Z's on BAT and other places collection

[Zed Head]

Stuff to ponder.  

 

1. Model Year: This is a marketing term, usually it is between 8 and 12 months long and within which, a specific model is considered to be "current". In the U.S. new model introductions in the 70's could take place as much as four months ahead of the beginning of the calendar year. That is to say, the 1971 Model Year Chevy's were introduced to the public and put on sale in Sept. 1970. (in the 90's manufacturers were pushing that new car introduction to as much as 8 months ahead of the calendar).

[w3wilkes]

2 hours ago, Zed Head said:

in the 90's manufacturers were pushing that new car introduction to as much as 8 months ahead of the calendar.

I'd say Dodge Ram would be at the top of that list.

[Zed Head]

5 minutes ago, w3wilkes said:

I'd say Dodge Ram would be at the top of that list.

For the record that is actually Carl Beck's quote from his zhome page.  I copied the text.

 

[Zpenman]

11 hours ago, Racer X said:

Cars are bought, sold, registered and licensed based on their model year, not the date of manufacture.

My bad.

[bartsscooterservice]

On 9/9/2022 at 9:26 PM, Mark Maras said:

It's interesting that my late 70 build, 1971 Z came with the green 70 owner's manual.

Once again confirming there is no such things as a series 1,2 3 ..

Changes like with other brands just went througout production

[Fred Sigarto]

21 hours ago, Zed Head said:

The purpose isn't drama it's more about an understanding of what Nissan would consider a 1970 model versus a 1971 model.  Way back then decisions were made about changes that they would make to the 1970 design, for the 1971 model year.  Typically, flaws are removed for the new models, for example.  Or, in the 70's, new emissions regulations had to be met, based on model year designation, as kats has shown above.

You could also talk about "purity".  A mid-1970 produced 1970 model might be more "pure" than a late year production.  Maybe Nissan started introducing 1971 features before they had to.  When was the last "pure" 1970 produced?

Here's another feature I found in the Owner Manual.  It might not even actually be a thing, I don't know.  The shape of the keys.

Zed Head, I have a 10/69 Fairlady Z-L. Door lock key is correct, however both Nissan ignition key both heads are oval and reversible.

And the sun visor.

 

 

[Fred Sigarto]

Just now, Fred Sigarto said:

 

sorry, I messed up ..... on Zed Head post about the keys, on my 10/69 Fairlady Z-L keys, the lock key is the same, however both ignition keys are reversible and the key head is oval shaped. Could be the ignition was swapped?

[DC871F]

8 hours ago, bartsscooterservice said:

Once again confirming there is no such things as a series 1,2 3 ..

Changes like with other brands just went througout production

Great point.

When did the "series" thing first start? Having had Z's for over 30 years, I can't remember if that was a thing back when I first got interested in them.

[w3wilkes]

I've been a 240Z owner since July 1973. My current car is a 12/70 build registered as a '71. I don't think I'd heard the series "n" until maybe sometime in the 1990's. I was aware from the time I bought my current 240Z in 1990 that the "series 2" changes were implemented later in 1971 beginning, I believe, with serial number HLS30-021001 but I'm not sure what the build date was for that car, looking at zhome.com my guess is February 1971. One thing I'd be curious to know is if there are any stock round top/non beefed-up front bumper cars that were registered as a 1973? Or were the emissions/safety standards tightened up to the point that all 1973 cars had the flat top carbs and beefed-up front bumper?

EDIT:

@Carl Beck It's kind of like having a IZCC member # 2831 showing a join date of 2017. My guess is this is really the last time I updated my IZCC membership but the join date is probably really in the early 1990's.

Edited September 12, 2022 by w3wilkes

[DatsunZGuy]

1 hour ago, DC871F said:

Great point.

When did the "series" thing first start? Having had Z's for over 30 years, I can't remember if that was a thing back when I first got interested in them.

The whole series thing just helps establish a sub-category value pecking order and strokes egos of early production owners.  

[Carl Beck]

4 hours ago, Zed Head said:

 

I saw your comments on zhome about when Nissan switched but it's not clear how you know that.

"When Nissan switched" what ?

When Nissan switched from selling the 1970 design (your term) as a 1970 Model Year offering - to - selling the 1970 design as a 1971 Model Year offering?  I don't believe we have that pinned down to a specific month, as it depended on the Dealer and the State they were in. 

or

When Nissan switched from manufacturing the 1970 design - to manufacturing the 1971 design?  Kats said earlier Nissan switched in Feb 1971 for exports and in March of domestic market cars.  The Technical Service Bulletin gives the beginning chassis serial number as HLS30 21001 - and so far every 240Z (still stock) with that VIN or higher has a manufacturing date of 02/71 or higher.

[HS30-H]

Series is 'S30':

Yes, I know I know....