheets there.

If that still doesn't answer the question, post your VIN and someone is bound to have one near enough to give you a good idea.

FWIW

E

My '72 is, I believe, one of the earliest ones with a build date of 9/71 and VIN HLS30-46372. In fact, it came with the vertical defroster grid on the rear window which, I believe, is an indication that Datsun was using up leftover '71 parts at that moment in time.

My baby is on a rotisserie right now waiting for sandblasting in advance of rust repair. I'm ordering the Ospho this week. I just cut out the spot welds for the battery tray holder this past weekend. No rust through, but the underlying paint - such as it is - had seen more than enough acid over the years.

My '72 is, I believe, one of the earliest ones with a build date of 9/71 and VIN HLS30-46372. In fact, it came with the vertical defroster grid on the rear window which, I believe, is an indication that Datsun was using up leftover '71 parts at that moment in time.

Yes, the 1972 HLS30 started at serial number HLS30-46001. The beginning serial number for the change to the horizontal defroster grid was HLS30-062001.

Hi Bob:

According to Nissan - the 72 Model Year Datsun 240Z's for North America started production 09/71 with VIN HLS30 46000. However we have found 72 Model Year cars with build dates 09/71 and VINs as low as HLS30 43496.

Your Z most likely did not have the red Seat Belt Warning light on the center console, nor automatic retracting seat belts, nor the pockets behind the seats for the auto retractors. The vertical defroster lines stayed until 01/72...

Glad to hear your refreshing your Z... now you have to get it done for the convention in Cleveland..

FWIW,

Carl B.

My car did not have the dreaded selt belt buzzer nor the retractable seat belts. However, the chassis does have pockets for the selt belt retractors. Now that it's on the rotisserie, one can see where they cut out a portion from each side of the floor and welded in the pocket plate. I've told my body guy to cut those pockets off and weld in flat plates again when we get to that point - unless you think they'd be good for hiding stuff :classic:.

I am afraid that all I'll have in time for the convention will be pix of my baby all fixed up and painted but still in reassembly mode. However, I will have my other, fully fuctional, '72 and, because it's three months off, I might even have my 6-1 headers installed and the engine compartment cleaned up. Ghad, what a PITA.