kats

Hello,abas Mr.Matsuo said this rubber nipple was called"dog's penis" in the factory, workers(most of them were women) applyed soap water to make it easy for attach them together. It is funny story,is not it? kats

seat vinyl surface is colored with special technique and all compornets are refinished or applyed new parts.

seat belt holder

passenger's bottom, pad and webbing is reused as it is because I think this is still beautiful.

close up view

Hello, I got restored early seats for my 240Z. This driver's seat bottom cushion got new pad and new webbing while passenger's pad and webbing is intentionaly remained as it is because I think it is still very beautiful. I want to know this side plastic cover for the bottom is common for early seat?I know we can see it in parts catalog and owner's manual which mentioned for the seats,but I do not see many nowadays. kats

front flour carpet with tape fasteners

rear deck jute pad

front flour jute pad

Hello, Reacently I got jute pads for my240Z,I think material is same as original but I am not sure for cutting patterns. If someone know the original patterns and can show the picture of original here,please let me know. Thanks kats

Hello, These bumper guards from Mr.MATSUO's stock yerd. I found the rubber is held by it's rubber nipple to the guard. This feature is for early 240Z,does anyone know when the manufacture stop making this rubber gurad? Thank you, kats

That is all for 1970. The datas which I posted so far is what I got from NISSAN SYATAI.I am sorry I do not have other year's data.These are all which I have. kats

#2 for 1970 production number

Hi, everyone I have forgotten to attach this "1970 production number". I am sorry this photo is not great quality also. My 240Z is HLS30-02156,dated march/1970 on the plaque. I count numbers using these data from 1969-1970,I can see my 240Z is roughly made in the early march 1970. Let me say a little what I got from Mr.MATSUO recently. A wheel cap for earliest S30 was based on SKYLINE(C10)'s one.You know export one got "D" on center,while japanese one got silver hexagonal mark.Mr.Matsuo said this is a result of "reducing cost"which were notorious syndrome inside of NISSAN in those 1960's.SKYLINE(C10) was not exported, so most of people out side of JAPAN do not know what it looks like.Yes,I can say they are almost same design. Notorious "reducing cost" effected many other parts of S30. About front radiator grill,the one which is put for exported model is what Mr.MATSUO wanted to design.Not japanese mesh one. But actual production grill is a little bit different from Mr.MATSUO'S original intended design.He wanted to extend a grill below a front bumper.Can you see what I am trying to say? When I saw a 240Z first(maby fairlady also)I thought something uneasy about front grill because it was seen only avove front bumper.I think there must be a lot of people who think same as me. Mr.MATSUO said, "My boss said under portion of grill below a front bumper can not be seen,we reduce cost,so cut them half!!" See you soon, kats

Hello,every one I am so sorry for this late replying. "daddz" I am sorry I do not have good information about late year Z like 77-78. I have been focusing on only earliest Z so far. From 73late to78,these year's exported models are mistery for japanese people. When Z got big bumpers and bigger engine 2.6L and 2.8L,in Japan, engine was still 2.0L and same narrow bumpers. I have to mention one thing,Mr.Matsuo had already left NISSAN in summer 1973.Why?He did great great job did not he? I do not know and Mr.Matsuo does not say much about it. There must be some reason,and I guess NISSAN was not clever. So maybe you know,2+2 was finished it's design in 1969.It was Mr.Matsuo's design and his team made many plastic design prototype for 2+2.This is a famous episode,when Mr.K saw 2+2 prototype's photo in 1969,he was surprised that Mr.Matsuo was thinking far ahead.Mr.K said to Mr.Matsuo"2+2 is great,but I want 240Z immediately!!"Because Mr.K was wishing he could start to sell 240Z in the U.S. some around OCT but he knew it was impossible. On the other hand,Mr.Matsuo did not touch anything about bigger bumper nor many design changed in late 1973. Even Mr.Matsuo said he did not design emblem with air out let started from early 197‚P.At that time,"parts grope"had started and they did actual design to meet various regulation changing. He closed his S30 design team in late 1969.So I think Mr.Matsuo's work effected mainly 1969-1970 Z.But Mr.Matsuo said "I did ZG nose assembly,early 1971 I made ZG nose prototype and I equipped them and I tested in TOMEI highway in japan" I think ZG is last Mr.Matsuo's design? And I will start a new thread for some photo. kats

Hello everyone, I am so glad that many people enjoy these rare photos.But not so great quality makes some one irritate,does not it? Alan,do not worry!!I always enjoy your posting here so please do not say apologize for it!! We all are loving Z,so we all are here,right? I know when you are talking about RHD or LHD,you become a bit obstinate(is this word suitable?)man.But is it bad thing?I do not think so.We know it is welcomed to post any kind of opinion of the Z that is related and oriented from one's true heart.(except for comercial).I can see Carl also welcomes your opinion and that argument sometimes gives us good ideas for someone.This is great,is not it ? Alan, I think we are always surprsing your magnificent knowlege about the Z and your HOT heart for the Z.And I agree with your many opinions posted here so far.But some opinions are different from mine.I can not list them up all because there are so many points. I can say,your effort for telling about RHD and Japanese market Z certainly inspires for a lot of people in the U.S.A. I remenber when I met you first at FUJI speedway in 2001.I was surprised you talked perfect japanese and same time I was surprised you said you could not write nor read!!This is strange for me.Do you all know japanese people must study english from elementaly school but most of us can not speak.This is a big ploblem in Japan anyway. During driving back home from FUJI speedway,we talk a lot.And find we are very very similler eachother but aiming completely oposite situation about Z. I love Z so much,Alan you love Z so much,I want Japanese people to know what DATSUN 240Z(U.S. model) look like and how 240Z have been loved in the U.S.Then you want people in the U.S. to know what RHD Z look like and how RHD Z have been loved in Japan (and U.K and Australia).I always think why Japanese people do not look DATSUN 240Z,and always they are talking about Fairlady Z.Alan always think why people in the U.S. do not look RHD Z,and always talking about DATSUN 240Z.I want put some different views to Japanese people,Alan want to put some different view to people in the U.S....... We immediatly respected our different situation eachother and still this have been continued.What a interesting story,I think so by myself. Today I post here is a photo of prototype Z's interior.This Z is the one which I posted before"a lady with a Z". Please note glossy steering column cover,a fog lamp switch above a hazard switch.How many people are able to find the steering wheel is different from DATSUN 240Z?This steering wheel is just same as Japanese(not sure for all RHD,tell us Alan!)Z.The difference is,a horn pad's position.This photo shows the horn pad is positiond just same surface of steering wheel.You already know DATSUN 240Z's horn pad is far inside from a steering wheel.The steering wheel's spokes have different angle between DATSUN 240Z and Fairlady Z. And the hand is Mr.Matsuo's.He said light/wiper combo switch was a very special featuring of Z.And he said no car had equipped like this comfortable switch before the Z.Mr.Matsuo had been planing this switch for long time and he had tryed to persuade parts manufacure to make this switch.But first they did not say yes, even they said to Mr.Matsuo"Are you serious?you are crazy"because it was so difficult to combine light and wiper switch in a same piece.Mr.Matsuo kept negotiating,and finaly the manufacture managed to make this switch. One more thing,you can see the watch on Mr.Matsuo's left hand. This is a special order made of Citizen(Japanese manufacture). They made only one for Mr.Matsuo and he was inspired by this watch to design Z's watch which is equipped only for Fairlady Z, a watch which got stop watch mechanism.He also did his best to persuade manufacture to make the special watch for Z. See you soon, kats

that is all for 1969

continue

Explain soon.