Side Flashers / Side Markers

[HS30-H]

Hi All,

Following an interesting discussion in a recent thread with regard to the Side Flashers / Side Markers on "Export" RHD models ( HS30 ) I thought I would look into the subject a little more closely.

Side Flasher discussion was contained in this thread

The Nissan parts list books for the HS30 model show some useful and enlightening information on the fitment of the front Flasher / Repeaters.

I knew that the first two HS30's to be imported to the UK did NOT have the front Flasher / Repeater units installed in the front wings / fenders / guards. However, these cars also had the conventional front Indicator / Flasher units mounted in the front valance corners ( same as the Japanese home market and USA / North American market cars ). These were found to contravene UK type approval regulations on lighting position, and Nissan were forced to re-design the front valance corners for the UK market cars and move the Indicators into a position on the front bumper. This took time, and delayed the first proper shipments of HS30 models destined for the UK. Apparently, the cars originally allocated to the UK market were re-allocated to the Australian market whilst the re-design for the UK market was carried out.

All of the Japanese home-market cars used the front Flasher / Repeater units - regardless of whether they were the cheapest Fairlady Z 'base' model or the most expensive Fairlady 240ZG - but did NOT use the Rear Marker lamps. The USA / North American market models on the other hand seem to have always been fitted with both the front and rear Side Marker lamps.

I thought it interesting that Nissan would bother to make dedicated front Wings / Guards / Fenders WITHOUT the cut-out for the front Side Flashers / Repeaters, for just one market.

I know that this will not be of much interest to the majority of members, but it might well prove to be of interest to the owners of Australian and New Zealand market HS30 cars. It would certainly be nice to get on top of this and understand exactly what was going on, and maybe why.

Here's a scan from the Nissan parts list book for the HS30 models:

[HS30-H]

Here's a scan of the corresponding part numbers, and their fitment details:

[Alfadog]

Interesting.. I think the fact that some markets had fenders without repeaters goes to show how much influence the designers had. That's assuming the repeaters were excluded in markets where they werent needed solely for the looks of the car... is there any other explanation?

[Mr Camouflage]

They quite possibly made all the panels in the press without holes, then used a separate press to stamp out the holes in the panels after they had been formed into shape by the first press.

[sjcurtis]

As you can see in the parts manual extract these items are optional to any given market.

What intrigues me is the fact that on the ground here AUS and obviously NZ as well we have all of the diffrent variations delivered and visible.

I agree with the theory that HS30- Zeds with front position repeaters here are most probably from diverted shipments.

cheers

Steve:classic:

[Mr Camouflage]

Or from people replacing the guards with 260z items after bingles.

[HS30-H]

What fascinates / confuses me is that there always seemed to be a very haphazard delivery situation with regard to these "Op" items.

What I mean is, I have never actually heard of a person buying a new "HS30" ( here in the UK, back in the early Seventies ) being able to specify any of these "Option" parts. Of course, I was just a kid at the time, so I have no first-hand experience - but I have never heard or seen any evidence to show that prospective buyers were offered a list of options or choices at the time they were ordering their cars.......

In fact, as far as I can surmise, the "Datsun UK" dealers simply sold what they had on the showroom floor. If anything, it was probably the dealers that decided what "options" would be on each car when they ordered them.

What was the situation in Australia and NZ? Anybody know?

Alan T.

[philUK]

V Interesting. I found it strange when I first saw my car with no side repeaters, I had originally thought they had been welded/filled!

I must be one of very few in the UK without them then :paranoid:

[26th-Z]

The cutouts for the rear marker lights on HLS30-00026 are not neat and tidy stampings. In fact, the shape makes it difficult to fit the screw clips. In contrast, the front cutouts are obviuosly made by a stamp machine; uniform in size and shape for the marker installation. Discovering that home market cars were not fitted with rear marker lights satisfied my curiosity about this issue.

Notice the correct alignment of the marker lens from Alan's diagrams. Many people have them in backwards.

