240z Differences 1970-1973

[Carl Beck]

Originally posted by Mr Camouflage

Differances

In a nutshell:

Early Zeds 1970 to 1971?:

generally reffered to as series 1

....snipped....cjb

Hi Mr. C (everyone)

So as not to mislead anyone. You always have to state "Production Year" or "Model Year" when your talking about "Series". In most countries - back in 1969, their "Model Year" was started with cars produced on or after 1 Jan. of the calendar year. So their Model Year matched the Production Year.

The US and Canada were different - they started to produce their new "models" in July or Aug of the prior year - so that new models could be introduced and sold to the public in the Sept./Oct. time frame. So we always have to specify that we are talking about "when" the car was produced - or "what" Model Year it is.

Here in the North American Market - there are 1969 Model Year - Series I 240-Z's, there are 1970 Model Year - Series I 240-Z's, there are 1971 Model Year - Series I 240-Z's and there are 1971 Model Year Series II 240-Z's. In Australia there are only 1970 Series I 240-Z's (that we have found so far).

The Series I 240-Z's were produced between Oct. 1969 and Jan. 1971. Series I Z's were sold as, and titled as 1969, 1970 and 1971 Model Year Z's here in the US. This is because there were no Emissions, nor Safety Standards changes between 69/70/71 here in the US - and because the Dealers could sell them as 1969, 1970 or 1971 "Model Year" cars based on when the dealer received them - and when the dealer sold them - and depending on what State the dealer was doing business in.

The Series II 240-Z's entered production in Jan. of 1971 and they are referred to as the "Late Model 1971 240-Z's" by Nissan. All Series II 240-Z's were sold as 1971 Model Year Cars. (In Australia the VIN's begin with HS30 00500)

The Series III 240-Z's entered production in Sept. 1971 and they were all sold as 1972 Model Year 240-Z's.

The Series IV 240-Z's entered production in Aug. 1972 and they were all sold as 1973 Model Year 240-Z's. (VIN's in Australia began with HS30 100xxx, and here in the States the VIN's began with HLS30 120xxx).

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http;//ZHome.com

[Kathy & Rick]

Interesting thread. Everybody above has some accurate inputs, but as was hinted a couple of times, it is a far-from-exhaustive list, even though it was contributed to by several people. I could add numerous items , but instead I will interpret the question a little differently: "IF I SEE A 240-Z PARKED, OR IF I PASS ONE ON THE STREET, HOW CAN I TELL WHAT YEAR IT IS?" The point being: we can't go disassembling somebody else's car or go poking around inside or under the car, or under the hood, to see some of the engineering changes. Particularly if it is in motion. Very bad for your health, in fact, it could end your Z-watching forever.

1969: No tinted glass, no rear window defroster, gas door tab vertical when closed. Highest VIN I observed: #00418, 11/69, although I am confident that it goes at least into the 500's because of other available data. Lowest VIN I observed w/vertical defroster: #00965, 1/70.

1970:Tinted glass, vertical rear window defroster, different gas door tab, horizontal when closed; continuation from 1969 of flow-thru air outlets on hatch.

1971(early):Same as 1970 thru 1/71, after which the flow-thru air outlets were moved to the upper quarter panels. Highest VIN I observed (early '71,= Series 1): #20231, 1/71. Lowest VIN I observed (late '71,= Series 2): #22021, 2/71.

1971 (late): Flow-thru air outlets on upper quarter panels (see above). 1969-1971 had the early style wheel covers, but most people converted to alloy wheel rims.

1972(early): Same as late "71, but teardrop-style wheel covers introduced. Latest VIN I observed w/vertical rear window defroster: #57328, 12/71.

1972 (late): Teardrop-style wheel covers; horizontal rear window defroster. Earliest VIN I observed: #65065, did not catch mfr date, but I believe 1/72.

1973: 5-MPH (extended) bumpers introduced, a dead giveaway. Carried all the way to the end of production and into the 260-Z (RLS-30) model in 1974.

