Carl Beck

I don't know about the Cressida - there are so few of them - but given the Z and 510 are 40 year old cars - I'd have to say that it is amazing how much performance equipment is still offered for them. What do you mean by "the real deal" ??? If you install a good coil over kit, or have someone else do it - it is as real a deal as you can get... Yes/No? What would your friend offer that is any different than a pre-installed kit? Without a firm price - how could anyone know if they would be interested or not? Quality is defined by the customer - if you don't know exactly what your potential customer wants - how would you know what first rate is? I'd tell my friend - gather a lot of information from the customers in that market -find out what it is that they want to buy - then design a product that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. Then start selling it... FWIW, Carl B.

If the Eibach springs start at 80 lb/in - where the OEM's are 103 lb/in - then the car is going to set even lower with the Eibach's. That is to say - that if you have 635 lbs on the rear corner - - that would compress the Eibach spring 635/80 = 7.9 inches... If in that progressive range they "average" 90 lb/in in the first few inches - that would be 635/90 = 7.05 inch. Where the OEM springs would compress only 635/103 = 6.17 If the Eibach's start out being an inch shorter than stock - then they will not have the same amount of pre-load {applied by tightening them down within the lower Spring perch and extended Shock Rod}, So yes, I would guess that in the end the Eibach's will lower your 240Z ride height about an inch or more when installed. To raise your ride height - you'd need a spring the same Free Length as OEM - 15" with a spring rate around 128 lbs/in. FWIW, Carl B.

Ron Millik has 06385 around Seattle..

Switch-Water Temp. 22120-N4202 Call your local Nissan Parts Dept. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi blakt out: I owned/operated my own Muffler Shop for a couple years {decades ago} - that is beautiful work on your exhaust system. Are you planing any ceramic coating or other final finish? I would suggest making that tail pipe coming out of the muffler - a little longer. You might get exhaust gases drifting up and coating your bumper and tail lights, or allowing exhaust gas to creep into the car. Exhaust gas also get under the threshold plate {where the rear deck lid closes down}, that will over a long period result in the metal being eaten by the acids in the exhaust. This has always been a problem area on these cars. FWIW, Carl B.

Here is one of the Transmission..too bad the images have to be so small on the Web - they are very large and detailed in the physical world. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: The one on e-bay is a different one - and it's 16"x12". The originals are about 40" x 30". I edited my previous Post - I have the Front Suspension, Rear Suspension and Transmission. Keith has the Car - we'd have to find someone with the Engine and Steering to gather together a complete set of 6. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Dave: You may have been kidding - but I wonder about these things myself. if you go on E-Bay to buy an original - expect to pay a hundred bucks for one. I happen to have several of the different ghost images that accompany the one of the car - and which were sent as a set for display in the Local Datsun Dealership Parts Departments. In addition to the one zed2 has - there was one for the Engine, Front Suspension, Rear Suspension and I think the Transmission/drive train.{I'll have to go dig them out and see what all is there}. So as far as I'm concerned - the discussion/questions about any copyright issues are of interest. I'd love to see them all reproduced at reasonable prices. Reasonable would be in the neighborhood of $35.00 each - if on high quality paper using high quality ink etc. On would have to use a large format high resolution scanner -then adjust the colors for fading etc.. then have them printed.. With four of five of them in the complete set - the cost might be brought down to $100.00 to $125.00 per set.... FWIW, Carl B.

I'd take the original seat mounting runners off the seats first. Turn the seat upside down, and see how the seat mounts are attached to the bottom of the seat frame. The I'd run a flat steel plate about 2.5" wide and 1/8th inch thick - from the Right Front of the seat to the Left Front of the seat - mounting it where the original seat mounting runners were bolted, or riveted in place. Do the same at the rear of the seat. Then you can mount the stock 240Z seat mounts/adjustors in their original positions to both the seat and the seat mounts in the floor of the car. Many seats have a stud welded to the seat frame - then the seat mounts bolt to that. Some seats have a riveted mount - in which case you just drill the rivet out and replace it with a nut/bolt to mount the flat steel plate. FWIW, Carl B

As it relates to protection of intellectual property rights - as I understand it, property rights that aren't protected and rights not enforced - can result in the loss of these rights. I wonder - does an advertising or promotional Poster, or Picture released for Public Relations, or released as a Press Release and/or given free of any charge to anyone in the public that ask for it - still carry Copyright Protections? In other words - dose the word "release" as in Press Release, or Public Relations Release... actually mean a release of Copyright? FWIW, Carl B.

Me too - however it is to bad Mallory doesn't offer a true HEI cap and rotor for that. For that matter they should offer cap, rotor and plug wires... with matching coil... FWIW, Carl B. Although I also run reworked 280ZX dissy on one car as well...

Did you actually measure both sides at the bottom of the rockerpanel? Maybe it's not the height of the car that is off...

I guess that is a case of muscle memory... my fingers get ahead of my mind....

He in "into Z's", much the same as the Street Kings were "into" Duce Coupes in the 50's. What has changed is that one could chop, channel and section a 32 Ford 3 Window - - resulting in a much smaller vehicle. Today inches are added to the Z..... still the SBC rules. FWIW, Carl B.

