Vintage Mustang owner on a Vintage Z site

[66_GT_FB]

Thought I'd make a general post to introduce myself...

I'm a vintage Mustang owner but I enjoy vintage cars of all makes. The vintage Z's (and 510's) have stood out to me as a classic (affordable) import sports car. I like the lines of the car and it's racing herritage. I don't think this car is too dissimilar to Mustangs on a few levels. I'm big on respect across the board on vintage auto ownership and I like what I see from the Z community.

Mostly I'll just lurk and learn. I'm toying with the idea of a Z if the right one comes along. My Mom had a 72 240Z when I was real young, so there's my connection:)

At any rate, I do have a few questions...

1.) Are RS Watanabe wheels an easy find and fit for the early Z's? As opposed to the Panasports....

2.) Seems to be a heavy number of Cali, Bay Area Z followers...is that true of this forum as well?

Thanks for putting up with a big displacement domestic...

Rock on guys!

[24OZ]

Welcome!! Good to see other owners of classic cars on here. I for one love classic Mustangs and it would be nice to see more pics of yours.

I cant help you on your question about the wheels as I am not familiar with that name as I dont think we had them in England.

I was just about to start a post on classic American cars, we have a few over here that people have privately imported. I am particularly fond of the Corvette Stingray anyone got one or had one, are they as good as they look??

Again, welcome and if your thinking about purchasing a Z, you cant really go wrong as you long as you find a structurally sound one. Z's have got the looks and the engines can go on forever..

I think you'll find alot of other Z owners in your area or around your vicinity. Great idea to meet up with them get chatting, get a feel for the car and discover what to look out for when makign a purchase. Even get an old hand to go with you to look.

Good luck and I hope you find some Z owners in the Cali area, sounds sunny!

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by 66_GT_FB

Thought I'd make a general post to introduce myself...

(major snippage by Carl)

2.) Seems to be a heavy number of Cali, Bay Area Z followers...is that true of this forum as well?

66_GT_FB:

Welcome to the Show! Classics are classics! More than a few of us like the early 'Stangs as well as early Z's. Both were ahead of their time, and are designs that are still visually pleasing even after 30+ years.

Yes there are a few of us Bay Area folks hanging around here. I'm in Pleasanton. Where are you located?

Welcome to the Classic Z Club!

Carl

[ZmeFly]

nice looking stang you have there too.

hehe if your interested in a Z i saw one at Zcar that has the best of both worlds for you.

hehe the Z that you may want a 240Z with a ford mustang 5.0

this could be love at first site

hehe welcome to our lil spot in the world and enjoy

[HS30-H]

Hi Eric,

I used to own a '65 Mustang many years ago, and my main memory of it is that the suspension squeaked a lot. Didn't matter what I did, we couldn't stop it squeaking.

Since I bought an early Z,its now me that squeaks.

R.S.WATANABE wheels are still made by R.S.Watanabe in Japan, and I would presume that you are interested in their classic 8 spoke design ( which have always been known as the "Hachi Spo" in Japan ). Watanabe still make the classic deep-dish version in both Aluminium and ( very expensive ) Magnesium. They also added a split-rim version some years ago. They have many other designs of wheel available too.

Check out their website at: www.rs-watanabe.co.jp

Its mostly in Japanese and can be quite hard to navigate and see what you want - but I can assure you that its all in there somewhere. They have some data for the S30-series Z car with recommended fitment sizes. The 15 inch rim diameter is more useful these days as its much easier to find suitable tyres for them.

If buying used R.S.Watanabe 8-spokes, be careful that you do not end up with a set that was designed for a later model ( wrong offsets ) or a FWD type ( very wrong offsets ). Watanabe have made these wheels for many years and for a great many applications. Be careful. The early Seventies castings ( and Magnesium forgings ) are becoming quite collectable in Japan now. Most early ones had a manufacturing date on the back.

Good luck ( hope you get a Z ),

Alan T.

[66_GT_FB]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

Alan- I've never had a problem with my suspension squeaking...the car does have it's rattles and 'noises' here and there...As much of a collector car as they are now...they were still just an 'entry lever car' back in the day, so add 35 years to that.

