Anyone Know? Nissan Restorations

[Harry Frigg]

Does anyone know how many Nissan authorized 240Z restorations were completed and sold?

[Bambikiller240]

The figure that I've heard mentioned most often was 42 units. I don't have anyway of knowing how true that is. You may want to email Les Canaday at Classic Datsun Motorsports. His shop did some of the resto's, so he might know.

[DatsunZGuy]

Les' Web site put the total at 40. I reckon that figure includes all shops that had the contract with Nissan.

Click Here

The Classic Datsun Z Restoration Program

The Classic Datsun Z restoration project began in 1997 as an offshoot of our involvement with Nissan's Z Store project and our renown Roadster restoration service.

On 10/31/98, Nissan officially ended the Z Store project after

only 40 of the 250 planned cars.

On a side note:

I recall seeing a semi-completed dark green 1970 on ebay about a year ago. I think the high bid for it was about $7500.00, which didn't meet the reserve. Not sure what ever happend to it

[Bambikiller240]

Link doesn't seem to work (for me).

I remember that green chassis also. Never did see it listed again.

*****NEVER MIND, THE LINK WORKS OFR ME NOW! :stupid:

[26th-Z]

I heard 47 from Carl Beck, but I could have it wrong. I'm sure Carl would be interested in any accounting of them. Supposedly, the one and only automatic resto is in Tampa.

This is a lousy image of the restoration data sheet. I think this is for a 71.

[Harry Frigg]

Thanks to everyone for the information... and especially the data sheet.

Does anyone know the ranges they sold for and who has them?

[Vintage Z Owner]

Found it on eBay. 1971 burnt orange. Gorgeous. Some of the paper work it came with I think mentioned it being one of 42 or 43 in the program before it was shut down.

[SteveJ]

Did you notice that you commented on a thread that is almost 8 years old?

Welcome, and I hope you're enjoying your vintage Z.

[26th-Z]

Yes, eight-year-old thread. And this isn't one of the complete threads on this topic. We have been down the road, per say, on the Vintage Z subject over the last few years! A search function will bring up all sorts of threads. But, for the hell of it, I'll clip in the summary of the research paper I did in 2005. This was right before Pete Evanow published his book; "35 Years of Nissan's Sports Car". Pete was involved in the Vintage Z program although I take issue with several of his points. I think at this point in time (2011) we are agreeing on 39 cars. I currently have accounts for 30 of them.

The Vintage Z portion of the Z-Store promotion conducted by Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. (Nissan U.S.A.) officially spanned between May, 1997 and October, 1998. During those seventeen months, approximately thirty-seven to forty restored early model Datsun 240Zs (1970-1972) were delivered to Z-Store dealers and offered for sale. Initially, the cars were priced at $25,000. They were completely refurbished previously owned vehicles warranted by Nissan for 12 months / 12,000 miles and represented as new.

Nissan U.S.A. contracted directly with a private automotive repair, race preparation, and restoration business close to corporate headquarters in Southern California for the restoration work that was to be accomplished. By the end of the program, three other restoration shops in the area became involved along with a multitude of supporting businesses and services. The cars were sold through a ten dealer country-wide network of Z-Stores. The ten dealers were chosen based on past performance of Z car sales and service and the locations were predominantly metropolitan areas in the Southern United States.

The Vintage Z program was a portion of the Z-Store program; a marketing campaign designed to fill a market niche, demonstrate a commitment to consumer orientation, and promote brand identity. It could be suggested that the Vintage Z program filled the hole left by the discontinuation of the Z car until a new model could be introduced, however evidence suggests that this would be a coincidence; a result of events. The Z-Store program traces its roots to the unprecedented advertising and market positioning campaign known as the “Dream Garage” or “Life is a Journey” campaign. Initiated during the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the unprecedented two minute Dream Garage commercial kicked off Nissan’s intentions to increase brand identification and loyalty, respond to consumer demands, and obtain import leadership in the United States. During a period of slumped sales and fiscal losses, the $200 million campaign intended to reverse trend.

Immediately prior to the Dream Garage campaign, unprecedented events took place which defied the interpretation of current market sales and offered possibilities for a promising future. After twenty years of retirement in Japan, the former president of Nissan Motor Corporation, U.S.A. was invited to come celebrate the 25th anniversary of the record selling car he brought to America. The Z car fans treated him as a national hero and made apparent to Nissan that a substantial consumer base existed for the model it was about to discontinue.

The “Dream Garage” featured the spirit of Yutaka Katayama and his personal philosophy as the foundation of the Nissan brand, employing the company heritage and commitment to truth and honesty in support. From the extensions of that ad campaign came the concept to restore and sell the car which had brought Nissan fame. Reaction from the automotive press was excitingly favorable. Test drives reported high praise and a nostalgic smile from the author. The car was received very well. As might be expected from Nissan’s publicity efforts, media coverage was extensive.

It was (is) no simple task to completely disassemble, repair, and refurbish 40 cars in a period of seventeen months. The lofty goal was to refurbish 200 cars in 20 months. Demand for the Vintage Zs quickly outpaced supply and efforts to resolve the issue did not help. Replacement part availability became an immediate issue. Although the program used up a significant amount of stock, a considerable number of parts were either remanufactured or replicated. Combined, the time constraint and part availability issues resulted in a controversial restoration. The quality and workmanship was good but the accuracy of unique model part features was not. In addition, certain liberties were taken with the inclusion of aftermarket products and customer requested modifications. Typically, many aspects of the vehicle restoration included upgraded specifications for performance and durability reasons.

Market demand waned as the waiting time increased for a Vintage Z and the proposed price increased. Dealers simply could not promote a car they could not get. Dark clouds were looming for Nissan’s financial health and with corporate restructuring attempts on the horizon, funding was discontinued and the Z-Store was closed.

Forty cars were produced and sold to customers throughout the United States. Three are reported to be in Japan. One car is in the U.K., Guam, and the United Arab Emirates each. An example was sold at the Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction in 1997 for $33,920 with the proceeds donated to charity. Currently, examples are trading between $22,000 and $31,000. A register of Vintage Zs has been established, complete with VIN records and a photograph, on the Internet Z Car Club – www.zhome.com. Approximately two thirds of the cars are currently cataloged.

[tlorber]

I find it interesting that Nissan did not use a consistent model (e.g. all series 1's or series 3's). With such a low number planned, let alone completed, you'd think they would have wanted some uniformity in the reissues.

[SteveJ]

One of the constraints would be to find enough bodies that were in good enough shape for the program that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to procure. While the program was never designed to make money, reducing the available pool of cars would drive up the program costs significantly.

[John Coffey]

I find it interesting that Nissan did not use a consistent model (e.g. all series 1's or series 3's). With such a low number planned, let alone completed, you'd think they would have wanted some uniformity in the reissues.

Since the naming of the various 240Zs as "Series 1", "Series 2", etc. is an Internet fantasy I can completely understand why they just focused on good clean, chassis.

Marc Jones of Datsun Alley claimed to have picked up the final two uncompleted chassis from either Les or Pierre and finished them for Nissan dealers that had orders in hand when the program shut down. I don't recall the number on the program number plates but I did see the cars with the plates installed.