The seller says the production date is stamped 9/70, so it must be HLS30-09980. Definitely not "one of the first 1000 built" as the ad says.

-Mike

I would say it is a late 1970 production car, titled as a 1971 model. I don't see anything to indicate it's an early car. In addition to the later Nissan OHC valve cover, it has the balance tube that connects to the master vac on the top, rather than at the back. The hood bumpers and the plastic air intakes are not the early style. The hatch glass has the vertical rear defroster, not clear glass like an early car would.

Where do you see evidence of blue engine paint or a blue interior Rick? I don't see either one and the ad indicates a grey interior, which sounds like sun faded black to me. Remember that both the 904 white and 903 blue cars also came with black interiors, not just blue.

Even it it were HLS30-00998, it would be a HUGE restoration project and not worth saving at this point, in my opinion.

Hi, Mike, Rick here.

Went back and checked things out and sure enough, that area that I had

thought was blue paint was just a shadow. The full front view showed it

as all white. But the interior keeps on looking blue to me; maybe it is the

way this laptop portrays it, or maybe my colorblindness (which I admit to).

We didn't have any open door shots or detail shots of the interior to go by.

BTW I also considered that there may be a blue tint to a window tinting that

may have been done.

But I was unaware that 903 blue and 904 white came also with a black in-

terior; can't recall ever having seen one! But if I were alert, I should have

suspected the same, as our green #171 has a black interior whereas most

were tan/brown. In all of the above, thanks for picking me up where memory

falls short. I'll get back up to snuff yet, with help from my good Zcar

friends like you. Thanks again!!

BTW in my 5"x8" card file of different characteristics of Z cars (earliest/latest

VIN seen with a particular characteristic), I show the same #965 car as I

mentioned in my previous post, as being the EARLIEST I have ever seen

WITH a vertical rear window defroster, so that considered, it could be

#00998. But as you and I both said, it does seem unlikely.

All Z Best,.......................................Kathy & Rick

But the interior keeps on looking blue to me; maybe it is the way this laptop portrays it, or maybe my colorblindness (which I admit to). We didn't have any open door shots or detail shots of the interior to go by. BTW I also considered that there may be a blue tint to a window tinting that may have been done.

Rick, I think any blue interior color you see from the exterior shots is the slight blue tint of the stock glass. That is another indication that this is a later car, since the very early HLS30 cars had clear glass all around, with no tint.

But I was unaware that 903 blue and 904 white came also with a black interior; can't recall ever having seen one!

I'm attaching a page from Service Bulletin 125 this lists the color combinations available for 1970-71 North American 240Zs. I am reminded of the 903 blue and 904 white with black interior combinations every time I walk out into my garage .

BTW in my 5"x8" card file of different characteristics of Z cars (earliest/latest VIN seen with a particular characteristic), I show the same #965 car as I mentioned in my previous post, as being the EARLIEST I have ever seen WITH a vertical rear window defroster, so that considered, it could be #00998. But as you and I both said, it does seem unlikely.

I attached another service bulletin (TS72-29) which indicates that HLS30s with VINs below 01456 had the clear glass with no defroster. However, I had an early parts car a few years ago (HLS30-00882) that had the vertical defroster glass. Not sure if that was retrofitted by a dealer, or if some of the North American market cars below 1456 actually did come with it.

-Mike

.......But I was unaware that 903 blue and 904 white came also with a black interior; can't recall ever having seen one! But if I were alert, I should have suspected the same, as our green #171 has a black interior whereas most were tan/brown....

It is my understanding that the blue interiors on the '70 & '71 903 Blue and 904 White 240Zs was much more rare than the black interiors. Is this correct? Also, I didn't know that the 171 Green 240Zs came with black interiors, every one that I've ever seen in person or otherwise has always had a tan interior.

I contacted the seller and asked him if the vin was correct. His reply was yes, and that he had taken it from the door plate. I then asked him to look at the firewall etching to verify. Still no reply...

I don't care what the VIN is, that's a $400 parts car

What do you mean? All of that mess will buff out!!!!

What do you mean? All of that mess will buff out!!!!

You must have a lot better buffer than I do! LOLLOLLOL

All Z Best,.........................Kathy & Rick