Where are all those moulds at?

[The Janitor]

If there's anything I've learned from restoring Z's, it's that Nissan doesn't seem to support it. Parts that the community needs for Nissan's most famous cars are simply not there. I haven't been able to ignore the fact that American companies have sold the original molds and rights to manufacturers of new parts, and I've been wondering where that same level of action is with the Japanese companies, specifically Nissan.

I'd like to think that Nissan has the moulds stored away somewhere, it's just a matter of knowing what they intend to do with them, sell them, start using them, etc. The experience I've had with aftermarket panels is rather rough to say the least, and it'd be nice to have the same level of support as the original Austin Mini's have.

I guess the conversation point for this thread is whether or not anyone has any information as to whether someone has attempted to contact Nissan, or if Nissan themselves have considered re-running parts. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to see new panels being made that fit as they should O.O.B, and I'm sure the question has run through many enthusiast's heads already.

[zKars]

i think Supertramp had it right when they wrote "Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer..."

[Bruce Palmer]

I think it's safe to assume NISSAN's primary business is the manufacture and sale of new vehicles and our keeping this old tin alive is probably a nagging side issue for them.

FYI there is a move underway to get body panels for the 510 constructed in Taiwan here in the near term. Don't know any more than that at the moment.

Whoever you all are and whatever your problems...... new carbs are the answer...... nyuck nyuck

Off for a weekend of car stuff

[Hardway]

I see this is your first post Janitor and you are 19. First off, welcome to the site. Your observations have been noted by all classic Z car owners. Yes, Nissan is not the biggest player when it comes to parts support for their classic cars and even I get super frustrated at times with the lack of support for new parts from Nissan. I wish they would either make the parts we need or sell the rights to someone who will. However there are lots of after market suppliers for our cars and as you mentioned sometimes its rough. On the other hand a lot of the vendors offer very high quality parts and they do listen to feedback regarding parts and work to have them improved. I am well aware of the support that cars like classic Mustangs, Chevelles, Camaros, various Ponitacs, etc recieve from the after market and the original manufacturers. Also keep in mind, those cars saw a big uptick in popularity and price when the televised auctions came along. Suddenly everyone with a '69 Camaro thought it was worth no less than $30K and everyone started fixing them. Very few classic Z cars will ever see that price point so it all comes down to supply and demand.

I have no doubt that Nissan is proud of the classic Z cars and maybe we will see more support for them in the near future. In the mean time be prepared to be creative and patient as you hunt down parts. If there is something specific you need that you cannot locate it, post up a want ad on the Datsun Classifieds or do a search as many owners have found creative ways to restore lots parts that to the untrained eye looked like it could not be saved. Good luck with your project!

[psdenno]

Expecting auto manufacturers to store and maintain the dies for the sheet metal of every model from every model year is probably a little unreaalistic. Dies wear out and are discarded. As mentioned above, auto manufacturers make their only from making new cars.

Aftermarket companies find a niche based on enthusiast demaand and fill it with offshore parts of varying quality.

When the demand is there someone will eventually fill it if there's. a buck to be made.

Denis

[240zdave]

I believe Nissan is remaking some body panels for the S30. A friend of mine is doing a mild restoration on a 240Z for a customer, and the customer was able to buy a brand new in the box, not original OEM, but brand new Nissan hood, Nissan part number.

[madkaw]

I don't know how many Zs you have restored, but at 19 I'm betting not a whole lot. You have started to learn that good fitting parts are hard to find.

It's not just Nissan. I was surprised to find that even a 69 911 was stuck using some Tawain panels for repair.

Pay the extra money and try and find rust free OEM stuff. Even stuff like the rear valence should be cut off another car to assure a good fit.

Sometimes I am actually surprised how much is still available for these 40 year old machines.

Improvising is the key to messing with these dinasours !

[The Janitor]

I believe Nissan is remaking some body panels for the S30. A friend of mine is doing a mild restoration on a 240Z for a customer, and the customer was able to buy a brand new in the box, not original OEM, but brand new Nissan hood, Nissan part number.

Interesting, I'll have to do some hunting with the locals then. I know where I can get NOS fenders from, but I'd like to have a source for hoods too. Obviously the holy grail would be complete floor panels, there have to be some hiding somewhere, they came in crates.

I fully realise how impractical it must seem to expect a car company to restore production of parts, but my attention lies with the simple existence of such moulds and/or the willingness of Nissan to let them go, and who might have already approached them. I've already had to dissect a parts car to get some vital panels for my current restoration, now I just have to find a straight, rust free passenger's side front clip.

I don't find it hard to believe that Nissan would still have them somewhere, other car companies keep the more popular models indexed. An odd but relevant example is the 1980's Jetta and Golf models from Volkswagen, you can still aquire the entire driver's or passenger's side of either, new (quarter panel to a-pillar.

Edited August 4, 2013 by The Janitor

[psdenno]

Have you tried contacting Nissan to ask about what they did with the early Z metal stamping dies? Here's a link to an article about a company that stamps out all the sheet metal parts for the '57 Chevrolet - a bit pricey.

How to Retool and Build New '57 Chevy Bodies for Fun and Profit - Column - Car Reviews - Car and Driver

Dennis

[The Janitor]

Have you tried contacting Nissan to ask about what they did with the early Z metal stamping dies? Here's a link to an article about a company that stamps out all the sheet metal parts for the '57 Chevrolet - a bit pricey.

How to Retool and Build New '57 Chevy Bodies for Fun and Profit - Column - Car Reviews - Car and Driver

Dennis

I've tried contacting Nissan a couple of times, but it seems like you really need to know someone who knows somebody who knows "that guy" to even get an honest answer. With the lack of any real car culture and an even greater lack of Datsun enthusiasts in my neck of the woods, that makes getting any sort of official information next to impossible.

I've heard that a local Nissan dealership owner is into Datsuns, and he often has the scoop on info out of corporate, might be a place to check soon.

Edited August 5, 2013 by The Janitor