There are maybe three things in the US that everyone should see in person. The Redwood Forest is perhaps #1 on the list. Spend a day there and it will change your life. Mount Rushmore is another. It is not so much seeing the Faces carved in it - as turning around and looking at the same view the faces are. While you're there go around back through Custard National Park and visit the largest herd of American Buffalo, then go on to visit Crazy Horse Mountain... The Third - you'll have to come clear back across America to see - the Statue Of Liberty. Everyone should have to visit this in person before they are allowed to Vote. If you think it's pretty along California, Oregon and Washington's coast - just wait till you get up into Canada... You are correct, no matter how good the pictures -they just don't do Justice to what you see with your own eyes. Too bad you don't have someone along to share it with... Nonetheless, I'm really enjoying your trip... I've made it several times and hope to do it again at least one more time... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Kats: Thank-you. I am most happy that the Z Car Enthusiasts in Japan could see the BRE Baja Z. It was not widely known here in the US, as coverage of the Baja competitions were limited to a few speciality publications circulated mostly in California and the Western States at the time; I'm sure it was all but unheard of in Japan. Getting back to the subject of Mr. Tamura. At dinner with Mr. Tamura and Mr. Yoshida, did they both seem to agree that Mr. Tamura should be credited with the final or finished styling of the original Z Car? I also worry that the use of the term or name "A550-X" could represent at least two different designs, unless pictures of them were used to clearly identify them, by the people speaking. It seems that Mr Yoshida is saying that both the metal prototype and the fiberglass prototype kept at Yamaha are both part the A550-X Project. Mr. Matsuo's statement; "I never felt A550-X was a great looking car,I thought the car was in just on the half way of its completion." I would say that if he is talking about the metal prototype, that was delivered to Nissan, then Yes - that was NOT great looking, and Yes it was half way to its completion. If you showed the picture of the Fiberglass Prototype kept at Yamaha - then I do not understand how Mr. Matsuo could look at that car and think it was not a great looking car. Also it is most certainly finished - it could be driven around... As I look at sketches of the Fiberglass Yamaha A550-X and now see sketches from Mr. Yoshida's notebook - I see two cars that look very very much alike. {picture below} What do you think? FWIW, Carl

Hi Alan: On the above point - we are pretty much in agreement. For the people following along -I'll add to your summary: I think it is important we keep in mind that there is a significant difference in one's expectations, when the decision to hire a "Designer" or hire a "Design Consultant" is made. When Prince Motors hired Michelotti or when Nissan hired Pinnfarina, they hired a Designer and contracted him to deliver a finished design. When BMW hired Goertz, they contracted him to deliver a finished design. In all three cases these men had a more-or-less clean slate, although all were constrained by the ability of their employers to produce any specific design. That is quite different than hiring a Design Consultant. The process of Consulting involves working with someone, or some team, with the intention of not doing the work for them, but rather leading them to improve their design processes. This is usually facilitated by improved talent, tools and techniques applied to the design process. One idea being that if you improve the entire process, you will automatically improve the output of that process. Agreed. I would only add - that because of his immense personal ego, his all but complete lack of success in formal education, combined with a very real high intelligence level - - Mr. Goertz looked down his nose at most people surrounding him. In Goertz's mind - "peasants are such fools and so easily mislead" The group of fools were for the most part the Automotive Press that surrounded him in New York and gave him a public voice. Followed by too many authors of books on the subject - that also failed to do due diligence in their research. The first mention of Goertz working for Nissan that I have, is an Article titled "a designer decries THE SAMENESS IN '66". It was published in Automobile Quarterly. I think Mr. Goertz understood the role of "consultant" and/or "critic" fairly well - although I agree that he saw himself as "a designer" first and foremost. - - - - Quoted From The Article - - - - "A consultant points out the possible direction a design might take"; Goertz explained. "A staff designer must then work out the final concept based on what is selected and what modifications are to be made. The consultant has one great advantage in not being a regularly employed staff desiger. He can say to the president of the company, "you are wrong", and not worry abou losing his place in the company chart. A staff designer would be required to submit a proposal to his chief, who might then discuss it with a second vice-president, who would in turn consult with a first vice-president, until it finally reached the top - completely different from what it was originally." Mr. Goertz emphasized that though an outside-designer might not be allowed to proceed with and build the design he creates, his ideals and suggestions could well be influential in determining the style and configuration of future designs. - - - - - End Quote - - - - - - Speaking only for myself - I know that Mr. Goertz life story is one of very great UP's and Down's". I have to admire his self confidence, intellect and artistic ability. All of which he used in great measures to take care of himself. Smart enough to see the hand writing on the wall, at age 19 in Germany - he fled to the US via England. Became an American, served in the US Army during WW-II - while his Mother and Older Brother {the real Count} stayed in Germany only to wind up in Death Camps for Jews. Through his own hard work {which included managing his image} he did become a fairly well known Industrial Designer {among tens of thousands of nameless, faceless working industrial designers}. Much of his design work is admired to this day. For all of that, I have to say that there is much about the man, that I admire. On the other hand - he was a self-centered egomaniac. A cunning manipulator of people that foolishly thought of themselves as his friends. He was bitter about the manor in which his peers in the design community treated him. In that regard, I actually pity him. Such talent, opportunity and success never lead him to very much real personal happiness. Respect? - - No, I think that had I been face to face with Mr. Goertz, I would have seemed very disrespectful to him. I'm sure he would not have liked me one bit. I think it is interesting that his description of how things work in the corporate world given in 1966 - line up with Mr. Matsuo's story told years later. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Will: I wondered what happened. I saw you across the way - a few minutes later I couldn't find you!! Got side tracked several times talking to people too. Glad you got to stop by - even if it was a short visit.. Great pictures as always. FWIW, Carl B.

