Badging a 240Z into a FairladyZ

[DC871F]

A couple of you may have seen the thread I started on my 73 rotisserie restoration. So I have had this car for a long time waiting to do the restoration, and my intent years ago was to clone it as a FairladyZ, with you know, the LHD. I'm just now getting started after the deconstruction of the car, so look for updates on that thread.

I have in my possession the earmarks to do this. JDM taillights, fender mirrors, original style badges, chrome ringed headlight lenses (real ones). I also have a set of "D" hubcaps, not really sure thats Fairladyish on the hubcaps, but I think they are cool.

The kid (relative) I was when I got this car still exists in me, but since I'm an adult, but like a real adult I still think I want to do it, even though I may get some feedback from purists, and I hear you. I am as far away as can be from being a restomod person, but dont knock it because to each their own and in the end they all look great.

I have had other 240's all the while this particular car was waiting around as I was getting my gut right to do this restoration, and I had all the JDM stuff, but resisted to bolt it on the other cars I had because I knew it would not turn out well with the slapped on look. But I believe if I start from the get go on the current car, I think I could make it look right, other than the LHD.

I'm ready for your thoughts or concerns.

 

[wheee!]

Unless the project car has some other important provenance, I say go for it! Make it whatever you want and enjoy yourself! Have fun and document the process for all us armchair commentators!

[siteunseen]

I think any 240 done right is money in the bank no matter how original.  There will be someone who likes what you like and will pay for your hard work.

Like wheee! says, go for it!

[Zed Head]

It won't be a restoration.  More of a replication.  

 

[DC871F]

7 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

It won't be a restoration.  More of a replication.  

 

Even have the FairladyZ glove box door emblem.

[Zed Head]

2 minutes ago, DC871F said:

Even have the FairladyZ glove box door emblem.

I can dunk a basketball on an 8 foot rim.  But that doesn't mean I can dunk.  

Go for it.  I'm not really in to collecting old stuff anyway, so my opinion means little.  If I saw a real Fairlady Z my first thought would be "that thing must be hard to drive with the wheel on the wrong side".

[Zed Head]

I think that it would be neater if you found a real Fairlady Z and restored it using all of your parts.  Converting "right"-side drive to the wrong side just seems not-right.

[moelk]

I have put a fair bit of Fairlady emblems and parts on my US market 240z, like all emblems, grill, headlight covers, speedometer, rally clock, steering wheel (compe wheel and the Jdm version of the Oem wheel), fender mirrors etc. I see nothing wrong in doing that.

If you like it better go for it.

//Andreas

[Zed Head]

4 hours ago, DC871F said:

I'm ready for your thoughts or concerns.

I'm not trying to pick on your project.  Any project is a good project.  But I just realized the major error of your title.  "into a Fairlady Z".  No matter what you do, it won't be transformed into a Fairlady Z, as I understand the definition.  It might be a clone, or a replica, or a pseudo-, but it won't actually be a Fairlady Z.  I think that a purist might even be more offended that someone thinks the "badge" makes the car.

This is more of a grammatical thing than a car thing.  For whatever it's worth.  We tend to like a good label or category, and I'm not sure where what you're doing fits, or what it would be called.  What would it be?  Maybe we should make a up a new name.  Clone is so played...

[DC871F]

8 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

I'm not trying to pick on your project.  Any project is a good project.  But I just realized the major error of your title.  "into a Fairlady Z".  No matter what you do, it won't be transformed into a Fairlady Z, as I understand the definition.  It might be a clone, or a replica, or a pseudo-, but it won't actually be a Fairlady Z.  I think that a purist might even be more offended that someone thinks the "badge" makes the car.

This is more of a grammatical thing than a car thing.  For whatever it's worth.  We tend to like a good label or category, and I'm not sure where what you're doing fits, or what it would be called.  What would it be?  Maybe we should make a up a new name.  Clone is so played...

An immolation. A homage.

[Zed Head]

Homage is the word that was buried in my brain, couldn't find it.  Homage is good.  How about replicant?  Replicant fits today better than clone.  It's not even in spell-check yet.  Fairlady Z replicant.

[Captain Obvious]

Tenacious D would call it a Tribute.