kats

Hello, I have got a permition from Mr.Matsuo to post some photos. Mr.Matsuo does not have a computer in his office,so he asked me please say hello to everyone seeing this web. I am sorry for bad quality of this photo because I can only use home video camera. First,a lady with a Z prototype which is made of plastic.Please note different door jam mechanism and C-piller emblem.They(design team)wanted to emphasise this car is very gentle for ladies getting into/out of the cockpit even she is wearing beautiful skirt.Mr.Matsuo told she is also a member of design team. I said this photo was taken in Apr 1968 in this thread,but this is not correct. Mr. Matsuo said,"I do not remember exactly but this photo was taken in summer 1969.This car called DESIGN PROTOTYPE not only for developing styling but also for displaying and explaining to excutives of NISSAN to obtain their approval .The design team made these models from early 1968.Already those models had got complete interior parts.This could be a 4th or 5th model.Mr.Matsuo said this car might build in early 1969.

Hello everyone, I am very exciting about this thread.Thank you Alan and Carl,you are making this topics very very hot. I must reply for many things,let me tell all of you anything in my mind,maybe out of sequence or does not make sence because my poor english,please be patiant. I got the data of S30's production number from NISSAN SHATAI.This company has been making cars for NISSAN for long time.Not every cars of NISSAN but the Z,they made. The word"SHATAI" can be divided into"SHA"means car and "TAI"means body.So you can imagine what this company produce.Alan and Carl know about this company very well, do not you? Why I got this is I am preparing for writing an article about S30 for japanese magazine,will be issued next year.I am not a jornalist, my job is completely defferent.I am just a man loves S30 so much.I have been wanted correct data of production numbers especialy S30's early days.So I thought again and again. Carl,I knew there are no nice(interesting) official data from NISSAN.Because I have been reading again and again about your information on your web.And I still appreciate with your kindness about answerd for my question which I made before. First I visited an office of Mr.YOSHIHIKO MATSUO needless to say he is known as S30's chief designer.His office is in TOKYO not a big room but a very nice place to visit.I have been keeping in touch with him since 2000 LAS VEGAS Z car convention. I was very very surprised he stocks so many photos of S30's styling study cray models and drawings.What a lucky man I am,I did not count them but roughly there are over 100 positive photo films in his room. He said,"I have been loving cameras,ofcource during developing S30's styling as well.I took so many photos because I was so confident about this car would be a mile stone not only for NISSAN but also for the world.At that time I did not want to feel sad when the time comes then hey,what a stupid if there woud be no photos proving my hard work." I am sorry for deviating from the topic,but I want to say and make sure to everyone in the world that Mr.MATSUO is a real chief designer of S30. We should never mention about Mr.Albreht Georlz.He did nothing about S30's styling.Yes he taught how to develop car styling for NISSAN's young car designer,but he did not teach nor suggest nor instruct "how to make S30".These are proved by many many photos in Mr.MATSUO's room.In these photos,there are some designers I can see.Always Mr.MATSUO and other crew there,but never seen Mr.Albreht Georlz,it is clear that he did not touch any cray models nor even draw any styling pictures.Mr.MATSUO said Mr.Albreht Georlz had left well before when Mr.MATSUO and other crew had started S30's styling study and there were no message(instruction) from Mr.Albreht Georlz about S30's styling. I want to put some prototype photos which I got from him,but I have to get a permition from him first.They are very very interesting and lots of ones never seen in some books before.I must say those positive films which Mr.MATSUO holds are color,not monoclo which we can see in some books.You will see how the S30 was developed and what things were defferent from