Were side moldings a factory option?

[sbaker78]

Rather than hijack this thread, I'm starting a new one to ask a dumb question.

Were the side-moldings I've see on 280z's an option from the factory? Or did they all have them?

Mine doesn't have them, but it's been painted so I figured maybe they were just removed. If they're missing, is it considered better (purist-wise) to put them back on? Or just leave them off? I kind of like it without them.

Thanks,

Sean.

[JLPurcell]

I can not say for certain on the 280Z but it was a dealership install on the 240's and I believe on the 280's as well. Back in the day there were independent contractors which went dealership to dealership installing the side molding, tape pin stripes and add on vinyl tops. A few Z's of the day got the full treatment. In my opinion nothing is less appealing than a vinyl top on a Z. jlp

PS I forgot to mention the other Abomination, the dealer installed sunroof in the early Z cars!

Edited March 8, 2012 by JLPurcell

[Captain Obvious]

In my opinion nothing is less appealing than a vinyl top on a Z.

In my opinion nothing is less appalling than a vinyl top on a Z.

[26th-Z]

The only 'factory optional' decision that the buyer made on a North American imported 280Z was 5-speed or automatic transmission. That meaning the 'factory' in Japan...or...Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. Dealer (Datsun U.S.A.) installed accessories included (and I quote from the brochure):

factory mag-type wheels

air conditioning

CB radio

AM/FM stereo (cassette or 8-track)

rear window shade

bumper guards (front and rear)

side moldings

smuggler tonneaus

side stripes

floor mats

racing mirrors

shift knobs

This excludes the Black Pearl and ZZZap editions.

Now technically, meaning the Japanese domestic market options, a vinyl top was a 'factory' option. Whether they were 'dealer installed' or not I don't really know but the vinyl top is shown in the options catalog which did not exist in the U.S. until 1972. The U.S. options catalog, I believe, was a Datsun U.S.A. publication though, meaning the options were still dealer installed.

The vinyl top was an original design feature tested during the engineering development of the S30 type in 1967. Little known factoid for all you vinyl top fans.

Edited March 9, 2012 by 26th-Z

[Weehawk]

Were the side-moldings I've see on 280z's an option from the factory? Or did they all have them?

According to my car's paperwork from 1978, they were installed by the dealer.