HS30-H

Hi Kats, Nice to see you posting here again.:classic: The 'normal' production Toyota 2000GT was coded "MF10", and this model was made in both RHD and a few LHD layouts. Right at the end of production of the MF10, Toyota had a try at making something more suitable for the USA export market. This was coded "MF12L", and it is this model that carried the bodywork and trim differences that can be seen in the photos, although the chin scoop was also seen on some MF10 cars that ( like the MF12L ) were fitted with air conditioners. The engine of the MF12L was the Type 2M-B ( an SOHC 2.3 litre design that was usually fitted to the Crown R ). This engine produced 10BHP less than the DOHC 2 litre type 3M, but gave 18lb-ft more torque. The MF12L was heavier than the MF10, and had a lower top speed. Toyota figured that the SOHC engine would be less of a challenge for overseas dealers to service and repair, and the extra torque and unfussed power delivery of the bigger engine would be better suited to the requirements of the USA market. Less than ten MF12L models were actually built. Toyota realised early on in production that a cheaper version would be better suited to the USA export market, and developed a prototype called the "390A". One of the first things to be binned was the complicated and expensive retracting headlamp system, to be replaced by an incongruous pair of bugeye lamps, and the other front and rear lamps were also changed to suit coming USA laws. The dash was simplified into a one-piece plastic moulding, and many other cost-saving efforts were made. The 390A was - perhaps mercifully - never approved for production. The whole story of the 2000GT from beginning to end is a real education, and its easy to see that Nissan learned a lot from Toyota's 'mistakes'. Many parts of the story have parallels with the story of the S30-series Z cars, but with Nissan taking a different philosophical approach ( that Savile Row suit / Levis 501 comparison ) and aiming for maximum sales by keeping costs and therefore retail price low. The 2000GT was a great car, but born at the wrong time......... Kats, that USA collector you mentioned is probably Mr Craig Zinn of Florida, who has a big collection of the cars. Bob Tkacic and Peter Starr are I believe the USA's most prominent 2000GT specialists and restorers. I can't recommend the Shin Yoshikawa book highly enough. It costs a fortune, but in my opinion its worth every penny. Alan T. ps - I forgot about the Handbrake / E-Brake on the Toyota 2000GT. An umbrella handle sticking out of the dash. Bloody awful thing to use!

Hi Ben, Yes, they made LHD models and many of these were exported to the USA. Shin Yoshikawa's book gives details on the export market cars and where they were originally sent to. There are some serious 2000GT collectors in the USA. Some of the Shelby-run race cars still exist - in the hands of USA collectors I believe. We used to have a few here in the UK. One of them originally belonged to 1960's fashion model 'Twiggy'; it was given to her by Toyota as a present for promoting the 2000GT in Japan. That car eventually went to the States I believe. Almost all the other UK cars went back to Japan over the last decade or so, and there are only a handful left over here now. Alfadog, I couldn't agree more with you about the convertible. It just looks wrong. Alan T.

Here's the car that was going around ahead of us. It was a replica of the convertible in "You Only Live Twice", and it was very well done. I always prefer coupes though......

This thread got me enthusiastic. I went digging through lots of old photos. Here's one of me with the car I drove around the Tsukuba track:

Yes, back now - but not entirely 'at home', if you know what I mean. I think my body clock is still in another time zone. I keep waking up at 4am. I'm glad others on here have seen a 2000GT in the metal. They really are quite small and delicate looking. I'd describe the 2000GT as a Savile Row suit of a car, with an S30-series Z more like my favourite pair of Levi's 501 XX jeans. I'd feel comfortable in either, as long as they fitted the occasion. Alan T. :classic:

Could do. Would need - at the very minimum, and off the top of my balding head - 12 categories at least? Is it even possible to set a poll with that many categories? I think a few of the categories will have less than one vote, and would only be there for politeness:ermm: Alan T.:classic:

Truth be told, Goertz had just as little real input into the Toyota 2000GT as he did with the S30-series Z. He has been credited with penning the A550X ( the Yamaha / Nissan collaboration that Yamaha later showed to Toyota ) but the A550X was nothing more than a reference tool for Toyota when they were putting together their plan for the car that became known as the 2000GT. Satoru Nozaki was the designer / stylist, Hidemasa Takagi was in charge of engine development, Shinichi Yamazaki was in charge of chassis and suspension development, and Shihomi Hosoya was assistant designer and a very competent development driver. It is Nozaki who should be given credit with the looks / style of the "2000GT", from Yamaha YX122, 280A, 390A, 460A prototypes and 311S racer, through to MF10 and MF12 production cars. The 2000GT was never really in direct competition with the Z, as it was first put on sale to the general public several years before the Z and hit its peak production well before the Z too. They were two quite different automobiles, with different philosophies behind them. I've been lucky enough to see many of these cars in Japan, and have even had the opportunity to drive one around the Tsukuba race circuit. The 2000GT was a fantastic car, and would be VERY high on my personal shopping list if I had the kind of money that is required to buy one of them these days. In my experience they are quite often slated by people who have never driven one, and in some cases never even seen one in the metal. I heartily recommend Shin Yoshikawa's excellent book "Toyota 2000GT", published by KAI, with ISBN number 0-932128-10-6. Hell its more than a book - its a positive bible on these cars. Alan T.

