For the 240Z purists out there:

[koreavet]

What's the deal with these rear bumper end caps?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6769&item=2418431331

Were all 240Z's supplied with these as they came out of the factory?... Just the early cars? I've seen an old picture of an early car with these. Were they an option?

[240ZX]

Could be wrong, but I don't think they are an original Datsun item! Come to think of it, I've never seen these animals before. Some of the other guys on this site are likely to know for sure. There's a lot of great information within the heads of these guys. If you want to find out.......post some information that's B.S. or incorrect and see how quick you will be corrected!!!! Hope this helps you out.

[mdbrandy]

I've seen them in either the VB or MSA catalogs, I think. And on the parts fiche, they are shown as parts 62692-E4101 (RH) and 62693-E4101 (LH). There are no applied-to dates listed, so it appears as though they are for all 240Z models.

Hope this helps.

EDIT - I just looked them up in the VB catalog, and they are 98-052 and 98-053, selling for $4.95 each. Page 22.

[HS30-H]

They were actually a genuine Factory part.

The original intention of these was to stop pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists ( and stray dogs ) being 'hooked' by the rear bumper end as the car passed close by. They also protected the end of the bumper from digging into the sheetmetal during any contact with solid objects..............

Just about every Japanese domestic market S30-series Z had these fitted to them, and I believe that at least some of the early USA-market cars had them too. Strangely, our UK-market cars did NOT have them as part of the normal spec. - although a few cars with them fitted did arrive here.

I think the ones on ebay are reproductions?

*19 = Part no. 62692-E4100 - BASE-rubber, bumper ( R.H )

*20 = Part no. 62693-E4100 - BASE-rubber, bumper ( L.H )

See this illustration from one of the Factory Parts Lists:

Alan T.

( not necessarily a purist, though........... )

[HS30-H]

Here's what the real thing looks like installed on my car ( a Japanese domestic market model ):

Alan T.

[2ManyZs]

Well, his are more than likely reproductions.

These are described as Genuine Nissan and are a bit cheaper....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2418765998&category=33640

One thing, these were not installed on US models in 73. The 73's had a one piece filler behind the bumpers front and rear as they were mounted further away from the body the same as the early 74 260's.

[Alfadog]

Damnit, I knew that Alan!!!

I was hpoing to be able to impress everyone :stupid:

[MikeW]

What holds them in place? Is is just a force fit? There's a smaller rubber piece on the inside of the bumper that protects the body from the bumper ends where they're attached but the bolt goes through those.

[Bambikiller240]

I have never seen these on a 240Z (US Spec) before. The 73, and 71 240Z's I previously owned, and the 72 I currently own (I was the 2nd owner of all 3 cars) did not have these items installed. I wonder if they were an optional part that was not installed on "standard" production cars, perhaps only avail in the US as an after purchase option from a dealer.

I'm not sure how much "protecting" they actually do, but if any "pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists ( and stray dogs )" get THAT close to my car, either they A) deserve to be hooked, or I intended them to be hooked by the rear bumper end as the car passes close by.

[Alfadog]

Yes... a rare option. I've seen one in Australia with them. Doesn't do anything for the looks of the car but kinda cool in a Nostalgic "silly Japanese" kind of way

[240 in OZ]

For anyone that is interested I have a set of genuine Nissan ones for sale here in Australia. I purchased a set for my car as it has the Japanese style mirror on it and then accidentially purchased a second pair.

They are brand new, still in Nissan packaging. See my initial for sale ad posted to the board some time back at:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6301&highlight=australia

They are still available if anyone is interested.

Joseph

[EScanlon]

Having just bought a set and installed them, I'll offer a "plausible" hypothesis.

These items also help to protect the sheet metal from the bumper ends. Remember, these cars got transported chained from the general bumper area to the floor of a transport ship. The ship rocks, the cars shift and create stresses on the body due to the point of anchors. A bumper end can EASILY get too close to the body. So, you device this item, to protect the body during transport.

Marketing decides that a spin on how it's ALSO supposed to stop people who get "hooked" (Nice play on the word "hook" there...) on the car....Voila! Double the mileage from a part that is going to save us from having to re-paint the chipped paint under warranty.

American dealers get the cars, and having heard that these were "packing materials" decide to remove them from the car. They're a bitch to put in and out, but they CAN come out if you're not looking to save it. Hence, they get removed from cars prior to delivery and showroom.

The American Public gets to know the car WITHOUT the rubber end caps.

In later years, people looking to restore the car, find this part listed in the micro-fiche. Hence, it was a part that CAME with the car....Voila! Restoration Excess?

That's a good question.

The way the piece is held in, the back edge of the bumper ends up looking kind of like a spoon, the rubber wraps BOTH inside and outside the lip, and the body is thick enough to require some pressure between the body and bumper. (A side note, it really helped to push the bumper and body away from each other in my car.)

So, you literally loosen the side bumper both at the body and at the bumper center to insert the rubber cap. Removal on the other hand? A simple knife cut around the outer rip to the edge of the bumper and you can slide the rubber remains down and out .

FWIW