v12horse

Hi Rob, Thanks for the pics. There were some really nice cars. While I was at the JGTC USA I saw a UP Garage AE86. That could be the same car that you saw. That roadster looks great-all those cars do. Thanks again for the photos. -Ben:)

Here is a link to what I think you are talking about. There are some pictures online, but I cannot remember the Japanese site. Someone posted the pictures of this engine in the gallery here. I too love these engines. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13949&page=2&pp=15&highlight=os+giken Take care, Ben

Alan, the Central 20 'Sport Z' wheels on your friend's ZG look like exact replicas of the wheels on the Z432R racer pictured in post 12 that I thought were made by KS. Is this car not a factory racer? A Sports car club of Japan car? I was thinking that it was a works car because it has all the right bits. I am going a little off topic here. I am with you e-racer, those wheels are very handsome. I think the only Gotti wheel of those is that gold four spoke style one. Regards, Ben

Awe yes, Central 20. Thank you for clarifying that. Those are the wheels I was thinking of.

Here is a GOTTI wheel that looks very familiar to the fabled Kobe Seiko wheel, but it would be the other way around. We are going to get to the bottom of this. The hunt is on. http://www.spitfire.amicale.com/jantes.php3?id=29 -Ben

This is very interesting. Thank you for the photos Alan. I am curious to know what the four nubs on the rim function for. I have seen a few pictures of these wheels before and it seems like there were a few different types. Not just width differences, but the spokes were more square. I am not sure on this one. I will find some pics. Alan, you mentioned that Nissan contracted out the wheels to be made to certain specifications by Kobe Seiko- is there a link to these wheels with the Century 20 wheels? I am not sure if I am getting this right. They look very similiar to the wheels that you have pictured, but they are not made of magnesium, the spokes are not as round, and there are no nubs. They may even be another type of Kobe Seiko. I will post pics, but I hate posting pics that I have not taken. Take care, Ben p.s. I want to go to Japan.

Hey guys, that is none of our business. Be happy for the guy. The wheels look great on the car prox. -Ben

My Z is my daily driver. I have her at college and I drive her back and forth from Stockton to Fremont a few times a month. Other than that, I just drive it around town. I wish my 260 was in the garage more, but what can you do. I voted as an alternate because I usually drive my gf's 99' Escort when I can, if the Z has a good parking spot behind the dorms. Someday I would like to restore her, and possibly have another Z to alternate with. -Ben:)

The first picture is the Data of a 73' 240ZR. I believe that it is a replica, but I am unsure. The description of the wheels is there, but it is in Japanese. The second picture is referring to many pictures. Number 5 is what describes the wheel. Can someone please translate these. I really need to learn Japanese. Take care for now, Ben

I think I know which Kobe Seiko wheel you are talking about. You are thinking of the 14 by 6j wheel that is slightly different than the standard z432 wheel no? I think the particular wheel you are talking about was an option for the standard PS30. Here is a picture that came out of volume 96 of Nostalgic Hero of a factory Z432-R racer fitted with 4-spoke 14 by 7j Kobe Seiko wheels that were a sports option for the Z432-R (PS30-SB). The one of the ZG that you pictured may have come later(???). -Ben p.s. I apologize for the unfocused picture.

Eric, I believe that the wheels on the ZG that you have pictured were produced by Kobe Seiko and were on the factory sports option list. I am not certain on this, so please don't take my word. Hopefully someone can bring light to these wheels soon. I was looking through an old Nostalgic Hero magazine and there was a short nose 240ZR(I believe it is a replica.) with works (not sure what type) flares that had these wheels. The sizes were R: 15 X 12J F:15 X 10J. In short, I am quite sure that these were the wheels that were used for the WORKS 240ZRs'. Hmm, from when I have talked with Alan, he said that 14" wheels were the only size on the factory sports lists. I am confused. I am as interested on this as you are Eric. I know that Kobe Seiko made an eight-spoke wheel that looked similiar to Watanabe's and they were R:14 X 9.5jj, F:14 X 8.5jj ; they were magnesium and they were also offered on the factory sports list for the Fairlady Z432-R (PS30-SB). This doesn't really help us. I was just mentioning them as it is in the same category. It looks like Alan has seen the same car. I love it. http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7741&sort=2&cat=500&page=16 http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7739&sort=2&cat=500&page=16 Regards, Ben

