I could be totally wrong on this one, but this looks to be a compe steering wheel from a sport package on a j-spec Z or it could be a 73 240 steering wheel. If anyone could help me on this one I would appreciate it. That would be so awesome if it was the compe.

-Ben

Hi Ben,

The steering wheel in your photo is not a "Compe." wheel.

They were much smaller diameter than than the one in the photo.

The Factory made a very few with a slightly bigger diameter just for the Works Rally cars - but these are SUPER rare ( I've only ever seen three - and they were all attached to genuine Works cars ).

NISMO did a re-issue for their tenth anniversary ( their tenth anniversary was around 1992 I think? ) so you sometimes see these coming up for auction - but they are expensive.

I have a re-issue on my ZG ( see my Gallery photos ) and a genuine early one stashed for my Z432R project car.

Despite the fact that it looks and ( almost ) feels like leather - it is in fact a synthetic rim.

All the best,

Alan T.

Thanks a lot. I knew it was too good to be true. I will someday get a compe. That will hold me over until I get my factory g nose z. Until then, I am going to try and get the great j-spec items for my 260. Man, I love those j-spec models.

-Ben

Ben,

You can make your car look quite Japanesque ( ? ) if you collect some of those Japanese-market accessories such as the Compe. steering wheel and other bits and pieces for it.

Just knowing what they are and the fact that they existed is half the battle - so you are already ahead of the game in that respect.

The right set of wheels and a few trim changes should make a world of difference.

Your car looks pretty damned good anyway - so you have a good canvas to start out on.

Genuine Factory HS30-H models in good condition are fairly sought after in Japan, and tend to command very high prices in comparison with a "normal" Z. There are a real lot of replicas out there ( ranging from authentic-looking down to plain awful ) and their prices are a lot lower. Don't get confused between the two.

In my opinion, you could build a pretty authentic-looking replica ( RHD and all ) for roughly half what a genuine ZG would cost to buy.

Nothing wrong with replicas, as long as nobody claims that they are the 'real thing' in order to trick somebody. When you look at Japanese cars that are for sale, you can usually spot in the wording of the ad whether they are genuine ZG models or not. Many of the adverts read "ZG look" or "ZG replica" - whereas the real ones are much more assertive. Its a legal requirement in Japan that you don't mis-represent something like a ZG replica as the real thing.

I'd say build a replica and be happy. Owning a real one can be something of a liability!.............

All the best,

Alan T.

Hi Alan, Ben!

Is this a Compe wheel? This is one of my favourite interiors.

Alan- while this pic is displayed can you tell me if the rev counter is a Factory Competition item? Never seen one quite like that before, would be great to have one

Hi George,

Mr Miya has a big fan-club doesn't he? His car is quite a tour-de-force.

Yes - that is indeed a Datsun Compe. "handle" ( Japanese steering wheels have always been called handles - which is fun ).

The Tachometer is not Japanese-made though. I'm sure its an American make, and more drag racing oriented rather than road / circuit race type. At a guess I would say it might be a Mallory ( Sport Comp? ) or something like that. I'm not very well up on that kind of stuff any more ( was more clued up when I was younger! ).

If you want one like it from a UK importer then I would try Real Steel ( not a million miles away from you over in west London ).

The Factory competition Tachometer for the S30-series Z is a very rare item indeed. They were made by Kanto Seiki and featured a moveable second hand so that you could set your own rev limit. Find one of these and you could almost retire on the proceeds ( well - not quite, but you know what I mean ).

All the best,

Alan T.

Thanks Alan for the great write up.

Thanks also for letting me know that it is Mr Miya's interior that I am drooling over (sorry Mr. Miya, it will wipe off)

I don't suppose you have a picture of the factory competition item? It may help to increase my odds on a good pension fund if you do

that tacho looks like any old after-market monster tacho. e.g. http://www.vpwmailorder.com/asp/product_page.asp?sub_cat_id=603&manu_id=

That said, "any old monster tachos" aren't cheap at all... probably cheaper than your factory comp tacho but wahey.

Alfadog,

Yeah! - Auto Meter. That's what my fading brain cells were trying to remember! Maybe I need another bottle of beer ( hic! ).

George,

Here's one of my not very good photos ( I'm still looking for a truly fool-proof camera ) of the Factory Competition tach. as installed in one of the Monte Carlo rally cars. As you can see its in the LHD configuration. Notice the second hand, which is adjusted by the central knob ( Mr Aaltonen in this case ) Notice too the not-very heady top reading of 8000 rpm, and the fact that they still used the green triangles for the indicator signals. These tachs were basically for production-based race cars - rather than all-out purpose built race chassis. The Factory circuit-race sports cars like the R380 / R381 / R382 et al tended to use Smiths tachos. Too much information? OK I'll shut up.

Ignore the hand-drawn red line, which was applied to remind the junior staff at the Nissan Memorial Sports Hall to keep their right foot under control...............

If you do find one, please let me know first. You can get free investment and pensions advice too

Alan T.

I have a similar wheel [smaller diameter than the standard Z wheel], it doesn't have the leather cover now,just a hard foam molding. Any ideas what it is?

Well, is this special toooooo.

Guessing as it's LHD, then thats reading up to 200+mph!

Go Zed Go!!!!!

No Mike,

That's the standard Japanese-market speedo for the HS30 models ( released after October 1971 ).

It reads up to 240kmh, which I'm sure they did accidentally on purpose.

Can't comment on your steering wheel without seeing a picture of it, but please note that the cover on the "Compe." steering wheels was not leather ( although it looks and almost feels like it ) - it was in fact moulded plastic / urethane type stuff.

Maybe you have a Compe. and didn't know it? If it looks like the one in the picture then it probably is a Compe. wheel.

Alan T.