kats

Thanks sblake01:) But at least we know the names of the main protagonists in the story, and we have photos of them at work. Contrast this with the fact that just a few weeks ago another 'Datsun 240Z' article was published in a UK classic car magazine, and - as usual - it implies that Goertz had input into the actual design of the car. It's the same old horse $^!#. The man never drew a single line that ended up on the S30-series Z, and yet we still see credit both given and implied. Crazy. Alan T. Thanks Alan,I hope every journalist sees this thread.I would like to see the magazine. When Mr.Tamura was ordered to do finalizing Type AC as a designer,he started with the picture TypeAClate(bottom far left).At the time Mr.Yoshida had left this team. Before that,he was a "modeler"(assistance of the designer,like Mr.Yoichi Shitara, thanks Alan) and he worked for Type C and Type AC early and Type AC late. Usually, one model has one designer and 3 to 4 modelers,Mr.tamura told me. Bottom right two pictures are the results by Mr.Tamura.

sblake01, GrandPrixGreen, I did not know about "bagua",I need to search it on the web. Carl,thank you for interesting comments. Yes,finalizing is not so big change for someone but,it makes a big difference. I put pictures,please take a look carefully,especially TypeACearly and TypeAClate. Do you think S30 would get huge success if the car would roll out in these body surface? However I really love Type C. kats

Hi Carl, Anyway I look at it - there seems to be major disagreement in this area between Mr. Matsuo and Mr. Tamura. I think so too, the picture that you posted Mr.Tamura not seen is showing that. Anyway as esprist mentioned,a car never be able to be born from only one person. kats

Thank you every one, I am trying to explain Mr.Tamura's drawings with my poor english skill, it is hard,lots of technical terms ,I need a dictionary and imagination.Even in Japanese word,sometimes it is hard to explain to Japanese people.Or I may not understand what exactly he explains. Carl,good point.Yes good point.I have to say about it more precisely. I try to put Mr.Tamura's word as correct as I can.Then please read with your own mind. All in all - it sounds like Mr. Tamura simply scaled up the original design more so than actually having done the "styling". I would wonder why Mr. Matsuo gave Mr. Tamura such little mention if Mr. Tamura had contributed so much. This is what exactly Mr.Tamura has been saying " I am not the measurements, I do not know why Mr.Matsuo wrote like that in that book". " I did body surface styling/finalizing from early 1967 to mid 1967,it was made by only one designer, that is me" "Mr.Matsuo usually gave me subjects,no advise.Change needed from 4 cylinder to 6 cylinder is a kind of that" "the summer of 1967, S30 body was completed,I did 3 dimension measurement for production preparation,then I was ordered to do computerizing data base of body that was the first introduction of a new system for NISSAN " Alan,thank you joining and pictures,you can help me a lot more,please.From the Mr.Tamura's drawings,you can read Japanese and please fill in anytime you want to show something us. I am going to meet and have dinner with Mr.Yoshida and Mr.Tamura on 31th Oct.I will ask what Mr.Tamura's statements is correct and I want to confirm the story of developing S30 styling. I will ask about same thing to Mr.Matsuo later. kats PS:Carl posted the picture, Mr.Tamura told me that picture(and some more) was taken for "posture".The clay model in the picture had already everything done,even already done for presentation for the executives.That clay was painted before the picture taken for final presentation.After authorized by executives, paint and bumpers etc were removed for measurement for production. We have seen lots of pictures during S30 development,many of them were taken for the press,I mean "posture".Just intended to show how they are doing in the NISSAN factory.Mr.Tamura told me that.

