Chassis numbers

[Sean Dezart]

I have a French 240Z.

The chassis number stamped on the bulkhead is X HLS 30-132376 X

The little plate on the suspension leg under the bonnet also reads X HLS 30-132376 X. The two Xs and 132376 are stamped !

I've never seen these Xs before - were they factory alignment marks for the stamping machine or what ? Was it a left hand drive thing ? My UK 240Z didn't have them

It's not stressing me out but I am curious...

[Zedrally]

Sean,

It will be interesting to read the reason for this.

I've replied so it gets bumped back to the top and is hopefully seen by someone [Alan T] who probably knows.

'Just out of curiousity, stars were added to early Australian Decimal [& late pre-decimal] currency notes.

The reason was that the sequential numbering machine had run out of digits and the only way they could keep printing money was to add the "star" hence the term star note. These notes change hands at a vast premium to ordianry notes.

I wonder if a similar situation occured?

MN

[Sean Dezart]

Hi Zedrally,

I've done the same and I am very surprised that no-one has OR CAN answer my question. Anyone ? Alan...?

[HS30-H]

Hi Sean and Mike,

Sorry - I didn't spot this the first time round.

Some markets insisted that the VIN numbers on imported cars be "tamper-proof", and I think France was one of these back in the early Seventies? Hence the stamped "X" at the beginning and end of the VIN.

On some makes and models of car, its quite easy to "upgrade" to a better spec VIN with an extra prefix letter ( theoretically increasing value ) or adding a number or two to the build number ( making it a bit "younger" ).

I think these stamps were put on by European authorities at port of entry ( not by the Factory ). And you are right Sean - the UK market "HS30" cars did not have them ( typically lax of the UK authorities ).

I've been quite tempted to stamp a "P" in front of the "S30" on my 432R Replica project car ( for a little extra fun ). However - this would certainly be seen as fraudulent, and I'm trying to make a replica not a fake. I think that's the kind of jiggery pokery the French authorities were trying to avoid.

Does this mean you finally found a car then Sean? I thought you were getting one in from the States?

All the best,

Alan T.

[Sean Dezart]

Thanks Alan - so these were put on by the French authorities at port entry or perhaps by Nissan under State control ?

I'd like to reply privately to your last question but your private message box is full and I can't find your email address sakit.....

You can't be in the UK at the moment, or perhaps you sleep less than me !

Cheers

[sjcurtis]

Hi Sean Dezart,

I find this thread interesting from th point of view that the authorities marked the production plates with the X in two places. Also it was a good responce from HS30H about fraud seems to be a pretty good answer.

My question and I guess any one who knows can step on in,

Did Nissan ship from the factory HLS30 export EU version for to France and if so what kind of numbers actually got there.

cheers

Steve:classic:

[Doehring]

Sean, congratulations to your new car. Is it a Nov. '72 version ?Here the authorities hammer the VIN additionally and in a quite big size into the firewall.

Rolf

[26th-Z]

I concur completely with Alan. If the X's were stamped at port of entry, it might show beneath the plate - as in stamped through. Check it out and let us know.

About the fraud thing; couple of observations. One can purchase brand new blank ID plates easily and I can imagine a few Z fakes are going to show up in the future. Brock Yates wrote an article years ago about the surging number of faked muscle cars and matching number claims. One way to combat the issue is to obtain and publish documentation of build numbers and dates. Unfortunately, I think Nissan missed the boat on this. It is up to collectors to gather this information and make it available to other collectors. It only serves to increase the value of valid examples. In the end, though, its buy beware.

Nissan was apparently very lose and my experience with my restoration project so far, is that determining a valid "original" example is going to boil down to examining pieces and parts. Everything is so interchangeable and the differences are there but very subtle. My very early example has original differences not found in cars built weeks later. It makes for the interesting points of collecting, though. A good conversation!

[Sean Dezart]

I am more than happy with Nissans' lack of control. Information is great but too much just feeds the bureaucrats into controlling us further. On my registration document there is no decibel level noted which I shall explore with my Nismo exhaust.

If anyone is wondering where I've been, the PC went into hibernation and I've been enjoying the sun and the Le Mans 24 hour race.

Chill out

Sean

[Z-point]

hi guys,

just a question: from what year would be the HS30 01342?

we are talking of a UK Z car don't we?:tapemouth

[Zedrally]

My guess would be 1970.

[abas]

Guys

If it was a UK car it would be a 1971 at the earliest ( only 2 1970 cars were imported here).

Can't put my hands on serial number info at the moment but I 'think' HS30 1342 would be too early for the UK market.

To re-open the 'fraud' thread here I have seen at least one case of 'passing off' of a later car as an earlier car complete with bulkhead number changed. I also have suspicions about others, but I could be wrong.

Not surprisingly it goes along the lines of it being cheaper/easier to dress up a rust free car than to restore a completely rusted out original which has an early VIN. And if the changeover has been done well it is would be very hard to spot.