what year is my z.

[Carl Beck]

I noticed on the registry that a lot of build dates as late in the year as december were being counted as that model year, not the next year. If I have a build date of 9/77, and I've been told and thought for years that my car was a 78, is that accurate? How does that work?

Hi DeMoore:

Before the 1972 "Model Year" - the various State Laws covered how automobile titles would be issued and part of the information on the Title was Make, Model and Year. So a Datsun Dealer "could" request a title for a Series I car based on its Date of Manufacture, or based on what he believed the Model was in terms of Model Year. The bottom line is that we wound up having Series I cars Sold and Titled as 1969, 1970 and 1971 Models, because that single model meet all U.S. Safety and Emissions Standards for the three years. As well as the fact that many imported models made their model change over in Jan of the Model Year.

By the 1972 Model Year - the U.S. Federal Safety and Emissions laws more or less took the designation of "Model Year" out of the hand of the Dealers and States. These regulations were implemented by a specified Date Of Manufacture, and they changed again for 1973, again for 1974 again for 1975...

Where Nissan made the model change over from 1970 to the Late Model 1971 in Jan. of 1971, they pulled the model change over in a few months for 1972 Model Year into 09/71.

Since that time - With the exception of the 1975 Model Year {when the F.I. engine had not been certified in time for sale in the US} - - Nissan has made their Model change overs during 09/xx.

So your car is most likely a 1978 Model. I say "most likely" because there always seems to be some over-lap during the Model change-overs...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[=Enigma=]

what year and month is my 240z. the vin no. is 18,144 and there's no holes in the steering wheel. thanks, timsz

Have you looked at the info plate on the door jamb, or is the reason you're asking because that plate is missing?

thanks for all your help. my door production date says 12/70. sold as a 71. thanks again. timsz. i had the same year car 35 years ago. i was young and so dumb and sold it.

Why ask for this information when it was readily available on your door plate? Did you have some reason to doubt this info?

Edited February 14, 2010 by =Enigma=