Thank you cbudvet,Mr.Tamura will be very pleased for your word. Hi esprist! I will be L.A. next month:) thank you for watching. Chris,I have got these images and letters from Mr.Tamura.Fellow my Japanese club member happened to see him in a car wash stand last year, Mr.Tamura walked towad fellow's S30,then introduced himself as a finalist of S30 body styling. Mr.Tamura joined our club,and he described very details and even he showed drawings by his hand.He sent us a few letters,and he has been keeping us update information from his memory. I would like to know who is the hero (most valuable person) in S30's styling for the people? It could be a man who showed the concept of the car? or a man who sketched S30's body style first? or executives who said "GO this project" in the conference? or members who involved S30's styling? Most of us say Mr.Matsuo , because he is the chief designer of S30. "Type A" cray model is the begining of the styling study,that was a open car(roadster). Mr.Matsuo began to study from SP/SR311 seeking a new sports car in 1965. Type A has suger scoop head lights. Some of us who have red books really carefully may say Mr.Yoshida because he did great job with Mr.Matsuo from the begining.He did Type C which has pop up head lights and nice roof and side and rear section, you will be surprised how this Type C is so cool! To say to make it vaery short, S30's styling is oriented by mixing of Type A front section and Type C side and rear section.This was in early 1967. I think Mr.Matsuo is the chief,but also he is the manager of the project. Mr.Matsuo had the contorl of the new sports car project(I mean within his own territory) also had to do manythings you know,such as negotiation with his boss,other sections,arrangement for presentation for executive,desk work,etc. Mr.Matsuo had not been able to have enough time to touch the clay models like the early stage gradually toward when S30's styling was almost settled down, in early 1967. Those time was corresponding to Mr.Tamura joined the team.Mr.Tamura did so hard on finalizing S30's body surface, he told me he still has feelings in his hand every surface of her(S30),in his word,he had spent very hot and hard time with her every day and night. Every time he touched her, she told him that places where she wanted to be more beautiful! Mr.Tamura said it is like an old craftsman of Buddha statue,he did not creat it, Buddha itself... Mr.Tamura involved nearly one year for finalizing S30 styling.His boss Mr.Matsuo checked Mr.Tamura's work time to time,Mr.Tamura told me he had never got "NO" nor "do it again,make it more nicer" words from Mr.Matsuo. His work was always perfect,I can see it.And everybody agree it. kats PS:I think here in this club,nobody will say Mr.Albrecht Goertz is the hero. He did not touch/mention/teach anything about S30's styling.He was a consultant and visited Nissan for 2 weeks every 3 months mid 1963 to 1965. No-way to be involved with S30 body styling. Many of old Nissan designers are saying Mr.Goertz only brought a styling method of clay model,that is all.Nothing more than that.

Hello everyone, This time I would like to start this new thread. Who did it? We know Mr.Matsuo is a chief designer of S30 styling. Later on we will talk about very early styling study, but right now what I want to say is,the S30 series car which you actually have got is,styled by Mr.Tamura. Mr.Tamura was inducted Mr.Matsuo's team when S30's styling "concept" were almost settled down. He did every body panel detailed styling.Not only surface,he created bumper,over rider,front grill etc. You will see how your S30's beautiful body surface are different from early styling study cray models. Mr.Tamura has never introduced to the public as a "designer of S30". But I think he definitely deserves to be credit. We can ask him every little thing about surface,he will reply. kats PS: attached drawings are by Mr.Tamura.He told me some styling sketch of S30 which we have seen in books are not described 100% correct.Interesting is,he did not do any "official" sketch when he had worked really hard.

Fantastic Alan, I have never seen this flyer until Alan showed us,also never seen in auctions.Just great:love: Thank you Alan,you have lots of rare items which even people in Japan never be able to have them. This thread is wonderful,I feel your full of power and deeply involved with S30. Happy Anniversary:love: kats

Hello five&dime, I try to upload pictures of 240ZGs. People were able to buy Grand prix Maroon/White/Red in 240ZG. kats PS just in case,the last 3 pictures are NISMO owned racing Z powered by LY engine.

Hi Mike and Alan, I had never seen "Series" for S30 models before your post,and Mike made me look into my collections,finally I found my collision books. For USA 240Z, I have 2 books 1970 and 1970/1971. They do not mention about Series,seems Nissan USA national parts dept. did not need to do. 510 and others have Series,I did not know that. What a interesting is,the price of parts.Some are the same but some are higher between 1970 and 1971.Did you notice a hub cap is only $11.77,well, almost 40 years ago:) kats

Hi Mike, Thank you very much,very interesting stuff!! And sorry kept you waiting for a clock. Chris,Alan, keep going,I am not here always like before but I enjoy reading this thread. I think I need to meet Mr.Yoshida about origin of S30 styling,Alan do you plan or did you already talk with Mr.Yoshida? I can not go to the 2009 convention,too bad. kats

Hi All, This month Mr.K becomes 100 years old, today there was a big celebration meeting in Hamamatsu city, over 700 Zcars attended.I could not go there. http://www.370z.jp/ kats

This is my fake vac hose, almost 2 years passed and added 10000 miles since then. The last picture is for comparison, the left one is an OEM vac hose(no-cloth braided) , the right one is OEM FUEL hose(Gas tank to reservoir) which is used for fake vac hose. kats

Hi Arne, That is a good point.The fuel hose is soft,not like an original vac hose. But I do not think it is collapssed when the car is running and braking.(But I can not say that for sure because I have naver seen the vac hose when the car is running) I have been driving Z432 very often, 10000 miles in 2 years.But I do not have any trouble so far. kats

