Series I or II?

[ericg]

I'm the proud new owner of a 1971 240z and I'm trying to gain insight on whether it's a series I or II. I've done some reading, but the clues are a bit conflicting. Maybe you can tell from the VIN?: 12043

If not...

case for series I

1.) It has factory installed plastic tool compartments behind both seats. The jack, etc. are secured behind the passenger seat.

2.) There are no vents on the sail pillars.

3.) The previous owner said it was a series I

case for series II

1.) The original color was Green Metallic 113 (still visible in the engine bay and floorboards) which according to the chart on zhome.com was a 72' color? it was repainted 907 Dark Green during restoration in the late 80's.

2.) There are no vents in the hatch, but I suspect the hatch was replaced, because at least one of the rear quarter panels was.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[grannyknot]

First off ericg, Welcome! You will come to love this site. You have a series I, hatch has been replaced.

P/O may have replaced the hatch because of the rear vents on early cars were troublesome or maybe because of a rear end crash. The colour, well... those colour charts weren't written in stone and if your car was built late in 1971 that would explain it.

Post some pics when you can, we all love pics!

Chris

[djwarner]

If sounds like a series I with a replaced rear hatch. Series I tool storage area was within a black plastic lid behind the seats. In the Series II cars there are small doors on the forward part of the cargo floor covering small wedge shaped storage areas.

In the Series I the wedge shaped areas are there but are sealed up under a section of linoleum that covers the entire cargo floor.

There is an id panel in the driver's door well that shows the vin and month of manufacture. Series I production ended in January 1971. From your description I would think your vehicle was assembled in October or November of 1970. My Series I was assembled in the last days of December 1970.

[Dr. 240Z]

The VIN (12,043) confirms that yours is a Series 1....No question about it

[jfa.series1]

Hey Ericg,

Welcome to the Series 1 club. To paraphrase some famous defenders of our country - we are the few, the proud, the old! The comments above all clarify the series and likely build period of your car. And yes, we really do want to be see some pics of your new ride and here some more about its condition and your plans for it.

[Carl Beck]

Agreed - the VIN says Series I - build date should be 10/70. Series I VIN's run up through 20xxx.

If the front of the car {engine compartment} and the floorboard did have #113 as the original paint - then someone grafted the front of a newer car to the rear of another. Does the car have a rebuilt title? Can you read the VIN stamped into the Firewall? Is the original data tag on the drivers door jam?

[ericg]

Ugh. Just wrote out a five paragraph description of everything I know about my car and then the site timed out and it was lost. I'll re-post soon.

[jmorrison146]

Yep, she'll time out when you wax poetic. Put your thoughts into a Word document then copy/paste it over.

[ericg]

Thanks so much for the clarification and the warm welcome!

I have always loved Z cars! The 240 is the third classic car I've purchased in the last year as my "little hobby" has quickly developed into a full blown addiction. I started tinkering with a 71' Fiat 124 Spider (now sold) but quickly started looking for a bigger project. I now have a 69' Triumph GT-6+ in the middle of a full frame-off restoration that I'm mostly doing on my own (and learning as I go).

I bought the 240 about a month ago when opportunity knocked. It is extraordinarily original...still has the old tape deck and box speakers! Mainly, it needed tires, paint, and a new dash. It also needs an alignment and a new brake booster.

The guy I got if from had it here in NM for the last 20+ years and didn't drive it much. He bought it from a guy in Dallas who had it fully restored in the late 80's (have receipts). At that time he changed the color from 113 to 907 and swapped in an L28 which now has about 50k miles on it.

I replaced a few cracked hoses and I've been working on the interior: cleaning, replaced the shift boot, armrest and refreshing the sun faded carpets with an aerosol dye. The seats are white cloth and in great condition as is everything else but the dash. The windows were tined (thank god) saving it from 20+ years of dessert UV!

The dash was cracked beyond CAP-abiltiy and so I ordered a used OEM replacement on ebay ($$).

It has a few rust spots (rockers) but the frame rails, shock towers and floor pans are dry. I'm taking it for paint/body in a week and should have it back mid Nov. I'm removing the side trim after learning that it's not factory original and that'll make waxing easier anyway.

I plan to work on it as issues arise and enjoy it as a "weekender". I look forward to getting to know you all better and sharing a common love.

Cheers!

[an_unusual_eye]

welcome... love the color ;~}. just another quick observation of the parts swapping over the past few decades, in that the hood is from a '77-'78 model 280z. i guess since they left the rear half of the car "ventless", they wanted to add some vents to the hood. looking forward to seeing where she goes. best ~ rob.

[jmorrison146]

Welcome aboard! If you need some work done or technical advice, Soren Loree in Albuquerque is a good resource. He runs Miata Specialists (810 Arno St NE, 505/344-9560) and has done historic racing with Z cars.

[ericg]

welcome... love the color ;~}. just another quick observation of the parts swapping over the past few decades, in that the hood is from a '77-'78 model 280z. i guess since they left the rear half of the car "ventless", they wanted to add some vents to the hood. looking forward to seeing where she goes. best ~ rob.

I was wondering why I didn't see hood vents on any of your cars? great info thanks!