I noticed this pic in an old book I had (Petersen's Complete Book of Datsun). It did not have C pillar emblems, seemed to have a data collection box and wires to sensors in the back, and was on dirt next to a building. It reminded me of a photo location I had seen before so I did some digging to try and figure out where and what was going on.

I think this is the same car and location....from one of the 1969 field testing runs:

This looks like the same car with the data box in the back:

Here it is again on the left (with, what appears to be the same box in the back)

So what was in the back?

...and what about the defrost wires in the window in the top picture? This seems to be the odd ball outlier? Could the other photos not pick up the wires or was a different spare hatch fitted during the testing? I had assumed the defrost wires came later.

I've figured out "what's in the back".

http://www.coleman.com/product/powerchilltrade-40-quart-thermoelectric-cooler/3000001497?contextCategory=8570#.UsMg4vRDuHw

I've figured out "what's in the back".

Coleman - PowerChill? 40 Quart Thermoelectric Cooler

That may be, but I suspect it might be this O'Reilly Auto Parts item:

http://tinyurl.com/4pjborm

Dennis

U-matic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by black gold man

Oh dear, is "The Automobile Capital of the World" suffering from short term memory loss?

So what was in the back?

Electronic test equipment. This is all quite well documented, as are the 'Kaku U' team's activities with the S30-series Z and the 510-series Bluebird before it. We've discussed it here many times before, with Kats bringing a lot of first-hand data and anecdotes from some of the Nissan Shatai 'Kaku U' team members. The test equipment ( data logging, and partly to do with torsional dynamics of the unibody structure ) was exactly the same as that used in the cars in Japan during development and pre-production testing.

...and what about the defrost wires in the window in the top picture? This seems to be the odd ball outlier? Could the other photos not pick up the wires or was a different spare hatch fitted during the testing? I had assumed the defrost wires came later.

Rear window defroster was always part of the design and engineering of the S30-series Z, and was available on some ( most! ) Japanese market models from the beginning of production. Some export markets got a somewhat de-contented spec. package thanks to cost-cutting measures and perceived needs...

Again, a subject we have discussed in-depth on classiczcars.com in the past.

Thanks Alan, I'll dig into the Kaku-U content in the archives.

I found this picture of the same car/location:

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by Blue

Subwoofer

...and what about the defrost wires in the window in the top picture?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]68845[/ATTACH]

Blue,

Horizontal demister wires replaced the vertical ones in April, 1972 beginning with serial number HLS30-062001. Vertical demister wires were fitted after serial number HLS30-01456. Service Bulletin TS72-29 describes the wiring harness modification required for cars prior to 01456 as they were fitted (like my cars) with clear glass. TS71-58 from December, 1971 describes the repair of the vertical demister.

In the "test drive" photograph you posted, with all the people, you will notice John Parker; the fellow who managed advertising for Datsun / Nissan North America. Although the crew of engineers and technicians from Japan did drive the cars around for a couple of months, recording data, a significant amount of time was spent photographing the cars for advertising purposes. The woman in the photograph is a model. The photographs from the Competition Press article come from the same car (s). As Alan pointed out, all of this history has been well discussed in the archives. Search thru "North American Test Program", "Canada Test Cars", "Kaku-U" as Alan pointed out. It would be great if you linked the threads back to here.

I also want to say that since those days of discussion, I have come across more material that leads me to believe that a misconception may have developed about the testing of the new S30 design. The S30 as a prototype was thoroughly "tested" in Japan before the Kaku-U cars came to Los Angeles. Yes, the team collected a lot of data, some of it used to make future production modifications, but I look at the "Canada Test Cars" as more and more of a promotional lap around North America rather than any sort of fresh testing to see if the car will work as it was intended.

It's all an interesting chapter in the early history of the S30 and I'm glad you brought it up!

For a science type guy I would be fun to find out what equipment was in the car and how it was setup. It could explain a lot about the car's development.

I used to have access to a Low frequency HP spectrum analyser that was used to measure noise and vibration (in 3 axis). I think they may have been used something similar (but analogue) at the time. FYI here is a brochure with a photo of the digital data acquisition and analyser being used in a vehicle http://www.wmich.edu/mae/research_labs/noise_vibration/pdf/HP_analyzer.pdf

Alan mentioned torsional loading so some load sensors may be placed on structures...as you said it would be nice to know what they measured.

Edited January 2, 201411 yr by Blue

I have talked one person who have driven Z with such equipment inside, too bad he has no pictures of that as far as i remember, altough i can try to ask for specific details about the apparatus.

Of course, this type of equipment has come a long way in the last 50 years, but I think you guys are on the right track. Here are some pictures showing similar set-ups with similar equipment. Also, a picture of Nissan's design computers of the period.