$650.00 for a complete rebuild including parts and labor - is normal around here. $175.00 to $250.00 for a 5spd. that needs to be rebuilt. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Kats: Wonderful new information - Thanks! - it is great to see Mr. Yoshida's notes. Also very interesting to hear that Mr. Yoshida worked on both the Silvia and A550-X. Up until now, the only person that I recall, said to have worked on both Projects from Nissan was Mr. Kimura. That may be a clue about Nissan's legal statement to Mr. Goertz. Very good job Kats. You should have been a Private Investigator {Private Eye} to track down all these people ;-) FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Kats: When you have dinner the 31st. You might want to ask your dinner guests if they knew anyone at G.K.Design. G.K.Design did some work with Yamaha - and that final good looking prototype at Yamaha, may have had some of G.K.Design's work rather than Mr. Goertz. Also - search www.nissan-glabal.com/JP/CITIZENSHIP/ and see if you can find Mr. Setsuraku. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Kats: Neither one. Mr. Matsuo tells us that by the time he took over the Sports Car Styling Studio - Mr. Kimua who had worked with Mr. Goertz, had left and that nothing from the Yamaha/Nissan project was carried over. Mr. Goertz himself tells us that the design groups within Nissan were segmented, so that ideas and concepts were intentionally not shared between/among them. {this is done to promote individual creativity and produce a broad range of alternatives} What I am saying is that "IF" the Yamaha A550-X was indeed work directed by or created by Mr. Goertz at Yamaha - and years later he saw the Datsun 240Z for the first time - I can see and understand why Goertz believed it was an evolution of his design. If Mr. Goertz showed pictures of the finished Yamaha A550-X to others {like the press in NY} and they then saw the Datsun 240Z for the first time - they would also believe it was Goertz work. Especially if none of Matsuo's work was provided at the time. Take the Yamaha A550-X and as Mr. Matsuo said - raise the hood line for the L24 that Katayama wanted, then make the car wider for the Automatic Transmission behind the L24 - and the result would be pretty close to the overall "styling" of the Z Car with headlight covers blended in. Even the grill looks the same. On the other hand - if the Yamaha A550-X was actually done by someone else at Yamaha.. and you look only at the metal prototype built to Goertz specifications ie the Nissan 2000GT - it looks NOTHING like the final form of the Z Car. I'm just wondering if Mr. Goertz was a complete fraud -claiming work that wasn't his - - or if he simply believe that what he was looking at when he saw the Z - was the direct result of his work. So I'd really like to know if the A550-X was in fact Goertz styling... Knowing the truth might help to explain the "Goertz Myth" in a way that the Goertz Believers could accept. FWIW, Carl B.

At #12,500.00 ????? or did I read that wrong? Carl B.

That is the 4th type - pretty rare to have a NOS set. Carl B.

Hi Kats: You ask if AC would have sold as well - - I replied that I thought it would have. I didn't say that I liked them as well as the final form. At dinner the 31st. Please ask Mr. Tamura and Mr. Yoshida what they can tell us - about this prototype produced at Yamaha - it has a Nissan Logo on the hood. Mr. Goertz wrote in his autobiography... "The metal prototype produced to my design and specifications was shipped to Nissan and the project came to a halt" - - See First Picture Below... that is the picture released by Nisssan of the metal prototype. Then, later in the same book, Mr. Goetz writes ..."In addition to the metal prototype developed by Yamaha to my design, Nissan made a Fiberglass version of it"..... {Goertz does not show pictures of either one} Mr. Goertz tells us that he continued his work at Nissan, after the Joint Nissan/Yamaha Development Project was ended. Working on a couple different cars, which included a possible replacement for the 16000 roadster. Shin shows us a Fiberglass prototype at Yamaha - -in his book "Toyota 2000 GT". Pictures of this car are always shown at Yamaha. - See the Second Picture Below... Several years ago - this second car was shown on the Yamaha Web Site in their "History Section" - it has been removed since then for some reason. It has always been shown with the NISSAN logo on the hood... The question is - where did the fiberglass prototype originate? Was this an evolution or refinement of the Goertz design, completed at Yamaha, before Goertz left Nissan? Or was this a design originated and completed by Yamaha? In either case Mr. Goertz seems to have believed it was his work.