Hi all,

I'm mostly a lurker on here, but I thought I'd share with you all.

I've owned a few Zs, my last being this 1975 with L28ET and MS2 that I sold in July of last year.

Miss that car, but couldn't stand to let it sit out in rainy weather and rust after I moved down here in Corpus Christi.

This past December, I found out that I was moving to Japan this coming November, so my NSX aspirations were put on hold after I had found the most perfect 1992 Comptech supercharged black on ivory NSX up in New Hampshire (telling that guy I couldn't buy his car almost literally hurt) . My last NSX for kicks:

Miss that car dearly as well, more than the Z.

I've been in a sportscar void for about a year now after getting sensible and buying a decent 2002 Accord to DD back and forth to base. Thought about getting an S2000 to have fun before I left for Japan. Then people started putting this crazy idea in my head about shipping an old car to Japan, to drive and possibly sell, because the Japanese go nuts for anything they can't have, just like us (a la Skyline).

So I've been casually looking through old Datsun Z and Porsche 911 classifieds. Came close on one 911 down in Georgia, but the owner couldn't get me the info I needed (apparently older Porsches before the 1980's VINs did not have a month of manufacture stamped on the body...very important for Japan). Ended up stumbling across an ad in Ohio for a 240Z advertised as "one owner". I inquired.

What I found was probably the most perfect, original 240Z in the United States. This lady bought the car brand new in 1970 having just come off the boat. After some time, she drove the car less and less and let a good family friend take care of the car for her, the person I originally contacted. It has 59K original miles, and the rust-problem was widespread enough by this time (July 1970) that the dealer took the car to a local shop to completely rust proof the bottom as brand new, and it looks like it.

This car is so perfect, I'm starting to have trouble thinking about possibly taking it to Japan, but I know that it would probably survive better there than here. It may just need to go to a museum.

I present to you 1970 Datsun 240Z Series 1 #7356, white on blue interior.

Floorpan.

The only drawbacks I see is that the car shows some evidence of sitting. The bottom has some surface rust on the suspension components as well as some dry rotted bushings. It was just not driven all that often (maybe once a month). Doing all the fluids and replacing the bushings with urethane.

Then I'm getting in contact with a government vehicle processing center to prepare for the move to Japan. I'm going to need the amber turn signals lenses for the rear and the speedo changed to KPH, but it's gonna be well worth it.

Alot of people think shipping an old car to Japan is a PITA. It'll cost me about $1K to register it there, but I think just being able to say you drove an old Z, left hand drive 240Z at that, in Japan is priceless. It really is.

More updates to come. Thanks for reading my diatribe.

Edited April 26, 201212 yr by usafdarkhorse

Is TMO shipping the car for you? I didn't think you had to convert the turn lenses, speedo but who knows. I worked at Fuchu-kichi from '03-'05 at ADC HQ, lived at Yokota and commuted, how about you?

You will become freakish with this one. I never had the feeling until I drove mine to work to show it off a little the first time. Seeing other drivers so close will scare you. Good Luck you have found a true gem~

Congratulations, nice Z. We have a couple members in your area. I have lake house near Cookville, TN. Maybe I will get a chance to see the car this summer. jlp

Is TMO shipping the car for you? I didn't think you had to convert the turn lenses, speedo but who knows. I worked at Fuchu-kichi from '03-'05 at ADC HQ, lived at Yokota and commuted, how about you?

Yeah I think I've got to do that before it goes to the VPC, but I'm not completely sure on that (just heard). Maybe it's old enough that it won't need that anymore, but I'm preparing for the worst. I'll be moving to Yokota in November. How was it? There's a servicemember from Yokota on japanesenostalgiccar that has a popular thread recounting the story of him picking up a '72 Skyline. Seems like it's going to be an unbelievable experience.

You will become freakish with this one. I never had the feeling until I drove mine to work to show it off a little the first time. Seeing other drivers so close will scare you. Good Luck you have found a true gem~

Thank ya sir. I'll be careful with her.

Congratulations, nice Z. We have a couple members in your area. I have lake house near Cookville, TN. Maybe I will get a chance to see the car this summer. jlp

Possibly. The most likely place would be the Knoxville Cars and Coffee at EAG that occurs every other month or so (I think the next one is in July).

I'm going to pick up the car next weekend. In reference to the carpet covering some stuff as mentioned above, the blue vinyl is still intact on the strut towers and transmission tunnel. It's just carpet over top.