Happy new year to you Guus. We still have a little less than 12 hours until we celebrate the new year. Take care everyone and make a good resolution. I am still thinking about mine. Ben

I thought some of you might find this interesting. I have never seen one of these before, but from pictures I absolutely love them. Does anyone know how much these cars are worth? I would love to have one of these next to my Z someday. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4514003040&category=6260 Take care, Ben

Thanks for the links Lachlan! I was looking at the listings and I believe the last link is of the Datsun Competition reissue that was offered by Nismo in 1992 (I think it was 92', but it could have been 91' or 93'.) for the 10th anniv of the NISMO division. I was talking with Kats about these seats and he said that when Nismo offered the reissue in Japan, they sold out very fast, as well as the Datsun Competition steering wheel that they also made a reissue of during the same time. Those were some great pics. I am wondering if the unvented back seat is earlier? I love the Nissan emblem on the headrest of the one seat. -Ben

Lachlan, it had a sliding mechanism attached to it in the Bluebird. I am not sure how far it would slide forward. That is a good question. I also wanted to note that this seat sits a little higher than a stock Z seat. Chris, thank you for the kind words. You can take a look at it any time if you are in the area. Gavin, I see your dilemna and I would suggest to get a period style bucket or hold off like you said for one of these. Have a look on Japan Yahoo auctions. I remember seeing some on there before. Ben

I have wanted to start this thread for over a month now. This past summer I attended the National Z convention and while there I saw a Datsun competition seat in a 1970 1800sss. I was thinking that it was an option that the original owner chose, but the two sets of holes may be an indication that this seat has a few lives. Maybe one set matches up with a Z . I was very enthused not only about the seat, but the Bluebird as well. I could not believe that I even saw the seat in person. I talked with the owner of the car, who by the way is a very nice gentleman, and he said that he would sell me the seat when he replaced it with a Recaro. About 4 months later I bought the seat. I have tried to come up with some information about various types of Competition seats made by Nissan during the 60's and 70's, but this thread is solely about the Datsun Competition seat. The part number is 87000-U0175. The nickname for it in Japan is the "Datsun Bucket". It was a seat that I presume was made in the mid to late 60's and 70's. It was an option in the Datsun competition catalog as the sort of generic Nissan bucket seat. I thought it was the seat offered in the Z432-R, but that seat is known as the Ikeda Bussan seat. The seat pictured here is a later model because of the metal piece on the top of the seat. This piece is to guide the seat belts over the driver's shoulders when using the 4-point harness seatbelts. Unfortunately, this seat does not have a headrest, but one can see where it would bolt on in the back where the two vertical screw holes are located. The construction: This is a one-piece solid-back seat made of FRP (Fiberglass reinforced plastic); it is very light in weight. There are some metal pieces that help hold this seat together which I believe to be aluminum. The covering is vinyl, and the padding on the shiny areas makes it very cushy. However, it is not very comfortable. Getting into the seat is no problem, but getting out can be a task. You have to literally lift your leg upwards and over. The vents are exactly the same as the vents on my early 260z seat covers. I feel that this is a great piece and I wanted to share as much as I can with everyone. If anyone has seen one before or knows more about this seat, please add to this thread. Please correct the information if needed. Be knit picky. I must thank Alan Thomas and Guus Van Der Bohl for helping me with this information. -Ben

Amen to that Chris.

The Nismo quick steering knuckles can be bought through MSA or NISMO USA. I believe the ones from MSA are the Nissan ones as well, but either way, they are excellent quality. From my understanding, the shorter steering knuckles (10mm to be exact like Carl said) that we are talking about here were standard on the Z432-R. -Ben

Hi Koji and Terry, your site is great. I have been on your site before and I loved the pictures. I too like various old Japanese cars. I was at the JGTC USA event and I saw your beautiful 240z, but I did not get to meet you . I did not drive my Z to the event. Take care, Ben