I have Fairlady S30-01036...need some advice

[carnutatthebeach]

I definitely won't part it out. I think I'm going with restoring as it sits, leaving the g nose on it as that's how it came over here. And I never got the "not worthy" thing as isn't it supposed to be all about loving common things? I'm a big Porsche collector (but I have many other marques) and that same crap goes on in our forums too. My collection is well into the mid/upper six figures but I never snuff someone because their toys aren't as nice as mine, nor do I worship someone who has nicer toys. It's a lifestyle and passion. I simply came on here looking for advice from those more knowledgeable in the early Japanese stuff, and sharing info I was given from the previous owner of 35 years or so. Here are a few pics of some of my collection and current resto projects...enjoy.

[240260280]

I love the silence   Incredible collection!

I only saw a Jag E coupe once around here.  Beautiful car! My fav of your collection after the Z of course!

Edited July 30, 2017 by 240260280

[Patcon]

Beautiful collection! Love the selection of Porsche's. I suspect your estimate was low and you appear to live near the coast since your house is elevated. Be sure and keep them all properly insured against flood damage. It would be a shame to see them get damaged and then take the financial hit too...

[carnutatthebeach]

Thank you guys! Hagerty loves me, for sure! Yes, I love my cars and respect ALL car guys. Yes, we live on the Waccamaw River outside of Myrtle Beach, about 10 miles to the ocean. We've flooded 3 times in the past two years (5' under the house, 3' under, and the last was 7' deep under respectively!...see pics), so I'm well versed on moving things quickly to higher ground. It sucks, but it's paradise the other 99% of time. Here are a few before and after pics. FYI the stone columns  (not counting the caps are 8' tall!). Just think of the volume of water it takes to raise an entire river an inch, let alone 10' above normal! Crazy!

 

Edited July 30, 2017 by carnutatthebeach

[HS30-H]

15 hours ago, Zed Head said:

The low VIN club guys have to get their subtle digs in.  Your car (and you) don't meet their membership requirements.

Everything is there to make a running driveable enjoyable 240Z. 

See that? Three sentences that make me think I've taken acid and accidentally wandered onto zcar.com. I mean really, WTF? LOL...

If there was any low-VIN bingo going on I certainly didn't notice it. Shame I missed it if there was, as I would have enjoyed the delicious irony.  

Here's a heads-up for you; The car in question is (according to the engine bay identity tag) an S30-prefixed, early 1970 production dated 'Fairlady Z-L'. Harry Potter would struggle to make it a "240Z". Even Nissan Shatai would struggle with that one.  

Edited July 30, 2017 by HS30-H

[240260280]

Your collection is missing this one:

 

[carnutatthebeach]

Hahaha. My luck it would sink too!

[Zed Head]

18 minutes ago, HS30-H said:

See that? Three sentences that make me think I've taken acid and accidentally wandered onto zcar.com. I mean really, WTF? LOL...

If there was any low-VIN bingo going on I certainly didn't notice it. Shame I missed it if there was, as I would have enjoyed the delicious irony.  

Here's a heads-up for you; The car in question is (according to the engine bay identity tag) an S30-prefixed, early 1970 production dated 'Fairlady Z-L'. Harry Potter would struggle to make it a "240Z". Even Nissan Shatai would struggle with that one.  

See that?  Another opportunity to pass on some knowledge, a correction of a simple error in nomenclature, turned in to some not-unexpected righteous indignation.  Does it do anything at all for anyone but the author?  Not really.  The knowledge will die with the people that don't share it.

For anyone that thinks the information is readily available for anyone that has a computer, do a Google on Photobucket.  The people that own the servers that hold the knowledge will let them die with that knowledge.

[HS30-H]

6 hours ago, carnutatthebeach said:

I definitely won't part it out. I think I'm going with restoring as it sits, leaving the g nose on it as that's how it came over here. And I never got the "not worthy" thing as isn't it supposed to be all about loving common things? I'm a big Porsche collector (but I have many other marques) and that same crap goes on in our forums too. My collection is well into the mid/upper six figures but I never snuff someone because their toys aren't as nice as mine, nor do I worship someone who has nicer toys. It's a lifestyle and passion. I simply came on here looking for advice from those more knowledgeable in the early Japanese stuff, and sharing info I was given from the previous owner of 35 years or so. Here are a few pics of some of my collection and current resto projects...enjoy.