Some Fairladies were 'Fairlady 240Z's', but not all of them......... Probably the only really foolproof way of referring to ALL of the 'first generation' Z cars with one catch-all label is to do what Nissan themselves did, and call them all "S30" series Z cars. Nissan even uses the "S30" type name for the Japan-only 'S31' VIN-prefixed cars. To Nissan, anything pre S130-series is an S30 ( including the S31 ). The problem - as I see it - is that many people refer to the "240Z" are the 'original' Z, when in fact this is only half the story. I had a conversation with the guy who rents one of the garages next to mine a few weeks ago. He looked at my Fairlady Z-L project car ( a bare painted body, up on jackstands ) and sucked through his teeth. "Looks like a big job" he hissed pessimistically, "what is it?". "A 1970 Fairlady 240Z-L" I replied, "and I'm turning into a replica of a Fairlady Z432-R". His face was blank. "What's that then?" he said, "it looks like a 240Z". "I can see why you might say that" I replied, "they were brother and sister, but technically different models of the same basic S30-series type Z". He looked slightly confused for a moment, and then a spark of recognition lit up his face; "So its a 240Z, but different!" he exclaimed triumphantly......... Although only relevant to a few members here, it would be nice to see a list that was a bit more comprehensive and included models that were not officially sold outside Japan ( but nevertheless did exist. Some of these cars found their way outside Japan through private channels. I own two of these orphans. I believe there are other members here who have cars that would not fit into the list as it now stands. My 1970 Fairlady Z-L ( 'S30' VIN prefix ) certainly does not fit into the list. Its most certainly NOT a '240Z'. However, the '240Z' and the Fairlady Z-L are both 'S30-series' Z cars..... My 1971 Fairlady 240ZG is ( technically ) a '240Z', but its perhaps not what most people would think of when they hear or read about a 240Z. Summing up? Its a quagmire! Not all Fairladies are Z's. Not all Z's are Fairladies. Not all Fairladies are Fairlady 240Z's. The permutations are endless:dead: Since the debut of the Z33 ( notice I didn't write '350Z' ) I've seen many journalists comparing them to the "original 240Z". I guess its just a matter of perspective, but it would be nice to see a well-informed journalist comparing to the "original S30-series Z". Too late now I suppose... Alan T.

Hi HKSZ, Its probably from the S54B-II Skyline GTB, which used the Prince G7 engine. It was equipped with triple 40DCOE carbs on the GTB model. It must be worth a few Dollars I would have thought? You could sell it and use the money to buy a manifold that will fit your L-series engine. Good luck! Alan T.

I won't be able to forget that now. It might spoil my driving experienceLOL

Hi Nick, I've got a few L14 rods back at home. As far as I remember, I have around 8pcs. You could possibly mix and match a set of six out of the eight, but they have been messed with a little before I got them ( casting flash taken off / smoothed out, sanded ) so they need a little work. If you are going to race-prep them then they are already started.... I'm away from home on business at the moment, so if you can wait until I get back to London ( middle of next week ) I can dig them out and send photos to you. These are genuine L14 rods, and the classic formula for a Japanese big-bore / stroke L6 engine. I can't remember the centre to centre length off the top of my head, but they are long ( 140 something? ). I'll get in touch when I get back from Japan. All the best, Alan T.

Didn't we get the real story on this subject a few months ago? I think it was Kats who spoke to Matsuo san about it, and Matsuo san confirmed that the original steering wheels were indeed made from wood... It was a new process at the time, and involved pressing wood into a mould ( under huge pressure ) and combining it with some sort of resin? I don't remember the thread it was on, but I think I'm remembering it correctly. So it IS wood, but not JUST wood:ermm: Alan T.

26th-Z, The front-on photo of the car with the fog lamps is not an official Nissan photo. Its from the "Fairlady Z" book by Neko publishing, and I posted it on this site in relation to another fog lamp thread. The lamps in your other pics look very similar to the Nissan option ones, but not quite the same. Maybe they were made by the same manufacturer for another model? Actually, I don't know if the Z option fog lamps were made by Koito, Toshiba, Stanley, Ever Wing, or some other manufacturer. Anyone know? Alan T.

This diagram does not break down the parts as far as they will go, but hopefully it might help?