Series 1 '71 blue on blue automatic - purist debate

[GeoJoe]

Here's HLS30-14821 - A California car that made her way to TN in the mid 90's and recently on to GA.

This is a numbers matching blue all over Z. Production date is 11/70.

It's got all the Seires 1 goodies. Rear hatch vents, vertical defrost, speedo starts at 20, 140 lbs oil guage, knob on the gas door, solid steering wheel and plastic tool boxes behind seats that don't lean up.

There's rust in a few of the normal spots and a good bit of work to do, but overall this is a survivor. It's had only one paint job and needs another one bad. Looks like a tree hit the drivers door. Other than that rails are solid and straight and no major body damage.

It came with a ton of records too. A notebook full of CA shops doing normal maintenance and a TN title. Via Google in less than 3min I happend to be able to find and contact the 2nd owner who drove it from ~75k to 150k and he told me a lot of history on the car. He may want it back. He flipped out that I called!

What's somewhat unique about this one is that it's an automatic that still unchanged after 43 years and almost 200,000 miles.

I've been working on my red '73z, so this one will probably go to another home soon. I really want to keep this car, as I'll probably never see another Series 1, but I can't bring myself to drive blue over blue.

The purist in me says sell to someone who will keep it totally as-is stock as possible. The enthusiast in my says keep it and strip it all down, start from scratch and give it the colors scheme, a 5spd manual and a ton of upgrades that I want so I can have a Series 1 and then sell my other Z. I've got access to parts and great mechanic in Atlanta wrenching on it to work his magic. I'll be working on interior and electrical for now.

This is a great find. Let me know if this is the dream car you've been looking for.

Here's day 1:

Edited October 23, 2013 by GeoJoe

[kjohnson2444]

It's your car. I say, do with it what you want. I've never seen a series 1 automatic. Interesting.

[northernz]

Whats wrong with Blue on Blue? It's a pretty rare colour combo. That car is pretty close to my blue on blue 71, mine is #15721, 12/70! Looks like it needs a resto, so might as well make it what you want!

[GeoJoe]

It's not just blue / blue, it's the automatic too. If I start changing that to manual - I might as well go all the way!

Cool car for sure...

[GeoJoe]

Here's a few more pics.

Some cleaning started here...

[er34gtt2000jp]

I'd keep her blue on blue, but I am partial to it as I have a 903 blue 71' with blue interior myself ;-) As for mods, it's your ride so do what makes you happy man. My only thing is I wouldn't do any permanent mod that could not be easily reverted back to stock. The 903 blue is really a nice color when it's in good shape and shiny but that's just my opinion. I've seen some really nice resto-mod series one cars with tasteful yet fully functional mods.

Looks like a serious keeper, in better shape than mine was when I got it! Congrats my friend.

[djwarner]

My Series I is also an automatic with blue interior, though it originally had a white exterior. Looks like your door panels are missing.

Been trying to determine exactly how many Series I automatics are still registered. Besides being a candidate for conversion to racing, I understood many automatics were converted to manual transmissions. This was particularly easy for Series I cars as the clutch pedal mounting brackets were left in the car.

Your car makes 8 automatics I know of, one was actually converted from manual to automatic, one converted to manual. According to Carl Beck the last pure Series I was SN 20848 and the first equipped with an automatic transmission was SN 8944 .

Though I cannot verify it, I understand 90+% of 240's were manual transmissions. This would suggest that less than 1200 Series I automatics were produced. With the attrition rates for a 43 year old car, I would expect very few Series I automatics survive, probably no more than 60 (5%?).

As far as I know blue interiors were only offered on the Series I on the dark blue and white exterior colors.

[240260280z]

I enjoyed seeing all of the original Z's at Zcon this summer. They are beautiful cars. I would recommend refreshing your car and maybe put some triple side draft carbs on it if you want more torque (but refresh and keep the SU's and manifold of course).

If you want something more just be patient, sell your 73 and wait until something more to your liking appears at the right price and then own 2 cars you like.

Edited October 23, 2013 by Blue

[GeoJoe]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm leaning towards originality at this point.

Series 1 - rare.

Blue exterior and blue interior - more rare.

Still automatic after all these years - way more rare!

Door panels exist but are in rough shape. I did find new blue tunnel vinyl.

Here's what it probably looked like in the 80's and what the interior should look like. Hope I can get it this good again!

Edited October 23, 2013 by GeoJoe

[cbuczesk]

The original colors are different and I like different. I'd keep it original. :-)

Chuck

[Montezuma]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm leaning towards originality at this point.

Series 1 - rare.

Blue exterior and blue interior - more rare.

Still automatic after all these years - way more rare!

Door panels exist but are in rough shape. I did find new blue tunnel vinyl.

Here's what it probably looked like in the 80's and what the interior should look like. Hope I can get it this good again!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66859[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66858[/ATTACH]

I rescued a 71(paid $250 for it) built 4/71 4sp car that is blue on blue and I think the blue interior parts are gorgeous. Everything you need to make it this pretty in the inside is available from Classic Datsun at Classic Datsun Motorsports The PO of my car painted over the blue with black vinyl paint. My car is ready for paint and I plan to repaint it the original Nissan blue; I have to decide whether or not to put the original blue or the black that I have in the car. The car is being fixed up to sell.

[northernz]

Thats my car that is being shown above! Exactly 1100 cars after yours was produced. Just so you know, mine was repainted once, badly, in a mercedes blue metallic. The car needs a major refresh and repaint,and I will be going back to 903 blue. I love the blue interior.:classic: