kats

Hi Alan and 26th-z and Ben and Alfadog and all, Nice to see you and I come back! I can see the lunch box and the bottle of fresh juice,nice to go for a picknick. There is a old car shop a bit far from my home(2hours driving) selling two 2000GTs.Both aproximately $150,000 U.S. but they are very very old,I can not understand who wants to pay for these. In my opinion,they are the same condition as $3,000-4,000 U.S. ordinaly 240Z. I love 240Z very much,240Z is the No.1 for me.But I respect 2000GT's beutiful style and craftman-ship in every details such as a wooden dash panel which was produced based on YAMAHA piano factory(Do you know YAMAHA is a big company in japan music instruments,motor cycle) I hard at that time(60's)YAMAHA wanted to make cars and be well known as a high technical skill company.So they approached car company like NISSAN and TOYOTA. Some my friends said TOYOTA's DOHC engine can be said truely made by YAMAHA so the tapet cover should have YAMAHA on it not TOYOTA. And one small thing,the cigarett lighter is equipped on the interior door panel.That is cool, is not it? The small front fender emblems are well costed,how do you say"shippou-yaki"in english Alan?The emblems are like cloisonne brooch. Many japanese journalists say 2000GT's chassis and suspention systems looks same as Lotus Elan.2000GT is not unit-body. The styling is very low appearance,no reason,I just feel it is cool.I remember Mr.MATSUO wanted to lower the 240Z's roof about 3inch less than production model.If the 240Z had lower roof,would it be nice?I do not know.Mr.MATSUO argued with Mr.UEMURA (who was a chief of chassis and mechanical design) again and again and again about the hight of 240Z.Mr.MATSUO wanted lower,Mr.UEMURA wanted higher.Finally both yielded each other.240Z's roof hight is a compromise result. Thanks, kats

Hi Marty, Yes the plastic gromett is the one witch is shown on your post here.I do not know why,I saw many of them were broken or almost fallen off. BTW,Marty your Z is very beautiful outside and inside.I enjoyed your photo gallery.It is helpful for my same blue int/ext car. Thanks, kats

Hi Marty, You got a very nice choke and throttle unit.Have you installed them already?In my case I did installed it by myself and it was very easy.Just hook the cable end to the throttle pedal and poped the plastic gromett into the stopper. That plastic gromett is a small part but it is a very important thing for the functioning. Hi DJACEY, I agree with you the round knobs are a mirror image but square knobs are just same shape.I think this is an S30's cost cutting,I see some same things in other case, the first production parts were well costed but later they were reduced in cost, like coat hooks,emblems,tail gate's ventilation system,and exaust front tube junction from two into one. But many other things were deveroped in later production. kas

And these are factory original fog lamps showed up on japanese yahoo auction last year.My friend won the auction he was so happy. kats

Hi everyone, I have got the photo of the fog lamp switch from my friend Mr Watanabe he has 1969 Z432.This is the switch what I have been waiting to show all of you. This is the answer how it looks like. kats

I forgot to mention,2300GT does not have a DOHC engine like a 2000GT.2300GT has a OHC engine. Like a Z432 has a DOHC and a 240Z has a OHC. kats

Hi Alan, I knew that Alan said, In japan, a crassic car magazine"Nostalgic Hero" intoroduced a serious U.S.collector for 2000gt in some years ago. He has 5 or 6 GTs and even rare 2300 GT which was never sold in Japan.I think this is a same way of S30,2000cc for japanese model but for export model,much more torque 2400cc. Toyota and Nissan's both engineer thought same way."Need a big displacement engine for american market" kats

Hi Enrique, Thank you,I am clear about tail lamps mystery.Did you install extra bulbs for them?Is it possible to peal small plastic cover for the 5th bulb?I remenber the thread about tial lamp which showing a hole for 5th bulb. Hi clutchdust, Thank you for your good story,I am happy to share these topics to everyone abroad. In OKINAWA I saw many U.S. military officer drives NISSAN 240SX(in japan it got only 1800CC so named 180SX for japanese market ) in my opinion 240SX's body style and tail lights reminds me 240Z,so many americans like to own one. Rust eats car,yes in OKINAWA. OKINAWA is a resort island for japanese people, always summer it is unlike rest of other places in japan.We have to chose having vacation in OKINAWA with a short air trip or in HAWAII considering long range trip but the money exchange rate is preferable for japanese. OKINAWA is a very very humidity place.I found HAWAII is not so much.I went to a jank yeard in HAWAII to see some 240Zs this year,I found one 1972 240Z,it does not get rust so much.I asked a manager when it came there,he replied 2 years ago.I could not believe it.But it may happen? kats

Front view of the lamp.I used to install Koito H4 lamps,they are flat face.I wanted this "rouded-face" sealed lamp,looks original. kats

This one is the RH lamp.Also sais "Migi-Hai-Kou"