(my bold)

What's the "..."not worthy" thing..." you are referring to? Have I missed some posts? 

With respect, I think you have to expect straight talk on a marque specialist forum. I'm not going to blow smoke up your rear end for you and if I see claims - no matter who they are attributed to - that I believe are mistaken, unlikely or just plain wrong then I'm going to speak up. I think it's fair to say that I know a little bit about the Japanese market models and I'm probably one of their most passionate advocates on this forum. I think I have a pretty good handle on what your car was and is, and if you put it in front of us on this forum I'm going to say it as I see it. As a car enthusiast, I can't believe you would honestly want to hear only *good stuff* or have people swallow every tenth-hand tale whole? If you acknowledge this forum's integrity - which I think you have done, by asking your questions here - then you have to accept that you might not necessarily be pleased by every response you get. Am I right?

My feeling is that these cars can tell us a lot if we only learn to listen. Your Fairlady - even from the limited photos you have posted - says quite a lot about itself. I think the fact that the rear arches have not been cut, and that the trailing edges of the lower section on the G-nose have not been relieved says a lot, and it's likely that it has never been fitted with very wide wheels, as many were in-period. My personal view is that this is a good thing, both for the lower panel of the G-Nose (they are worth more if they have not been chopped) and the 'shell of the car, which is - in my opinion - better off in stock configuration. I've already stated that I think it very unlikely that this car was circuit raced in period (scrutineering for even the most basic clubmans races in Japan would require fuel and safety-related changes that would be difficult to erase completely) and I also think it much more likely the RHD to LHD conversion was done in USA than in Japan. Some deeper research would surely answer a lot of questions.

You asked about value but - as has been pointed out - the photos are not enough to go on. In my first reply I asked about the firewall-engraved body number, but you have not answered that question. It's quite an important point for the destiny of the car, I think. So too are the details of the RHD to LHD conversion. From your description, it sounds as though this was not a whole firewall change and that the original RHD details were covered or patched? To my mind that makes it more viable to be reversed. As an early 1970 production car, it surely makes much more sense to turn it back to its original RHD layout - even if you are forced to use slightly later componentry (such as the dash, for instance) - as if it's kept in LHD configuration it is neither fish nor fowl.

It doesn't need to be 100% stock. Some Japanese period-correct touches would not be frowned on, but I think it needs that RHD layout for it to actually mean something in the context of its true origin and its original market. The G-nose, to my mind, seems a little incongruous on an early 1970 car. Stock body would surely make more sense?             

[Zed Head]

 

50 minutes ago, HS30-H said:

See that? Three sentences that make me think I've taken acid and accidentally wandered onto zcar.com. I mean really, WTF? LOL...

If there was any low-VIN bingo going on I certainly didn't notice it. Shame I missed it if there was, as I would have enjoyed the delicious irony.  

Here's a heads-up for you; The car in question is (according to the engine bay identity tag) an S30-prefixed, early 1970 production dated 'Fairlady Z-L'. Harry Potter would struggle to make it a "240Z". Even Nissan Shatai would struggle with that one.  

Here, I'll be more constructive, with an example.  The replay below would have been very educational, reset the tone, AND (bonus) been "bigger" than my comment.   Win, win, win.  It's all of the extra stuff that's unnecessary.  

"The car in question is (according to the engine bay identity tag) an S30-prefixed, early 1970 production dated 'Fairlady Z-L', so calling it a 240Z would be incorrect."

Then, maybe, even refer back to your first post in the thread, #4, which is educational.  Again without the extra WTF's, and LOL's, and insinuations.  It's called being civil.  

[HS30-H]

32 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

See that?  Another opportunity to pass on some knowledge, a correction of a simple error in nomenclature, turned in to some not-unexpected righteous indignation.  Does it do anything at all for anyone but the author?  Not really.  The knowledge will die with the people that don't share it.

So what was the "low VIN club guys" comment all about then?

 

[Zed Head]

1 minute ago, HS30-H said:

With respect, I think you have to expect straight talk on a marque specialist forum.

This might be the heart of many of the arguments.  Not sure how many people think of this site as a "marque specialist forum".  Still, it's possible to correct people without the extra verbiage.