VIN trivia....

[CoastGuardZ]

Okay.

Alan, is it a Skyline...2000gtx?

It's a 2liter. right?

It;s got a slightly shorter wheelbase than a Z.

and what the hell is 160ps? Is horsepower not a universal measurement?

Nate

[2ManyZs]

PS-30 would indicate a Fairlady 432 and the engine specs look right, but what is the 7-1 on the bottom line????

[Zvoiture]

It's # 1 of 7 created especially for a show circuit of racing. Promo models.

steve77

[HS30-H]

Aha,

Some barking up the wrong tree going on here...............

Pigsnuckle Public Library had a dictionary delivered last week, so I'm sure they had no problem spotting the fact that we were looking for a deliberate anomaly.

Coastguard - Yes, its a 2 Litre alright so that's one line down. But that's "Overall Length" not wheelbase ( its got the same wheelbase as any other 2-seater S30-series Z ) - so that's another line down.

2Many - Yes, very good, you spotted that it is "reputedly" a Z432 ( from that PS30 chassis type ) although it COULD be a Z432-R ( PS30-SB ) as this was not differentiated anywhere on the tags or body number.

2Many and Zvoiture - don't get suckered by that "7-1" line. That's just Japanese tax code stuff. The "anomaly" is something that does not add up if you know a little 432 history..............

Come on, its easy! I just gave you a big clue!

Alan T.

[CoastGuardZ]

Just shooting in the dark,as I don't know anything about the other markets for Z's BUT...

how about they never came with a 2 liter?

Nate

[Cuong Nguyen]

Hi all,

thanks to having to prepare for exams I am late to join this thread!!!

Ok Alan, my guess is that the build number is wrong, way too high.

shouldn't the build number be much much lower than that??

(if I am right do I win your car as the prize??? )

[HS30-H]

Kerching!

Cuong wins the cigar.

Yes, the build number is way too high to be a genuine PS30 Z432.

The factory usually claims to have only built around 420 PS30's ( including 432-R's ) but the specialists and owners in Japan know it was slightly higher than that. Probably closer to 460 or so.

Nissan did another "funny" with the build numbers on the PS30 series and suddenly hopped, skipped and jumped a few bodies. Consequently, genuine late 1973 PS30's can be found in Japan with VIN numbers in the low 500's. Nissan don't like being reminded about it, either..................

My particular VIN tag is for my long-term project car; its an early 1970 Fairlady Z-L ( S30 ) which I am turning into a Z432-R "replica" - complete with S20 twin-cam engine, 100 litre fuel tank, flat rear floor and other appropriate period parts. The tag is just a bit of fun really - the build number is correct for "my" body, but PS30's never got into the 600's let alone the high 3000's. I'm guessing it will take a very alert Policeman to spot the difference, and hoping that I will be able to flannel him enough to get away with it if he DOES spot it.

Coastguard! Shame on you! The S30-series Z was born with a 2-litre engine in it!

Alan T.

[Cuong Nguyen]

Hi all,

Alan, I don't really smoke, so I'll let you keep the cigar, but thanks for the offer. (or how about I trade it with your car anyway??? or an ice cream cone will be my next preference)

If someone payed you enough (or gave you any other incentive to motivate you) would you consider becoming a lecturer and take a class called "S30 history 101" ? (if so let me know and I will enroll)

The project car that you are doing, the Z-L bodied one, is that a Japanese home market shell as well? (I am full of questions aren't I!!!)

Cuong Nguyen

[HS30-H]

Hi Cuong,

I don't think we would get many "students" attending the course ( even if I WAS qualified to lecture in it - which I'm not! ) - I think there are not that many of us out there who are interested in the true story of the S30-series Z from the same perspective as you and I.

My "project" car is actually based on a Japanese Home-market Fairlady Z-L bodyshell, and as it was built around April / May of 1970 it has the features that I needed to build an accurate replica of a PS30-SB - which were pretty much all built on very early bodies. I have replicated the deletion of the spare-tyre well ( and inserted a ribbed steel panel ) so that the "correct" 100 litre tank can be used, and of course the body already has the non tool-box type features behind the seats. You would not believe the amount of differences between the ordinary L-series engined bodies and the S20 engined bodies, let alone the hundreds ( if not thousands ) of differences in all the other parts.

As its only a "replica" I can get away with mixing and matching quite a few parts, but I really do want to try to keep as faithful to the flavour of the real thing as possible - so I'm trying to track down as many of the correct parts as I can, especially where they show. I shall post up a few photos in the Members Cars are in the Gallery - but its not much to look at yet. The body might be painted by Christmas, by I'm kind of hoping that it won't - so that I don't have to pay for it until January!

Regards,

Alan T.