actual sold model.The highlight is a prototype S30 which is silver,exterior panels are made of plastic, no engine and drive train but it got completely interior parts.As I see it,everything has already fixed(I mean body panel's shape and interior parts)except engine and drivetrain and exterior badges. Mr.MATSUO said this was built in april 1968 this is very important because most of parts were already manufacured such as seat belts,seat trims,dash,shift knob and so on.Even I can see hub caps they got "D" on its center.At that time the name of car was not fixed yet but hub caps was decided already,this is interesting.But you know,the car seen on ROAD and TRACK dated Jan 1970 issued did not got "D" on hub caps.There must be another story.That silver prototype is right hand drive, only got C-piller emblem but defferent design.DATSUN logo on the steering hone pad,there are two switches for parking and fog lamps.You will see 4 very small extra tyres under floor pans for moving this prototype. Bytheway,Mr.MATSUO told me steering wheel is made of wood and plastic.I saw this topic on the web before,"real wood or plastic?"He said this technology was a very special of another japanese company,they use real wood over the metal core and pooring lickid plastic then pressed with very strong forece.So the steering wheel is made of real wood,but same time made of plastic. Let me resume own navigation,I am telling about production numbers for 1969.Mr.MATSUO told me if I wanted to know about it,you could ask NISSAN SHATAI.I made an appointment early this month then I met Mr.HITOSHI UEMURA and EIJI OSAWA at NISSAN SHATAI office in KANAGAWA prefecture, They are the crew who tested two silver 240Z in the U.S. and CANADA.They gave me a data of production numbers of S30 AND, they showed me a 30 minutes long video of test driving over there in OCT through DEC 1969.Actualy Mr.OSAWA was taking a 8mm video camera it was his duty also he took photos during operation.They also showed me so many photos almost same scene on the video.Alan put some photos here,they are exactly the ones which Mr.OSAWA took.Those photos and videos are very beautiful color films.I was so much impressed about them.Just so beautiful.The video did not got voice,I guess in 1969 standard? The video starts from a map of U.S. then titled "test driving 270 in north american".You may know 270 is a code number for the S30 in the factory,we still can see this number on the back of exterior badge.I did not make confirm about this to anybody,I will ask Mr.MATSUO or someone soon.Please stay tune. And mentioned about crew members,then listed two 240Z...... "SEISAN SHISAKU #14 HL270 U" and "SEISAN SHISAKU #15 HL270 UA". I told about SEISAN SHISAKU is production prototype.This #14 and #15 does not mean HLS30 00014 nor 00015.Carl,you are right, I was mistaking about counting.There are 11 S30s in JUL through AUG 1969.Not 11 240Zs.According to the data,I think SEISAN SHISAKU #14 and #"15 must be HLS30-00004 and 00005 produced in SEP 1969. Now I am staying an hotel for my job,tomorrow I will be at home, I can put a photo of actual data seat.This is can be seen because I already got permition from them. Continue about the video,then I saw the big track carrying two wood compartments,a lift loader put them land on the ground,5 or 6 people get togetherd and breaking box,I saw Mr. UEMURA and Mr.OSAWA and Mr.KATAYAMA!! he must be 60 years old at that time. While they were breaking box,the new and very clean,beautiful silver 240Z come out!!This is the most exciting moment while I was watching the VIDIO. Two silver 240Zs and one red 510 were running from L.A. to Bakersfield first(I feel some destiny because I was living there in 1994 through 1996).There are good up slope between L.A. for testing,NISSAN's test crew always thought the car which they made must can climb this up hill easily.It is a kind of goal for them long time ago.They tested in the U.S. before the Z.Then they went to death valley for Hight temp.operation.Then they went to newolrinse,back to L.A. then sanfrancisco then into CANADA.They showed me a hand drawing of 240Z's tracking route on the map,I will put this also tomorrow. That is all for today,I have to sleep. Good night, kats

