HS30-H

Testing:

The word 'Testing' might be doing quite a lot of heavy lifting in this context. I would say it had already been 'tested' in Japan, approved for production, lined up to be fitted as standard equipment on the 432-R, and an extra-cost showroom option on the other Japanese market models. With the initial batch(es?) of North American market models being somewhat de-contented to meet a low RRP, it seems unlikely that a rear spoiler would have made the cut in any case.

Deluxe models (Fairlady Z-L and Fairlady Z432) had rear defrosters from the beginning of production.

So how does HLS30-01776 make any sense as a 12/69 production dated entity? How can it be explained? Taken at face value, it makes a mockery of any 12/69 production dated door tags on the cars HLS30-00540 and up. Clearly door tags were being stamped and attached after the fact. Looking back at the zhome.com page where this topic is discussed, it is possible to see some more evidence of the illogical habit not only of painting 1969 production-dated Fairlady Z, Fairlady Z-L, Fairlady Z432 and Fairlady Z 432-R models out of the story, but also of painting HS30-prefixed cars out of Nissan Shatai's early production figures. Here's an example: So that's HLS30-00001, HLS30-00002 and HLS30-00003 cited as "the first pre-production prototype" Datsun 240Zs, whilst Nissan Shatai's own production data states the following: May 1969 - total 2 cars - one domestic, one export: 1 = S30-00001 (Factory prototype 1) 2 = HLS30-00001 (Factory prototype 2) June 1969 - total 1 car - domestic: 3 = PS30-00001 (Factory prototype 3) July 1969 - total 4 cars - two domestic, two export: 4 = HLS30-00002 (Primary Production prototype 1) 5 = S30-00002 (Primary Production prototype 2) 6 = PS30-00002 (Primary Production prototype 3) 7 = HS30-00001 (Primary Production prototype 4) August 1969 - total 7 cars: 8 = S30-00003 (Primary Production prototype 5) 9 = S30-00004 (Primary Production prototype 6) 10 = S30-00005 (Primary Production prototype 7) 11 = PS30-00003 (Primary Production prototype 😎 12 = HLS30-00003 (Primary Production prototype 9) 13 = S30-00006 (Primary Production prototype 10) 14 = PS30-00004 (Primary Production prototype 11) ...so not only ignoring the S30 and PS30-prefixed cars (which are UNDENIABLY an important part of the concept, design, engineering and production processes) but also managing to somehow let HS30-00001 slip through the net in favour of HLS30-00003. Whoops. Why do this?

This presumes that 100% of those 1969-production HLS30-prefixed cars were USA/North American market variants, which is certainly not the case. Even if a very small percentage of them were effectively 'European' market variants, they still deserve to be mentioned. Here's a photo of an HLS30-prefixed Nissan works rally test car being used in the south of France during the month of January 1970. It will - by definition - have been one of those 543 cars produced in 1969, and it wasn't a USA/North American market car:

Perhaps some confusion between S30-series total and 'Export' variants total? Nissan Shatai's production figures for 1969 show that they made a total of 969 'Domestic' variant S30-series Zs, and 543 'Export' variant S30-series Zs. That's a grand total of 1,512 cars. Those 543 'Export' variant S30-series cars would have had HS30 and HLS30 chassis prefixes, whilst the 969 'Domestic' variant S30-series cars would have had 'S30' and 'PS30' chassis prefixes. As you can see, asking specifically about 'Datsun 240Z' production will only give you half the story...

Two different publications, both factory Competition Preparation manuals for models that are not S30-series Zs.

None of the MK63 calipers are "Z-specific". They were specified as Sports & Race Option many Nissan models of the late 60s through late 70s period, and in both vented and solid rotor variants. The '20S' suffix corresponds with the width of the vented rotor used on the (wide) vented rotor type caliper. From Nissan factory documentation:

At least three, if you count the 432-R. The show lasted just over two weeks, and most of the major exhibitors moved cars around/switched their displays a little whilst it was taking place. With over 1.5 million visitors, they probably wanted to maximise the viewing opportunities. Nissan's circular rotating display stand and the 'Grand Prix' wall certainly saw some car switching during the event. That's a great blog with some really nice photos. Thanks! This might well be the same car, visible behind the Sunny in one of the other display sections:

But are you going to add some factory-style doublers to the underside of the mounting holes? It seems like a no-brainer to me. The footrest - in use - exerts quite a lot of leverage force on the floorpan. The factory doublers - with their turned-up edges - beef up the mounting points considerably. I think they are worth the effort of replication.

