daddz

Thanks to everyone for your responses. Alan, I have learned something new again today with regard to healdights and the multiple suppliers to Nissan. A fairly common practice which is evidenced in things like different brands of tires etc.. I will check through Motorsport and Courtesy Nissan as a call placed to my local dealer failed to yield any results. They searched both locally and nationally and couldn't find any units. Kats, Thanks as always for the information and part numbers.

I am curious if anyone would be able to tell me if there is a source for obtaining Koito headlights. I have not had much luck in searching the web and scouring auto parts suppliers for the Koito headlights. In my fleet of Z cars I have some that still have the Koito headlights installed and they still work! My 1982 S130 has both Koito headlights which are fully operational. In case anyone is wondering my 350Z is equipped with Koito headlights so at least "le cost killer" has not gotten rid of that O.E. supplier to Nissan. Any help would be greatly appreciated...Kats...Alan T...

Alan, Question: If that's only day and month can we assume that for cars produced late in the year (i.e. 12/71 etc..) that were no leftovers? I am curious to know if we can solve for the variable of what year these pedals were stamped. Do you have any other knowledge that you would like to share that provides additonal date coding for a given S30? BTW, I think this is fascinating given that we don't have much in the way of factory documentation. As a comparison I have just bought a 1972 Toyota Celica (RA21) and I am surprised by the amount of production data that is available for these cars. I will have more information in a day or so as I have six or seven pedal sets to check. Just out of curiosity I will make a note to check the two S130's that I own. While I am at it I guess I should check the Z31 and Z33 to see if any of this has been continued.

Couldn't agree more... I am just about to do the same with one of my '78 280Z parts cars; the roof will be taken to the body shop so that the other '78 280Z (my avatar) can return back to stock without the aftermarket sunroof. I have also removed the i.d. tags from the car so that when it goes to the junkyard it doesn't find its way back onto the road.

Quansta, A friend of mine brought a 1971 Skyline 4 door back from Japan when his tour was completed. Pics are here: http://www.240ztt.com/skyline.html I have also included a link that might be of some help to you in identifying which Skyline that you are after: http://history.jbskyline.net/ The model that you have pictured looks like a C110 series produced from '72 to '77. They call the KPGC110, or Kenmeri series also known as the "Ken and Mary" in some circles. If you have a chance there is a film series produced in Japan entitled the "Victor Memorial Series" and one episode deals with the early Skyline story and has a lot of in car action without music and the noise is glorious. Two ex-Nissan drivers pilot these cars around a racetrack at almost full chat. The tape that I have also has the Fairlady ZG story and it is also great fun to watch. Check out this link as well for more Skyline temptation: http://www.j-garage.com/2110.htm

Zedrally, He owns a 280ZX (HS130), not a 300ZX (Z31) and that is the interesting aspect of his quest. His 280ZX was produced almost simultaneously with the first batch of 300ZX's and it would be interesting to know just how many more 280ZX's were produced after his. It's a shame that Nissan didn't keep more accurate records or at least make them readily available to collectors and historians alike. As the years continue to slip by it will become almost impossible to track. If only we had something approaching the detailed records that are available to collectors of British cars such as the MGB's, Triumph's, Jaguar's, and Austin Healey's to name a few.

We have a fellow Z owner who has been attempting to find out some HS130 production information. Here is his original post from zcar.com Author: g8wayz (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net) Date: Nov 17, 4:45pm I've talked to 4 different people at Nissan Customer service over the past couple weeks and here's what they have found. First, they had to go to an archive database since it was before 1984. Production date 7/25/83 ( at Nissha- Hiratsuka) Shipped to Seattle 7/29/83 Arrived in Seattle 8/31/83 ( it took a month to get here?? no wonder they came over here w/ rust on them!) Ordered by dealer in St.L on 8/16/83 Transferred to another dealer in St.L on 9/2/83 Sold to original owner on 9/12/83 ( I'm the 2nd owner) They're having trouble finding production records which have to exist somewhere? I want them to tell me how many 280zx-coupes were made beyond my production date and they're telling me they don't know how to find that information. It's got to exist somewhere...don't you think? Still pretty sure it's got to be one of the last produced...sure would like to know where it ranks. It's curious that my Z31 was produced at Hiratsuka as well. Would anyone know of a way to answer this person's question?