Regardless of squeaks, the sound and feel of the car is excellent.

I've checked out the .jp site and the language barrier does make it tough...but thank you on the heads up on backspacing, I had not thought of that!

ZmeFly- A much as I find those kinds of swaps to interesting (didn't Scarabs have chevy 350's?)...I am personally not a fan of bastardizing a pure car such as a Z (or visa versa in a Mustang).

I would think dropping a heavy American iron motor in the nose of a Z would take away from the positive handeling characteristics of the realitively light weight Z's...

Carl- I'm just over the hill in Los Gatos. I'm out you direction as I have a friend that lives there (as well as Good Guys car shows). I like the area! Is there a local Z club/ monthly meedings in our area? I'd like to attend one. We have several vintage stang clubs, meetings, and cruises in the Bay Area...I would think the same for Z's.

24OZ- Looks as though your car could be the Z twin of mine. I'd be happy to post more picts (althoguh I don't think I want to take up too much bandwidth from your site with my domestic).

In regards to Stingrays, they are siginficantly more rare (and expensive) when compaired to Mustangs...although I can't speak too knowledgeably on the car beyond that.

<br>

Thanks again to all who replied! I look forward to meeting and learning from you all.

[2ManyZs]

Never been much of a Ford fan myself, but always have like the early Mustangs (pre-71) the best of them all. My first car was a 73 Cuda, so I've always been a bit partial to Mopars.....wish I had never sold that car.

You've got a good looking Mustang, and thankfully it is not an automatic!

BTW, those Torqu-Thrust D's look especially good on the early muscle cars of all makes.Too bad they don't make one in a 4 bolt pattern that would fit a Z, I think they would look as good as Watanabe's or the Panasports.

[66_GT_FB]

Why thank you Sir!

Automatics are a big no no in my book. I cringe when ever I see an automatic in a sport or muscle car. I'm suprised when I see autos in Z's as well...just doesn't seem to look right.

I can say that I've ever seen a 4 bolt Torq...6cyl. Mustangs are 4 bolts (but probably not the same pattern) and I don't know of any applications for them...which means more than likely none for Z's.

Period correct wheels really make the car IMO. It's amazing how much more aggresive a Z will look with a bit of lowering and some panasports...same goes for the Mustangs I think. I was actually considering changing to Vintage Wheel Works 48's, which are a 10 spoke wheel not too unlike the Pana's...

Originally posted by 2ManyZs

Never been much of a Ford fan myself, but always have like the early Mustangs (pre-71) the best of them all. My first car was a 73 Cuda, so I've always been a bit partial to Mopars.....wish I had never sold that car.

You've got a good looking Mustang, and thankfully it is not an automatic!

BTW, those Torqu-Thrust D's look especially good on the early muscle cars of all makes.Too bad they don't make one in a 4 bolt pattern that would fit a Z, I think they would look as good as Watanabe's or the Panasports.

[24OZ]

I'm trying to stop drooling Eric, that is one hell of a nice beast! It can be my Z's twin any day

George.

[Royce]

For clubs you have ZONC, Z owners of North California, but from what I can tell us Sacramento locals are the only ones having monthly meetings. There is also zdriver.com which is very active and I think centralized in the South bay area.

I went with Revolution wheels on my Z, see my photo link, because they reminded me of the older period American muscle car wheels and were not as common as the minilite style 8 spoke wheels.

I am a bay area native and grew up in Redwood City. I also am a closet Mustang fan. I still miss my fathers black '65 GT conv.(4-spd, black top with red pony interior) and his '67 Shelby Mustang GT500. He sold them both before the American muscle cars started going up!

Isn't your car a '65 (judging by the louvers in the rear quarter windows) or does that only appy to the Shelby GT350R cars!?

Welcome to the club!

[Alex 240Z]

The first drive about a year ago once I got my Z on the road I got the thumbs up from a guy driving a 65 Mustang so of course welcome to he club !!!!! A Classic is a Classic !!!!!!