californiaz Posted October 6, 2003 Share #1 Posted October 6, 2003 I'm new to the site but I just wanted to put the word out about my project. I have a 1975 280Z that was custom built for Nissan by a custom shop out in Cali. The car has less that 18k miles but the paint is in sad shape. If you are not familiar w/ the car it is the original car that the molds for the Jim Cook "CaliforniaZ" body kit was taken from. the difference is that this car is all metal ans has no headlights or side mirrors. I plan on doing a complete restoration of the car and I know how involved this can be. it's not my first Z car either. Coincidentaly I found this jem on a used car lot in Monterey Ca and got it for a steal of a price considering what it is. I have several pictures but I have no idea how to get them up on this site. Anyway, wish me luck guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beandip Posted October 7, 2003 Share #2 Posted October 7, 2003 The Golden Gate is up for sale at a great price ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambikiller240 Posted October 7, 2003 Share #3 Posted October 7, 2003 Originally posted by beandip The Golden Gate is up for sale at a great price ! Hey, That's my bridge!:devious: I just bought it on eBay for a steal of a price considering what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th-Z Posted October 7, 2003 Share #4 Posted October 7, 2003 Lets see some pictures!The only way I know how to attach is one per post. The "ATTACH FILE" note in the bottom left of the POST REPLY window has a fill box and a browse button. Hit the browse button and go find and select the picture - usually a .jpg - but you can see the valid file extensions below the browse button. The picture size is important. I use Adobe to size my images to 600 pixels maximum in the horizontal axis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav240z Posted October 7, 2003 Share #5 Posted October 7, 2003 Or you can click under gallery and upload your pictures to your photo album that every user on this site has. 26th Z is right u may need to scale them down a bit using a program like Adobe or equivelant let us know if you have many troubles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiaz Posted October 7, 2003 Author Share #6 Posted October 7, 2003 WTF beandip? You think I would post here if I didn't really have the car? Whatever. I will get some pics up and you can laugh then. BTW you are welcome to come by my house anytime and see the car in my garage, the original dealer's brochure that it was made for, the plaque from HotRod magazine and the copy of the Feb. 1976 HotRod magazine w/ the car on the cover and the centerfold as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiaz Posted October 7, 2003 Author Share #7 Posted October 7, 2003 another pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiaz Posted October 7, 2003 Author Share #8 Posted October 7, 2003 another Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiaz Posted October 7, 2003 Author Share #9 Posted October 7, 2003 again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiaz Posted October 7, 2003 Author Share #10 Posted October 7, 2003 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ManyZs Posted October 7, 2003 Share #11 Posted October 7, 2003 I don't think anyone doubted you had the car, it's the statement that the car was built for Nissan that is highly suspect.It may have been built for a Nissan dealer or one of the Nissan specialty shops of the time, such as Jim Cook Racing was at one time, but I don't recall Nissan sponsoring any "one-off" show cars such as this back in the 70's.Today is a different story, with all the makers spending millions on "concept" cars that very seldom make it into production.I'd like to see the documents to prove this was built FOR Nissan before I'll believe it myself. Sorry, but without positive proof, we're all going to be a bit skeptical of the origins of the car.I remember the body kit and the car that Jim Cook had on the cover of all his catalogs well, and that car was painted in the exact same paint scheme as this one is, the only difference was JC's car had the square headlights and (I'm guessing here) had some really nice wheels on it, think they were called Gamblers, made by Centerline at one time?Hot Rod magazine also had a hand in another Z car in the 70's or 80's, which was a 240 or 260 with a built SBC, 9 inch Ford rear with a custon built 4 link suspension and some really nice body modifications. Homemade taillight panel, Corvette taillights, cow induction hood, hand made front valence that closed up half the front grill area and a lot other stuff. So, HR had some interest in Z cars, but this one was done all for HR magazine.Might this one been built by and for Jim Cook Racing as a promo for his upcoming body kits? Guess the documentation you have will soon tell us...Whatever the story, it's a good find... and if those fenders and flares are made of steel and not fiberglass, it's definately worth keeping and fixing up..might take a while, but as long as it's in one piece... I say go for it, and good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
californiaz Posted October 7, 2003 Author Share #12 Posted October 7, 2003 OK, here is a quote directly from the "DATSUN" brochure titled "Build It Yourself." "In order to illustrate the performance and appearance capabilities of Datsun products, three special show vehicles have been produced using existing accessory items readily available through Datsun Dealers, Datsun Competion, and any full line accessory retailer. The products used on these vehicles represent the finest quality available anywhere. The following pages will tell you exactly what accessory items were used in the the construction of the 280-Z, B-210, and Stretch Pickup. Further, Champion Spark Plug Company, Mac's Automotive Cheicals, Suzuki, and Appliance Industries also provided you with valuable information on their respective product areas. You may not want to go as far as we did in personalizing your Datsun. but we feel we've given you many options to consider."Right at the bottom of this page is an emblem that says:"DATSUNfrom nissan with pride"Carl Beck of Zhome.com also featured this car on his site about 2 years ago shortly after I bought it. I talked with him in length about it and he even had a copy of the magazine in his gargae. he had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the car so I do not see why you would. I have also spoken with Jim Cook's wife Sandy and she remembers her husband talking about the car when it was being built. Here is another quote from the magazine article:" To be able to take three new Datsuns, a B-210 sedan, a Hustler long-bed pickup and a 280-Z, and completely rework them, both inside and out, was something out of a dream for Dave Kent..."No where in the brochure or in the article does it mention that the cars were built for anyone else besides Datsun Competition. If I am correct they were to Datsun what NISMO is to NIssan. So as far as I know the cars were built for Datsun. Maybe I should have just said it that way in the beginning. Unfortunately most all of my attempts to contact Nissan about my 280 have failed. Maybe I just haven't reached the right person. The Staff at SportZ magazine has agreed to do an article on the restoration so maybe they can help me get more solid proof of the car's history. I also have absolutely no idea where the 210 and truck ended up. For all I know they rotted away in a field or are being held somewhere. So who knows, but why be so negative about a one of a kind car that is a definite peice of Datsun/Nissan history?So basically I guess it comes down to whether or not "Datsun Competion" was a part of Nissan Motor Company or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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