Kats, Thanks again for the great information regarding the Fairlady Z. As always it is great fun to read through your posts. In reading through this post knowing that Alan T will be reading here as well I have a question: Over the years I have read from various sources that the S30 cars were produced at as many as 7 different assembly plants. Would you or anyone reading this post know for sure at which plant(s) the S30 cars were assembled at? The engine bay plate mentions "Yokohama, Japan" but, knowing the story of Nissan I wouldn't assume this to be the absolute truth. According to Nissan Service Comm (a database that our dealerships in the states can access by way of the VIN#) from 1984 onwards the report will give you the final assembly plant (Hiratsuka for my Z31, Oppama for the Z33) as well as the actual day of final assembly (i.e. 14 November 2002 for the Z33). It would be interesting to know from which part of Japan the S30 cars began their individual histories. As it relates to the fairer sex riding in the S30 cars; in my experience most of my female friends like the cars but not as enthusiastic about riding/driving in them. My S30's usually tend to be lower than stock thanks to Tokico and louder than stock thanks to 2.5" exhaust and maybe that's why not too many females have graced the passenger compartment. When driving the 350Z the younger women (under 25) always comment about the car and its color and then ask about the car's ability to go fast. If only I could find a woman that wouldn't mind having six Z's around? Any takers in England or Japan? :classic:

Alan, Thanks as always for your insight. To go a bit off topic with regard to the Ford Capri. About a year ago Classic and Sports Car published an article comparing the Capri to another early seventies Coupe, the Opel Manta. The article was peppered with a bit of sarcastic humor when describing "seventies man" and what he would have chosen to dress up the Capri. Your comments were spot on when the life cycle of Capri was mentioned. It is curious that the Z would have gone through the same process. Do you think the E type went through a similar process? In the U.S. there was a period of time in the mid to late seventies when E types could be purchased for relatively small dollars but, the "hooligans" were probably scared of the maintenance bills for the six cylinder unless they swapped in a Yank V8. Again, thanks for the insight from the Japanese and British perspective.

Alan, With regard to the Z car having been viewed as a "hooligan's" means of transport (great choice of wording), would that have been when the Z series was first introduced or later, say in the late '70's or early '80's as used ones became more attainable? Due to the fact that you have lived in Japan you probably have a good grasp on what it was like to own a Z in that time frame. I ask because it is interesting to me to understand that phase of the Z car's popularity in that part of the world. I have a fair handle on what it was perceived as in the Eastern half of the United States to own a Z in that time frame. It probably explains why alot of Z's ended up in the boneyard before the rust put them there since the cars lived as hard a life as some of its owners. I guess in England that the Ford Capri was probably known as "hooligan's" transport for a while as well? As it relates to owning an older S30 here it is not much of a problem (speaking for the colony of Maryland :stupid:) since the newest S30 has crossed the 25 year threshold. Before the '78 turned 25 it was almost impossible to have the Motor Vehicle Administration issue Historic license plates. In Maryland the costs are as follows: $27 for two year license plate sticker No emissions inspection No state inspection (in GB this would be your MOT) 5% sales tax when vehicle is first registered $23 title fee $15 registration fee. In this regard it is a bit less expensive than in alot of places. Currently our price for Premium Unleaded Fuel is hovering around $1.60 USD.

Alan, Regarding the rear sway bar for LHD Z cars; most of my S30 experience has been with later S30's ('75-'78) and they were equipped with rear sway bars from the factory. I believe that the rear sway bar was added with the introduction of the 260Z here in the 'states as the added weight began showing itself in the vehicle's behavior. Regarding the e-brake in the Z32 and Z33 cars; I will check some websites for photos of the Z32 RHD and I have a Z33 brochure for the Japanese Market that should provide us with an answer. Most races are run counter-clockwise with the exception of Summit Point Raceway located just outside of the Washington area where races are run clockwise. It is great fun watching both LHD and RHD cars on the track at the same time and observing what the driver's do to adjust to their situation. Races like the Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona are run counter clockwise to give you an example.

Kats, Thank you for posting this link of the Sagamiko event! I am most curious about the background of the '77 or '78 S30 in Wine Red Metallic (#611) 280Z. What a great event and perfect weather as well for all of the vintage Nissans! Congratulations on your tow hook as well.

Alan, I wonder if you would be in a position to comment on the later Z series cars as it relates to designing a car for both LHD and RHD in light of your discussions with Matsuo san. I wonder if when designing the S130,Z31,Z32, and Z33 the Nissan design team were able to not feel the squeeze of quite so many cost constraints (doubtful given the World economic situation in each era that Z cars were introduced) when ink hit paper. Having owned and driven only LHD Z cars since age 19 it is the source of some laughs when I consider this long running thread as I climb into the later Z series cars that I am lucky enough to own. I must say that the 350Z with its handbrake on the driver's side (LHD) feels an awful lot like my MA70 Supra Turbo and both SA and FC RX7's in terms of driver ergonomics.