Most of it has already been covered on this forum over the years. The Japanese market S130-series model designations list in post #18 of this thread was originally posted some years ago on classiczcars when the same type of question arose, so the information is 'out there' already. If there is a 'problem' it is - in my opinion - more of a lack of imagination than anything else. Look at the comments on that Bring-a-Trailer S130-series Fairlady 280Z auction. For some people the idea that a '280Z' isn't just *one* thing appears to be akin to witchcraft. People appear to know that these cars were all made in Japan, but have little to no awareness what that meant for the Japanese market itself.

No, again, Japanese market had its own ideas. 'G' prefix in the S130-series denoted '2/2' ('2 by 2') model and appropriate emblems, just as it did in the S30-series. The '2 by 2' name was used extensively by Nissan in its sales and advertising for the cars. No '2+2' / 'Two plus Two' in the Japanese market. Export markets only. Factory sales brochure. These are for the S30-series, but S130-series followed suit:

This is correct. No 'X' on Japanese market S130 models: *FAIRLADY Z ( S130S ) - L20E engine *FAIRLADY Z-L ( S130 ) - L20E engine *FAIRLADY Z-T ( S130J ) - L20E engine *FAIRLADY Z 2 by 2 ( GS130S ) - L20E engine *FAIRLADY Z-L 2 by 2 ( GS130 ) - L20E engine *FAIRLADY Z-T 2 by 2 ( GS130J ) - L20E engine *FAIRLADY 280Z-L ( HS130 ) - L28E engine *FAIRLADY 280Z-T ( HS130J - BC ) - L28E engine *FAIRLADY 280Z-L 2 by 2 ( HGS130 ) - L28E engine *FAIRLADY 280Z-T 2 by 2 ( HGS130J - BC ) - L28E engine

You could get a reasonable improvement by simply changing your camshaft, but - in my opinion - the simplest one-hit modification with the best butt-dyno results on one of these cars is a differential ratio change... What market model is your car, and what differential ratio does it have?

The Ozdat calculator is mistaken on the length of 1969 through 1975-ish standard L20A (6-cyl) rods. They are 133mm centre to centre. L20B (4-cyl) rods are much longer, at 145.9mm centre to centre.

I think you might be getting the L20A (6-cyl) mixed up with the L20B (4-cyl). L20A rods are 133mm centre to centre. Same as late L24 and late L16.

It may not help you if the factory tar board/sound deadener is no longer present on your floor panels, but I noted on my 4/70 HLS30U that it had gaps which corresponded with the factory footrest mount positions. No factory footrest or doubler mounts underneath, but the tar board has the corresponding gaps should they have been required:

With the caveat that - of course - you'll need to transpose for LHD.

This car is not 'HLS30-00059' in any practical sense. It is simply the identity of 'HLS30-00059' pinned onto a much later bodyshell. The description says that the body was 'replaced' ("...the original bodywork was in a lamentable state and had to be replaced...") but that is not possible on these cars as each bodyshell has its own unique identity - assigned to it by the factory - and it is non-transferable. The description tries to side-step this ("...very few “original” parts remain, and a substantial part of the bodywork is comprised of 1972 and 1973 parts...") but the bodyshell of this car is that of a complete post-1973 car, from which the original identity - in the form of the firewall-engraved chassis prefix and body serial number - has been removed, and replaced with that of another car. To all intents and purposes, 'HLS30-00059' no longer exists.

Just putting my head around the door to tip my hat at the big 51.

Have you only just noticed? Meanwhile, the S30-series Z was conceived, designed, engineered and produced from 1969 with countless details which tell us that it was not "designed" solely for the USA market. That's the key word. Solely... It makes complete sense for Nissan to have included the holes for the impact bumpers in the (new!) press tooling for the rear panel, and for them to use that rear panel pressing across all market variants. They did the same thing from the beginning of production in many ares of the car. Do you look at the radiator support panel on your '69 car and go through the same thought process? If not, why not?

Yes, factory parts manuals state that the ('4-screw') HJG46W-3A carbs were used up to the end of 08-71, and the '3-screw' type was fitted from 09-71 up. No doubt some people will be satisfied with the HVA award somehow proving that the car was 'preserved' enough in the opinion of judges, but I'd say a much more likely scenario is that they didn't really know enough to make an accurate judgment. The carbs currently fitted to the car are at least a year later than its 08-70 build date.

Yes. That was quick! Well spotted on the carb front Captain Obvious. Let's see what the seller says. The more you look at the car, the more you see. Which would be fine - most of these cars have 'had a life' and we all have to be pragmatic with this and that - but it clashes with being talked-up as a "250k+++" car. From what I've seen, very few BaT posts by 'Lstepp4re' seem to be all that constructive. He got it wrong - again - about side stripe kits (he said "aftermarket only") and nobody picked up on it. How is he credited as being any kind of guru?

I'll ask. Lets see if the question gets past admin there, and what the reaction is if it does.