Another hint is in the colors available each year. Carl Beck has that info in his ZHome site, or did I see it in the Classic240Z site? Maybe both. Of course a repaint in other than the original color would negate this clue.

So you can see that, if you notice certain features in conjunction with each other, it is possible to make a good judgment of where a car fits into the chronology.

However, if the car is parked, you can look at the VIN inside the corner of the windshield. If you have a sense for what VIN's were produced during what months/years, you can extrapolate it that way. Or, after ensuring there is not an armed owner nearby, I have been known on occasion to sneak a peek at the data plate on the driver's side door jamb. Nothing like not having to guess!!!!

[Carl Beck]

Hi Rick:

Mull started this thread in 2003 -- - you will enjoy watching the Video's he has produced about "Project Hugo" .. his Z Car restoration story. He bought a "rust free" Z on E-Bay sight unseen, and had it shipped to Sweden.

See: Part 1 though 17 here... You'll enjoy it..

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5664992189261881712#

FWIW,

Carl B.

[MEZZZ]

Thanks for that Carl, I watched these a couple years ago. I forgot how much I enjoyed viewing them, they are a great watch.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Mark:

Yes - it is good to see the segments, more or less combined in one viewable series. I too get hooked when I start watching - and I can't stop! The work and video production are both amazing.. He is a very talented man, and he's put a lot of effort into sharing the experience with us.

FWIW,

Carl B.

You have to love working metal, to take on a project like that!

[HS30-H]

.....but instead I will interpret the question a little differently: "IF I SEE A 240-Z PARKED, OR IF I PASS ONE ON THE STREET, HOW CAN I TELL WHAT YEAR IT IS?"

However, if the car is parked, you can look at the VIN inside the corner of the windshield.

Well, I currently own three cars that wear a '240Z' badge and an 'HS30' body serial number prefix, but none of them have an externally-visible 'VIN' inside the corners of their windshields. I believe there were 'HLS30' models produced for certain markets which also did not have the dash-mounted 'VIN'.

Your observations apply only to north American market models, I believe. In which case - for the sake of others who might come across the data by using the SEARCH function of the site - you might like to make this clear in your post.

You might also be well advised to add the correct and appropriate prefix in front of those "#00965", "#20231" & "#22021" etc numbers, as without the applicable prefix they become almost meaningless.

The term "240Z" too, on it's own, is so general as to be almost meaningless.

Are you going to be reviving any more threads that are as old as this one? You might like to bear in mind that some of the participants in these threads are ( in some cases literally ) no longer with us........

Alan T.

[Kathy & Rick]

Yo Alan!

You're absolutely right, I should have prefixed the referenced VINs w/HLS-30 to be completely accurate. Having not traveled much other than a couple of times each to Viet Nam and Korea while in the Army, and not having seen a single Z car in either, I admit guilt for forgetting that there are Z's in other countries too, and that they have different VIN prefixes. Please forgive!!!

All Z Best!............Ranger Rick

l969 HLS30-00013; 1969 HLS30-00171 (28K orig miles); 1970 HLS-30-06289 orig owner

[Duffman]

Rick, the early Zs had clear hatch glass, and started using the vertical line (defrost) glass sometime after US #1399 (mine has the clear hatch glass). Am assuming you saw #965 with replaced hatch glass, not original.

Edited September 30, 2009 by duffman

[HS30-H]

Yo Alan!

Er, "yo" to you too ( ??? ). Indeed to both of you, "yo".

Having not traveled much other than a couple of times each to Viet Nam and Korea while in the Army, and not having seen a single Z car in either, I admit guilt for forgetting that there are Z's in other countries too, and that they have different VIN prefixes. Please forgive!!!

It's OK, you don't actually need to own a passport. You can do some virtual 'travelling' on this very site...... It's good like that.

By the way.....

1969 OLD.Z (#00013) since 8/30/76

1969 ITSA.Z (#00171) since 8/24/73

1970 ZEE-70 (#06289) original owner

1971 (#19851) sold

1972 (#86105) cannibalized

.....you just posted the above on another thread. Now you know what I'm going to say about that don't you.....?

Alan T.