Hello dadds, I want to show you my head lamps.Thease are KOITO, NISSAN part number 26010-E4601 for RH and 26060-E4601 for LH.I got them form Mr.NISHI.I was surprised Mr.NISHI stocked these LHD NOS lamps,he said he tried to buy whatever he was intereted in.He wanted to see how different LHD head lamps from japanese RHD lamps. Alan,do not tell japanese policeman my 240z got illegal lamps. Actually I went to the motor transport department to pass the exams in feburualy,they did not found it.They were just enjoying to seeing my old original looking Z car.They seemed to be strict when they saw modified car.In my case,they just cheked VIN number and viewed underneath real quick. This one is the LH lamp,you can see some japanese words. It sais from left to right , "Migi(right) - Hai(distribute) - kou(beam,light) " means "aiming to the right" Why?for LHD car,to prevent flashing beams to the opposite traffic driver,so the light should aim to the right. kats

This photo is much clear kats

Hello, I checked my mirror,(03/70 made)it has star knob. But I looked at 2 owner's manuals,there is a different description in each one. #1 (15th Jan 1970 issued) "To rotate the adjustment knob,the red mark for day driving,turn the knob 180 degrees for night driving" #2 ( 20th Mar 1970 issued) "To rotate the adjustment knob,the "@"(star)mark for day driving,turn the knob 180 degrees for night driving" And please look at this carefully,this car is a very very early production 240Z,which showed up in the press kit 22nd Oct 1969 ,letter size brochure and canadian mono color brochure. I can see the red dot on the mirror knob. kats

Yes,now I know why the elepahant oil named after safari rally. Let me say on behalf of japanese people,elephant is a hero of all the children and it reminds us Africa.Zoo was a much more exciting place to go for all the people in 1970's than nowadays. 1970,there was a big international convention in JAPAN. Zoo was a special for the new economic generation. I think NISSAN wanted to have good images(proof,and endurance)to their production staff.African Safari rally's win was a good thing for them. We feel that days the japanese people were active and powerful.Japanese economy was a rising sun,every day changing like in China now. kats

Hi, 26th-Z,thank you for your good idea.The squared off knobs may applied to other model.But I do not think I will find out,because this choke and throttle unit is very unique and looks very special for S30.I have a book it contains all nissan cars even incrueds Prince cars from 1955-1992.I will look at it carefully to find out. Alan,yes I think this mysterious is related to NISSAN's panic for huge demand of S30. And one thing that I am interested in is,Mr.Matsuo told me onece about these knobs.He wanted to design them "T-shape" knobs. He did not remember presicely but he said these knobs are one of the items which Mr.Matsuo and his team payed lots of effort for. "T-shape"?I imagine squared off knobs from his comment. This attached photo comes from Mr.Matsuo's album.This car is a prototype without drive train, made by FRP,build in around 1968 to spring 1969. You can see the knobs,they look like rouded knobs but are not exactory same,even more do not look like squared off knobs. How about this, Mr.Matsuo said he and his team worked harder and harder,even S30 was sold to the public.Some of the revised items were applyed immediately but some of them applyed much later. I made a fiction,(do not trust!!) Mr.Matsuo designed this rounded prototype first,but he did not satisfied with it,he tried squared off knobs. They did not have time to confuse,had to decide which one is going to production,the squared off knobs were taken by a vote. Soon after the vote,an illustrator dropped design studio and picked up squared off knobs for the parts catalog. But,Mr.Matsuo did not know the interior parts maker had already thousands of order of rounded knobs.Because he and his team made and tested rounded knobs first,some one in the company ordered it to the parts maker before Mr.Matsuo and his team tried squared off knobs. I will tell this story to Mr.Matsuo,what will he say? kats

abas, The plaque on the consol in front of levers is a vintage Z's plaque. My 240Z is not the one,mine is restored in japan the shop "ultimate".The owner of the shop is Mr.TAKAKAMO (we call him TETSU),he travels once a year for looking good 240Zs for his business.Tetsu got this plaque from the U.S. NISSAN and he gave this for my 240Z. Mr.K visits Tetsu's shop very offten and every year Testu hosts a Zcar meeting Mr.K always there.Testu's favorite is his S130 with RB 26TT.We brought 16Zs with our friends to LASVEGAS in 2000. Marty, The choke and throttle unit is also very very hard to find in japan.I have never seen it in auctions.I am wondering the length of the throttle cable for RHD is same as LHD model?If it is same,it is good to buy the unit found in japan. Thank you, kats

Hello, Thank you very much,26th-Z.I was surprised that 1969 240Z has tar mat insulator. mdbrandy,yes this is typical 1969 240Z and japanese fairlady-Z. abas,your 240Z is april 1970 but yours does not have insulator,this is very interesting and I have to revise my understanding. I show my march 1970 240Z's rear deck compartment. There is a insulator covering the floor panel.Closely look at around spair tyre bin,you can see the insulator on the floor too. http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/deckcomp.html