[GunnerRob]

Originally posted by 26th-Z

Notice the correct alignment of the marker lens from Alan's diagrams. Many people have them in backwards.

I've seen a few reversed myself and asked the owners if they were aware of this. They usually responded that a body shop/painter had installed them incorrectly. I believe the faces of the lenses were designed to be perpendicular to the front/rear axis of the car to notify cars approaching from the side of the its presence.

[Zedrally]

Originally posted by HS30-H

In fact, as far as I can surmise, the "Datsun UK" dealers simply sold what they had on the showroom floor. If anything, it was probably the dealers that decided what "options" would be on each car when they ordered them.

What was the situation in Australia and NZ? Anybody know?

Alan T.

Hi Alan,

I'll give my age away now, but I brought my first zed new from a dealer [brad Boyden Datsun, Airport West, just in case anyone is interested], although it was a 260 2+2, it was none the less brand spanking off the floor. Traded my V6 Capri and sadly regret not keeping both.

Did we have an option as to what we could have?

Interesting question, as it was already loaded with dealer options and the thought of having this "immediately" rather than having to wait 3 months weighed heavily on me.

In reality it was now or never and I chose the now rather than waiting for what could be a very very long wait.

They where very much in demand, and I wouldn't think any one actually put in a special order. Nismo where pretty active in Aus at that time, if anything at all, "specials" where Factory Parts ordered from the catalog to spice up the local imports.

HIH

Cheers

MOM

[HS30-H]

PhilUK,

Just to clarify - your car ( now in UK ) was originally an Australian-market car, and does NOT have the front indicator repeaters - am I correct?

As I think I said before, only the very first TWO cars that came to the UK ( VIN numbers HS30-00034 & HS30-00035 ) came without the front indicator repeaters. If there were any others after that, then I for one did not notice! Most UK cars DID have them, but no rear markers.

Mr Camouflage,

I would imagine that they did indeed punch the holes in the panels as a seperate process, and this would have to be performed once the application of the panel was determined. ie - rear quarters for the USA / North American market would have to have the holes punched in them - but most other markets would not. That would necessitate a different part number for spare parts. The same would apply to front wings / guards / fenders - as anyone ordering spare parts would need to know whether they needed the type with the holes or without. This is what I mean about complicating matters with "optional" parts for certain markets.

Steve ( sjcurtis ),

I am fascinated that Australia and NZ got the mixture of cars both with and without the front indicator repeaters. In fact, I'm surprised that the front repeaters were offered as an 'optional' part, as I would have thought Nissan would want to keep things simple for themselves ( as they did with so many other things on these cars ).

Alfadog,

I'm wondering at what stage these front and rear repeaters / markers were added to the design. I reckon it was fairly late in the design process, and I have a hunch that the front came first and the rear came a bit later ( ? ). I think they would have been added out of necessity rather than for the sake of looks.

Zedrally,

I'm fascinated to hear that you actually bought that car NEW! Its very interesting that you chose to take what was available off the showroom floor, rather than to wait. The fact that it was already well specified must have been a big influence on your decision. Here in the UK I have heard the same kind of story; namely that the cars appeared to be so well equipped as "standard" that it was almost unnecessary to specify any further extras. It would appear that the dealers themselves were choosing colours and trim for the majority of cars that they would sell. This would be especially true in the UK, where the time between ordering a specific colour / trim / spec. package and actually receiving it would probably be longer than any other territory......

26th-Z,

I'm fascinated to hear about the holes for the rear markers on your car. Do you think this is evidence of hand-cutting? If so, it might indicate that the addition of the rear markers on the USA / North American market cars was an even later decision than we realise. Certainly I don't recall seeing them ( front or rear ) on the prototypes and pre-production models, at least until they appeared on those cars that went on the American / Canadian cold and hot weather tests in late 1969. The HLS30 "Export" spec. car on the Nissan stand at the 1969 Tokyo Auto Show DID have them ( I wonder what the VIN number of that car was? ). All the Japanese home-market cars had the fronts only.

Alan T.