There's a model year sometime in the mid 70s whereby TMO won't pay to import the car for you, I want to say it's '75-'76? If you have a sponsor there they may be able to ask AIU or one of the auto insurance agencies what the requirements might be. If the AIU rep doesn't know, they should be able to call the office where they register the cars and find out. When I was at Yokota, there was an individual who lived on the West Side who had a 280Z that was left hand drive and I don't remember that he had JDM lenses on his tailights but, it's been 10 years. There was also a Japanese national who worked on base who had a beautiful blue 240Z he drove on rare occasions.

I loved Tokyo and only scratched the surface of what there is to do there. If I had it all to do over again I would go to the annual Nostalgic Heroes car show down at Odaiba every year, I'd try to go to Japanese Classic Car Association events, I want to say they have a track event every year at Tsukuba and finally, one thing I would go to every year is NISMOFest at Fuji speedway which is usually at the end of November or the first part of December. The best thing about all of these things is you can drive your classic 240Z to them and you'll probably be able to meet alot of really great people along the way. You might also be able to go to shops like Wood Village or Star Road or Rocky Auto who build insane S30s. There's a chain of second hand performance parts places called Up Garage that you might be able to get parts at although I got the impression parts for S30s were rare and expensive, far more so over there than here. Finally, when you're at Yokota you're only about an hour away from Zama which, if I'm not mistaken, is where the real dream garage is for Nissan. I don't know what it would take to get in there but a local club or contacting a gentleman named "Mad" Mike Taylor from the Texas Z club who used to make annual trips to Tokyo and got into the Zama garage from time to time might be a place to start.

I lived in one of the towers when I was at Yokota and wish now I had lived in one of the gardens instead. It was easier to get into the tower but it seems like the gardens had more space. The gardens are organized into 4-plexes and are just plopped down in two main areas, one on the "East" side where main base is and one on the "West" side which is mostly housing, an Elementary school and the Armed Forces Network (AFN) building. (What splits the base is Hwy 16) Go off base alot, you'll be able to meet people through the car which will draw attention and there are alot of cultural exchange opportunities too. The food is awesome too, a little bit of an adventure but all very much worth it. I liked Japanese curry and ate at Coco Ichiban which is about 10 minutes outside the gate. There used to be a great gyoza place down by the Tachikawa train station, just go to the info desk at the Yujo near the main gate and ask them for directions to "communist gyoza". Japan is an amazing place, rode the bullet train to Kyoto, wish I could have taken my Z on a trip to see the temples in Nikko, lots of great places to see and adventures to have in your Z in Japan. Heads up gas off base is expensive and parts suppliers here in the states that ship USPS are your friends.

As the time gets closer if you have any or more questions let me know.

Edited May 19, 201212 yr by gogriz91

There's a model year sometime in the mid 70s whereby TMO won't pay to import the car for you, I want to say it's '75-'76? If you have a sponsor there they may be able to ask AIU or one of the auto insurance agencies what the requirements might be. If the AIU rep doesn't know, they should be able to call the office where they register the cars and find out. When I was at Yokota, there was an individual who lived on the West Side who had a 280Z that was left hand drive and I don't remember that he had JDM lenses on his tailights but, it's been 10 years. There was also a Japanese national who worked on base who had a beautiful blue 240Z he drove on rare occasions.

I loved Tokyo and only scratched the surface of what there is to do there. If I had it all to do over again I would go to the annual Nostalgic Heroes car show down at Odaiba every year, I'd try to go to Japanese Classic Car Association events, I want to say they have a track event every year at Tsukuba and finally, one thing I would go to every year is NISMOFest at Fuji speedway which is usually at the end of November or the first part of December. The best thing about all of these things is you can drive your classic 240Z to them and you'll probably be able to meet alot of really great people along the way. You might also be able to go to shops like Wood Village or Star Road or Rocky Auto who build insane S30s. There's a chain of second hand performance parts places called Up Garage that you might be able to get parts at although I got the impression parts for S30s were rare and expensive, far more so over there than here. Finally, when you're at Yokota you're only about an hour away from Zama which, if I'm not mistaken, is where the real dream garage is for Nissan. I don't know what it would take to get in there but a local club or contacting a gentleman named "Mad" Mike Taylor from the Texas Z club who used to make annual trips to Tokyo and got into the Zama garage from time to time might be a place to start.