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate for your informations. Now my question is getting clear,I want to ask everyone these, #1 The rounded knob is the earliest,this is clear.But why does the first parts catalog issued Nov 1969 show squared knob? Can we say the squared knob existed already in Nov 1969? I do not think an illustrator draw a picture looking at rouded knobs for the Nov 1969 parts catalog.I guess the squared knob already existed. #2 If the squared knob existed Nov 1969,why it did not applyed for the 240Z?I see so many photos of 240Z in early days(in service manuals,brochures,reports in car magazines,etc.)the 240Z has always rounded knobs. #3 Parts number changed in Feb 1970,we think this is the boudary from rounded to new square knob.But as some member reported the rounded knob was used some around mid 1971.In my experience,in japan this is true for fairlady Z too.I have never seen square knobs for the choke and throttle composite unit of fairlady Z .Of cource I can not say I am 100 % for sure for the knobs which is originaly applyed. In japan,the throttle knob is standard,so we can see it until mid 1971. This is my guessing, #1 NISSAN had rounded knobs first,but they already made new squared knobs before nov 1969,I do not know why.The illustrator used squared knobs for the parts catalog. #2 In Feb 1970,NISSAN wanted to use new squared knobs so they changed parts number.But there were so many stock rounded knobs in the factory,so they just continue to use rounded knobs. I will ask this to Mr.Matsuo soon. Thank you, kats

I add this photo from the owner's manual of fairlady-Z. This description is for an auto matic transmission. But the photo of oil can,you can see the elephant on it, it is basicaly same for the engine oil can. kats

Hello, I have 2 oil caps, the one is just"oil" on it and the other is unique for the elephant picuture and japanese caution. I can see the "just oil" cap on the first U.S. brochure.But I do not know about elephant oil cap for U.S. model. Here is a photo of my oil cap march 1970 240Z. http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/details.html http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/240zmore008.jpg And I interpret this elephant oil cap I attached here, let's begin from north-hemisphere,from the left to the right "Elephant oil Wo," Wo is specifying (or I can say requesting) "elephant oil" then south-hemisphere,from the left to right " Chu-Nyu Shite Kudasai" Chu-Nyu means "pour",Shite Kudasai is polite saying"please do" So,it is not difficult,just saying "please pour elephant oil" Elephant oil was a genine oil for NISSAN's engine. kats

Alan, I think you can show us the picture of choke and throttle knobs in the japanese "fairlady Z" parts catalog. I think the drawing touch is quite different,right?fairlady Z's parts catalog show the round type knobs,I think. Please help me Alan. kats

Hello, I have a choke knob and a throttle knob on the console, yes I added a throttle knob by myself during its restoration about 3 years ago. But I have been thinking why there are 2 types of knobs? The round one is original,we know we can see it in the brochure, the square one is also from the factory but it seems later production parts?But Nov 1969 parts catalog's picture shows these knobs are square type. Which is original for my march 1970 240Z? Please see this, http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/choke.html Thank you, kats

Hello, Mark, This is the first time to see the rubber mat for me.It is quite different from mine.Is there any amco logo on the mat?Mine does not have anywhere. Carl and Alan, I knew that mistake when I red my service bulletin No.184. And it is interesting the picture for the floor mats and jutes are very close to actual shape.The picture in the Nov 1969 parts catalog's are not so great.It looks even 1971 later version. 26th-Z, Thank you for your great photo.I see your rear deck does not have insulator,I mean I see 12 holes on the deck. My understanding,this is a typical 1969(or Jan 1970) 240Z's featuring.My march 1970 240Z have insulator for the rear deck so holes are covered,just dents like a bowl there. I will post my rear deck's photo. Thank you, kats

Hello, 26th-Z, thank you advice me,fuel cap question is now clear.By hte way,I think I made a mistake that I posted at wrong category.I should look proper one. halz, thank you and would you want to see close up view? http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/custom.html This stripe I bought from MSA and I made DATSUN label by myself using a color copy machine and a clear vinyl seat. Ben and Enrique, Thank you but I am sorry not to show all pages here.But I know your feeling.I am always hoping we can buy reproduction books like owner's manuals or service manuals,but we want also sales brochures,parts catalogs(same size and same binder version),service bulletins,etc. If I have a good time,I will try. About a taillight,I found a different thing from my HLS30 reading at a japanese service bulletin Nov 1969.There are 5 bulbs for each tail light.BUT my 240Z have only 4 bulbs,is this difference between U.S. and Japan?Or happened in HLS in different year model? daddz, Thank you for your good Z's story.I want to have Z 2 or 3 more,but my wife never allows me to do that. Z's production plant,maybe Alan will know the better.Little bit offset,about parts plants,I heard from my friends in japan that sometimes there is a difference in the same parts sent from different plants.One plants painted the parts black,but other plants made it zinc plate.Even sometimes parts shape is different. Alan, Thank you very much for following up me.The stripe you posted seems to me hand-made look.I guess NISSAN had to prepair really quickly for the motorshow.Mr.Matsuo always told me at that time they were so busy and busy. Thank you, kats