Hello lm71z, I did make fake of a master vac hose using OEM gastank hose. Please refer #154, http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25575&highlight=kats&page=7 Brass rod is inside and keeping its shape,no-problem for its operation. kats PS:Hi esprist, I am also interested in the repro radiator hoses,I will buy them from you:)

Hello Rich,your car is very nice and original car and fantastic job!! I really love to see these updates,because my 240Z is also 03/70.Please tell us as much as you can,then I can see what is original for my 03/70 U.S. 240Z. My 240Z has a very close VIN and engine number to yours.It is interesting My Z's VIN is earlier than yours but enigne number is later than yours. kats

Thank you Carl,Chris, I learn new today,This is very good and logical/technical description. I was not happy at over 6000 to 7500 RPM, but now I am happy.I did not do anything big except changing the tank, oh , but I did little adjustment of idle mixture when the restored Z432 tank was installed. Is this a reason,is not it? Hello Alan!!!! Thank you always, I have learned too.After I post that topic,I looked up the parts catalog for Fairlady model, I found something different between Rally tank and Z432-R tank.I was confused,but now it is clear , thank you Alan. Alan,I really need to meet you,I have something to tell you. Mr.Horiuchi said the sending unit for this rally tank is installed a new one still available from Nissan as same one for S30s. kats

Thank you Mike and Will, Cutting panel is for accessing the areas where is hard to reach.This is the best way to have good result as much as they can. kats

Here is the example of the restoration.This is a 1972 Rally Montecarlo car. The tank is really bad,more than my Z432. And the tank is a 100 liter tank, this is so cool.Z432-R has a same tank of this. Mr.Horiuchi said originally this tank has a woven cotton net inside of the tank as a filter to prevent sucking rocks!! But it was rotten when the tank was repaired. kats PS: By the way did you know the historical rally cars and other racing cars in NISSAN ZAMA collection yard still can run:love:

Hello, My Z 432 tank was rusted so badly,I temporally switched to the later type NOS1974 L20 engined Fairlady model.The NOS one was very good bad the tank shape is different and one big problem, is a difference of diameter of the fuel sending pipe. Z432's tank pipe is bigger than L-series SU carbs model.S20 engine has 3 MIKUNI SOLEX carbs, it needs a lot of fuel than SU carbs. Almost 2 years with this later tank,I tried to tune carbs again and again, but something different, not so good feeling. Now Z432's original tank is back in the car,I am so happy the engine runs really fantastic and smoothly with sexy sound. I am not for sure but I assume the pipe difference might cause the spoiling of the feeling of the S20 engine.What do you think? The shop " SAFARI MOTORS" Tokyo Shinagawa did a great job for removing rust and coating inside of the tank.Mr.Horiuchi(restoration chief) said this shop has been doing restoration for the cars in NISSAN ZAMA collection Yard. Please see the pictures, and Mr.Horiuchi showed me the example of repairing tank of the 1972 rally Montecarlo's car. kats

Hi, I attached pictures from the brouchure, #1 1969 Z432 instrument panel #2 1969 240Z instrument panel #3 1969 seats #4 1972 seats #5 1969 plastic headlight case Looks grey in the panel, and can you see the difference of the seat back what I am saying? And please see the headlight case, this early one has sharp edge around the lamp. kats

Hi, Yes I added the decals, I knew the early cars did not have them, my cars are not always 100% being correct as you know:) I just want them to have fun. Here is a shot from 08/70 magazine, this 240Z has a rear window defroster so I think this is not 1969 car but some around mid 1970 or little bit earlier. This car does not have decals on the air cleaner. Also we can see this non-decale cleaner in the first folded U.S. brouchure. kats

Hi, Seat belt hanger is mounted on the seat back, and I think 10/69 to 12/69 has a metal hanger which is covered by brack vinyl.From 01/70 has a black plastic hanger. BTW, Only a few 1969(prototype?) japanese S30s have a hanger on the middle of the seatback like Exported 240Zs up to mid 1971. All the other Japanese S30s have a hanger on the top of the seatback up to mid 1971. And the seatback is little bit fatter when you look at from the side(thicker, I mean more sponge form around the holding area of your back) than the later one.If you compare the early one and the later one really cafully,you will find the difference of width of cutting pattern of vinyl material. I can not explain better without picture. kats

Hello, it is interesting, I love this conversation. "front bumper mounts" - I am not for sure this is APPLICABLE for all cars until late 1970 or not, but my 03/70 240Z has a bumper which has single mounting bolt for each frontside(left/right) accordingly the black mounting bracket has only one hole for bumper side to connecting the bumper.This bracket is very thin metal to compare the later one. The Bumper overrider is slightly wider than the later one.And the guard rubber mounting is unique, not bolted but snapped rubber nipple.Not for sure when it has changed. kats