I lived in one of the towers when I was at Yokota and wish now I had lived in one of the gardens instead. It was easier to get into the tower but it seems like the gardens had more space. The gardens are organized into 4-plexes and are just plopped down in two main areas, one on the "East" side where main base is and one on the "West" side which is mostly housing, an Elementary school and the Armed Forces Network (AFN) building. (What splits the base is Hwy 16) Go off base alot, you'll be able to meet people through the car which will draw attention and there are alot of cultural exchange opportunities too. The food is awesome too, a little bit of an adventure but all very much worth it. I liked Japanese curry and ate at Coco Ichiban which is about 10 minutes outside the gate. There used to be a great gyoza place down by the Tachikawa train station, just go to the info desk at the Yujo near the main gate and ask them for directions to "communist gyoza". Japan is an amazing place, rode the bullet train to Kyoto, wish I could have taken my Z on a trip to see the temples in Nikko, lots of great places to see and adventures to have in your Z in Japan. Heads up gas off base is expensive and parts suppliers here in the states that ship USPS are your friends.

As the time gets closer if you have any or more questions let me know.

Wow, long time no update.

Thanks for the advice! Someone always has a unique take and good advice to offer when it comes to experience with Japan and Yokota in general.

The year cutoff is April 1976. Prior to this date, cars should not need to meet Japanese emissions requirements (Cat A vehicles) but will still need to meet JCI. TMO doesn't want to ship a car to Japan that the owner will get in wayyyy over their head with legalization costs by being newer than April 1976. They tell you that you cannot ship a newer car there, but you can. It has to be waivered, but you probably already know that it costs $3-5K to legalize a newer car. I looked at bringing over a 1976 Porsche 911 before this Z, but Porsches don't have a month of manufacture on them, so I would have had to get a letter of authenticity from Porsche AG which I didn't feel like doing.....that and 1975 and 1976 911s are known to be basket cases...

So about a month and a half ago, I took some leave and went up to Ohio to pick the car up and bring it back. After loading it up and looking back at it about once every 5 minutes all the way home, I figured out that there was no way I could ship this car to Japan just to sell it. I wanted it.

Here's how I found it, phone pics sorry:

It's mine!:

Towing it back:

Back home:

I was thinking all the way up to Ohio that I was going to bring it home and prep it for the trip to Japan, but I couldn't do it. I figured out before I even got it home that there was no way I was going to tear into the taillights, speedo, whatever else it would take to legalize it, much less put it through the long boat trip over there.

So now I'm leaving it at home to wait for a few years before I can enjoy it, which is OK. I really wanted this car anyway. It needs some bushing help, especially up front, and one of the door panels needs a little upholstery work, but it's all there. Last weekend I pulled the black carpet out that runs along the transmission tunnel and over the rear struts and the blue vinyl was just sitting underneath looking as good as ever. Literally EVERYTHING works on this car electrically and the switches feel like they've just been rebuilt, but I have to keep telling myself that it's better than rebuilt even. That's the way it was supposed to feel from the factory. Very happy to have this car and I don't think I will plan on selling it unless something dire happens. Thanks for reading my story.

Found out first hand how sparingly the last owner drove the car and how inaccurate the gas gauge can be. Ran the tank nearly dry on my second drive out and sucked some gunk up into the fuel line. I guess 1/2 tank means "fumes". Have to drop the tank, clean it out, and blow out the lines.

Had to go back to Arkansas and left the car with a local Porsche shop. While it was sitting there, the owner's son took a number of photos of the car:

Beautiful! And Japanese racing white too!

Amazingly beautiful! I'd never sell that if it were me!

You know I love that car! Just amazing.

But looking at the front end, I though the front of the radiator bracket was painted black from the factory. So when you look into the front grill, it was all black? Did that start with a later model year maybe, or was this car painted before.

You know I love that car! Just amazing.

But looking at the front end, I though the front of the radiator bracket was painted black from the factory. So when you look into the front grill, it was all black? Did that start with a later model year maybe, or was this car painted before.

Ya know, I don't really know. There's evidence of repaint, at least in the engine bay, as one member here pointed out but I was hoping to meet up with #797 here in Knoxville to compare them side by side to see what was different because I know his has been restored.

If it has, it must have been awhile ago because all the stickers/plates look pretty worn

Can any members here confirm that?

Depending on how long you're going to be at YAB, you can have up to a year left until your DEROS and TMO will still ship the car if you change your mind. I'm just not sure you have to change anything on a car that old to make it legal to drive in Japan but I understand wanting to preserve a very original Z. I always wondered whether my household goods would end up at the bottom of the Pacific, not likely but *(it happens.

Edited June 22, 201212 yr by gogriz91