On 11/23/2024 at 3:04 PM, Richard McDonel said:

Thanks for all the confusion guys!

Odd that they would change the hub caps in concert with the gearbox rather than at a specific production date, model year or VIN.   I guess I'll just take a chance and go with Z hub caps (sexier than the Ds).  Don't imagine it would make or break my chances if they ever featured 240s at Pebble Beach!

It’s not just the gear box that determines the hubcap, it’s all of the other items in a supposed Series 1 or transition to Series 2 Z IMO. Most Series 1 cars had the ashtrays and cig lighters forward of the gear shift, they had angular half shafts and early trannys. The very early cars had 240Z on the roof quarters and vents in the tailgate. Later so called transition Z’s had no vents in the tailgate and picked those vents up on the roof quarters, but all other early features mentioned above stayed (early tranny, ash tray location, angular half shafts, cig lighter etc.) I assume all early Z’s and transition Series 1 Z’s had D hubcaps, but just my guess……Carl Beck @Carl Beckmay be able to add info or @kats @jfa.series1 @HS30-H I would be very interested to know if the transition Z’s (later 71) were considered Series 1 or Series 2? I assume that they wore D hubcaps if they had the early tranny, console and other early items that they came with D caps…….but are the transition Z’s 1’s or 2’s? Anyone?

Edited December 20, 2024Dec 20 by Diseazd

7 hours ago, Diseazd said:

It’s not just the gear box that determines the hubcap, it’s all of the other items in a supposed Series 1 or transition to Series 2 Z IMO. Most Series 1 cars had the ashtrays and cig lighters forward of the gear shift, they had angular half shafts and early trannys. The very early cars had 240Z on the roof quarters and vents in the tailgate. Later so called transition Z’s had no vents in the tailgate and picked those vents up on the roof quarters, but all other early features mentioned above stayed (early tranny, ash tray location, angular half shafts, cig lighter etc.) I assume all early Z’s and transition Series 1 Z’s had D hubcaps, but just my guess……Carl Beck @Carl Beckmay be able to add info or @kats @jfa.series1 @HS30-H I would be very interested to know if the transition Z’s (later 71) were considered Series 1 or Series 2? I assume that they wore D hubcaps if they had the early tranny, console and other early items that they came with D caps…….but are the transition Z’s 1’s or 2’s? Anyone?

I'm a bit embarassed to be listed in the same sentence as Carl, Kats, and Allen - all much more knowledgeable in the details of our cars than I. I was under the impression that all cars through the end of the '71 model year had "D" hub caps and that the style and center ornament changed with the '72 models.

On a bit of a tangent, we find ourselves in another discussion of Series 1 vs. Series 2, ...etc. It has been pointed out many times that Nissan never used those terms and that it is merely an invention of the car owners and enthusiasts (I plead gulty!). We often get into very active (heated?) discussions about this naming convention and I've been giving some thought to a possible alternative. We know that the so-called Series 1 cars were produced into late January 1971 and all had the type "A" (monkey motion) transmission among other unique styling attributes. Beginning with VIN HLS30-21001 in February the cars were fitted with the type "B" transmission with required console design changes as well as other changes in design features. So... it might be more accurate to replace the Series 1 or Series 2 references with "Type A" and "Type B" designations. Thoughts?

 I too am guilty of using Series 1 &2. but using Type A &B is going to launch the same discussion by the same people because Nissan didn't use that designation either. I'll continue to use the Series designation because it is descriptive enough for U.S. Infidels.

Guilty here of using "series" as well,  although I have been trying not to. I prefer 1971 early and 1971 late.

Good question Namerow.  I had two sources, the first an online hot-rodding site, the name of which I have forgotten.  Being an on-line source, where everyone is an expert, I also  went to a neighbour who is the owner of three autobody shops and has a personal collection of 14 (his wife thinks it's more) hot rods, antiques, customs, you name it.  His explanation to me was that the two-part epoxy would adhere better to a scratched surface, and that the scratches would not  show once primered and painted.  The on-line source said use 60 grit while neighbour Dave  suggested 80.  

As an aside I will also mention that Dave decorates three or four of his cars with Xmas lights every year  and parks them in the front yard.  Photos attached.  Some evenings traffic gets pretty busy on our street.  

That's fun!!

Gotta love cool neighbors who are car people

  Regarding "D" center hub caps, an interesting Car & Driver on-line article about the old and new Z cars today.  The article compares a 1973 Z with the 2024 version.  See link below.  However, the author shows a picture of what he refers to as a '73 Z that he borrowed from the Nissan Headquarters in Tennessee and it appears to be a '71ish Z based on  "D" HUB CAPS and photo of center console ash tray.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a63229871/unpopular-opinion-reconsider-the-nissan-z/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_cdb&utm_medium=email&date=122424&utm_campaign=nl37951526&oo=Y&GID=1a01133ea0d02d4b1791e6ffa69c88abfdffda37a369d281a1e7b3161e600ccb&user_email=1a01133ea0d02d4b1791e6ffa69c88abfdffda37a369d281a1e7b3161e600ccb&utm_term=TEST- NEW TEST - Sending List - AM 180D Clicks%2C NON AM 90D Opens%2C Both Subbed Last 30D

Yup, definitely a '71 for the reasons you state and a couple of others: bumpers in nice and tight against the body, fuel door has a lock, straight gear shift rod to match the early console. At least he has good intentions with the article.

On 12/20/2024 at 8:44 AM, Diseazd said:

It’s not just the gear box that determines the hubcap, it’s all of the other items in a supposed Series 1 or transition to Series 2 Z IMO. 

 

Nissan issued Factory Service Bulletins upon the introduction of  each of the Four Models of Datsun 240Z’s that they produced and sold between Oct 1969 and Aug. 1973. Each of the four Models were assigned a distinct set of chassis serial numbers.

 

The first series of chassis serial numbers for the 1st models sold to the public started at:

HLS30 00013 and HS30 00003

The second series of  chassis serial numbers for the 2nd models sold to the public started at:

HLS30 21001 and HS30 00500

 

If you want to know exactly what the difference is between the 1st & 2nd. series of chassis serial numbers, you can find them individually listed by Nissan in the new model Introduction Service Bulletin, February 1971, Vol 137.

 

All 18 items are listed here were on the "New & Improved Model", everything else stayed the same. 

https://zhome.com/History/New71LateP2.htm

 

On 12/24/2024 at 11:53 AM, psdenno said:

  Regarding "D" center hub caps, an interesting Car & Driver on-line article about the old and new Z cars today.  The article compares a 1973 Z with the 2024 version.  See link below.  However, the author shows a picture of what he refers to as a '73 Z that he borrowed from the Nissan Headquarters in Tennessee and it appears to be a '71ish Z based on  "D" HUB CAPS and photo of center console ash tray.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a63229871/unpopular-opinion-reconsider-the-nissan-z/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_cdb&utm_medium=email&date=122424&utm_campaign=nl37951526&oo=Y&GID=1a01133ea0d02d4b1791e6ffa69c88abfdffda37a369d281a1e7b3161e600ccb&user_email=1a01133ea0d02d4b1791e6ffa69c88abfdffda37a369d281a1e7b3161e600ccb&utm_term=TEST- NEW TEST - Sending List - AM 180D Clicks%2C NON AM 90D Opens%2C Both Subbed Last 30D

Yes, that is a Nissan Vintage Z - HLS30 32089.  A 1971 Datsun 240Z 

https://zhome.com/IZCC/ZRegisters/VintageZ.htm