Hi,sorry for my poor writing. I say again, 1969 [May D 1, E 1] [ Jun D 1, E 0] [Jul D 2, E 2] [Aug D 6, E 1] [sep D 9, E 2] [Oct D 48, E 52] [Nov D 214, E 388] [Dec D 688, E 97] D is domestic,E is export model. And I forgot to mention one thing,why only export model's production number was descent in Dec,that is a difference of situation 240Z was drivien.At that time,in Japan there were so few people could drive sports car like 240Z.And they did not usualy drive long distance like americans do.So the factory decided to neglect those ploblems for domestic market models.They continued production for S30 and PS30(SB). kats

Hello everyone, I would like to show a data which I got from the factory. I hope this will help someone's knowlege and questions clear. Unfortunatly it does not mention about HLS and HS seperatetly, it says only"E" for export model means HLS and HS. Also "D" for domestic model(JAPANESE)S30,PS30... Here they are, 1969 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec "D" 1 1 2 6 9 48 214 688 "E" 1 0 2 1 2 52 388 97 Some notes: On 10th Oct 1969, 2 silver 240z(HLS) arrived at NMC gardena california,for 3 months /16000miles road test. Actualy they were in each big wooden boxes!!They are preproduction #14 and #15.This means they are 14th and 15th build in the factory, they are not HLS30-00014 or 15. I got these,so far.Factory said there is no person who knows much more details of production numbers currently. I guess they are HLS30-00004 and 00005. Reasons are, #1 The factory said they made 3 prototypes for testing assembly line and seeing how workers build.They were not given serial numbers and they are the ones in May and Jun which you can see above.They called "KOJYOU SHISAKU"If I can transrate directly,"factory prototype" Alan,you can help me please follow up! So,HLS30-00001 and 00002 should be the ones produced in Jul. They are called "SEISAN SHISAKU" transrate directly "production prototype"? They are exactly same as 240Z,I mean everything(whole thing)same as 240Z which were sold to the public. You can count 11 240Zs in Jul through Aug.Accordingly #14 and #15 must be produced in Sep,right? One more interesting view I was told, You can see the numbers in Dec is much less than in Nov. The factory said that happend due to found ploblems in test driving,they slow down nearly stopped production. Major ploblems are big road noise,viblation from rear axle,and steering kicking back.Test crew reported that from U.S.A. and the factory in Japan tried to solve these ploblems. Mid to late Dec,the factory managed to clear ploblems anyway(not perfect),they shipped corrected 240Z(with some development parts,not sure how many 240Zs) by air. Then the factory went to full swing production,very busy. I will add some sotry soon. Best regards, kats

Hi, Alan, You have a very good condition original tire.RD 150 is also used in Japan for HS30-H(fairlady 240Z,240ZG) If I have a 1971-72 240Z,I will definetly ask you to sell it for me. Yes, you are right.I am looking for different type of tread patterns as your photos. I want to know the name of tire,wich is for 1970 U.S 240Z. I think I will be able to see the photo by friends here posting it. Is there anyone can sell the original tire for 1970 240Z? Please take a look the photos which I posted here carefully, then if you have it,please let me know. Thanks kats

Thank you trs,1GENZED, I am very looking forward to seeing photos. So far so good.I want 3 more informations for my dream. If anyone can sell the original 1970 Bridgestone 175SR14, please let me know. Best regards, kats

Hi, DatsunZGuy Thank you for your notifications. It was a very interesting point of view,FBI. I have never imagined like that. I am just a young boy(just kidding)so that story was little bit scare.I could not go to W.C alone at midnight. Hello, 1GENZED Is it true? I am very exciting about your information. Please show us the photo.I am going to ask you sell it to me!! Thanks kats

Hello every one, Thank you for your informations.I am sorry for this delay. Damian, it is easy to get Bridgestone here in Japan if I do not mind originality. Bridgestone still produces 175 SR or HR 14,but they are different looks from old ones. Z Kid, thank you very much for your offering. If yours has exactly same looks of photos which I posted here,I would like to ask you to sell it for me. Please take a look at photos carefuly. trs, thank you very much and also I want you to look at photos here and confirm it has the same looks. DatsunZGuy, I was very surprised for your nice Z car.It must be perfect original Z.I envy you own the Z like that. Your Z's RD150 is exactly original.Is it 1971 or 1972?I noticed your hubcap is for from 1971 late,right? The tires wich I want are slightly different from yours. According to photos which I posted here are based on 1970 broughchure and advertizment and Z car magazine, I can see the tread patterns which are very interesting and something different. Again thank you very much, and I will keep looking for original tires for 1970. kats

I want this tire for my 1970 240Z. Talk soon. kats

Can you see the patterns?

Thank you everyone, First, I put photos for 1970 original tire. Then I am going to talk. kats

Thank you,Damian, I found your 240Z's VIN is very near for my Z. Do you have a RD150 in your spare tire house? And I would like to apologize for misspelling. "Mr.Paul Taylor" is correct. kats

Hello everyone, I have been looking for original tyres for my 1970 240Z. These shoul be Bridgestone 175 SR 14,I do not know the model name. Where can I get ,or is anyone can sell these for me?If there are,I will pay more than you expected. I know what the tyre's pattern looks like.And I heard about the story of Mr.Pole Sandy who is a owner of 1970 240Z which is copied for Flanlklin Mint models. He looked around dismantling yeard so many times and he checked spair tyre bin of each 240Z,finaly he managed to get 5 good original tyres for 1970 240Z. I want to do that same thing,but I do not have time. Please let me know anything about it. Thank you. kats