26th-Z

I saw this on Facebook: http://www.clubracing.com/post/769/1970+Datsun+240+Z.+Historic+FIA/SCCA+%2CMACAU+Race+Car/ I saw this car at Road Atlanta many years ago. Carl has a blurb about the car on his site; http://zhome.com/History/MacauZ/macau240Z.htm

The fog light / fog lamp topic was discussed more than ten years ago. I found this thread from 2003 that might help; Options such as fog lamps did not really appear until the 1972 model year (in North America when an options catalog was published) however they have been available since day one and the wiring is included in our North American HLS30 exports. Fog lamp switches and the actual fog lamps are fairly rare in North America. I looked for years without luck.

Datsun had a fairly large display at the end of two corridors at this show. Three or four other contemporary Datsuns were on display which are in the foreground of this picture. Yes, it was a Datsun display. All the marketing graphics said Datsun. I believe the car is red. Nice photo. The man in the white overcoat is standing in a different position from his spot my other photos.

Way to go - consecutive VINs - twins! I wouldn't worry too much about the collection of cars. I know plenty of guys with more than four cars; and then of course, there's Z-Mecca in Tampa. You have a great collection going. Love the triples and the wheels.

I'm glad to see you jump in on this very old thread, Alan. I saw the previously mentioned deleted thread and found the "proof by numbers" to be just the opposite. Nissan (Datsun in USA) had very little success with their sports car in the North American market. So little success that I am surprised a successor to the SR311 was even considered. But that all has to be put in context within the Datsun brand as a whole and the Nissan philosophy of marketing cars in North America. Datsun was not just selling sports cars. The marketing literature of the time discussed the whole Datsun line in terms of market placement and growth. If you isolate and compare sales figures through the 1960’s to the British imports (just compare the numbers to MG alone) you will find how poor the Datsuns were. Although I think it is a valid statement to say that Nissan as a Japanese corporation was trying (had a growth plan) to market world-wide and considered the North American market a prime consideration, I know too much about the design proceedings of the Maru Z to ever proclaim any exclusivity to target market. Recently, with the writings of Hitoshi Uemura available, my thoughts about the subject are even more cemented. I would rather propose that the Datsun 240 Z made a tremendous contribution, if not a driving force, to the “Japanese invasion” of the American car market in the 1970’s. I think that would be a far more accurate statement about the significance of the car in North America. And, the irony of course, is that Nissan had no idea what was about to happen when they introduced their new sports car! I really can’t embrace a LHD / RHD interior ergonomics conversation without commenting that the S30 interior was, in fact, dimensioned for a larger framed human being than that typically found in Japan at the time. Export marketing would have demanded that. I don’t think it really matters which side the steering wands are oriented or where the e-brake lever is located. I think if you follow that logic, you have to explain why the foot pedals were not reversed! Or the shift pattern. Or the radio control knobs! How about just considering the engineering miracle that the car DOES reverse? Pretty spectacular in my mind. The car in the roll-over picture is First Stage Prototype Car No. 3. Five chassis test cars and eleven first stage prototype cars were produced during development. “In addition, the distance between the steering wheel and the door trim on the test vehicle was 62mm, and it turned out that this distance did not meet Swedish regulations [of] 80mm or more.”; Eumura, Hitoshi, “Datsun 240Z Engineering Development”, 2017. No, the U.S. automotive design regulations did not solely affect the design of the S30. Certainly the regulations had an influence, but the S30 was not exclusively designed for the North American market. The S20 engine was not exported, apparently, for technical reasons but rather economic. Nissan had encouraging but not enormous success with their sports car in the export market. They had little reason to believe that the S20 would be required over the cost of production concerns. Keep in mind that a 4-cylinder engine was considered during the design process. What was eventually shipped to North America was, in fact, a stripped down version of what was available in the home market. It seems obvious that Nissan made cost considerations a high priority as well as it seems obvious that Nissan had no idea how popular the car was destined to become.

Yes, not only is it NOT a Z432-R but it has a few un-correct items.

Early steering wheels did not have holes in the spokes. They are usually more expensive than the later style with holes. Search the site for many restoration / refinishing topics.

Just in case anyone is interested, and not to rip off this thread, I have a set of nos fiberglass covers that I would like to sell. I do not have any hardware.

There's one on Ebay right now for $350 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-2400-CC-Valve-Cover-Rare-240z-260Z-280Z-1970-1983-OHC-Nissan-/222322488390?hash=item33c373f446:g:vkoAAOSwj85YM6kJ&vxp=mtr

Kats, Do you think the design of the emblems is a "Maru Z"?

That looks like a Ray Dot mirror.

Tim, Ztherapy is highly recommended but as you are in Germany, I would recommend looking in England for help. There is a large Z club and web site ZClub.net

Oh yea, here's my offer on an early oil pan! Love the yellow paint mark update! That's just how my car looked when I took it apart. Splotches and drips - way cool! I may still have an example of the red paint. I'll look.

Those bottles would have been used on 1970 - 1973 model years.

Not that I remember although I have never compared them page by page.

Good! I'm glad to see activity on this thread. Have you bought the book and read it yet? I have, and I'm really anxious to discuss this. I don't have the Japanese publication but it wouldn't do me much good other than comparing the pictures. If you haven't purchased your copy, I encourage you. If you enjoy the topic of how the Maru Z project became the S30, in North America the Datsun 240Z Sports, as much as I do then buy this book. This book really explains many of the pictures, DVDs and discussions we have had in the past. Thanks and recognition should be given to Carl, Art Singer, Yuichiro Motomura and DocUmeant Designs for the publication. Kats, do you think the S20 powered LHD car was "First Stage Prototype Car #3" described in the book?

I have two printings of the 1970 service manuals. They are two volumes. One is devoted to chassis and body. The other L20A, and L24 series engine. They are punched for a three-ringed binder and the cover paper is pebble textured. The Chassis and Body volume is yellow and the Engine volume is green. One printing (010240) is issue date 1 November 1969 and the other (020030) is issue date 15 August 1970. Both sets are printed in Japan publication No. SM0E-0S30G0. I also have a single volume 1970 manual. It is yellow, smooth texture covers, and not punched for a binder. It is on the shelf at the shop however, and I don't have publication numbers for it. I used to have the 1971 manual illustrated on Beck's site. Kind of an orange color. I sold it a long time ago.

The thread title focuses on air filters but the question text says fuel filter and I want to answer on behalf of all air filters, world wide, and registered to vote. Air filters are a necessary part of the intake and fuel / air mixture process. Not only do they filter out grit and moisture, they cover the intake throat and keep big things from really screwing up your engine. In my opinion, you will never be able to determine if your fuel mixture is correct if you don't test the system as it will be operational, i.e. WITH the air filter installed (a clean one is preferred).

I think this is what you are talking about?

That would probably be a January 1970 manufacture date.

The FRP headlight case 63115 (and 63116) - E4100 was applied to models up to 6/72 and steel (63115 and 6) - N3000 thereafter. After all the reading I have done, I have concluded that "FRP" (which stands for fiberglass reinforced plastic) and "fiberglass" are one in the same term. I have seen aftermarket "fiberglass" reproductions and they are obviously fiberglass matt with exposed weave. Original cases were manufactured using the same process as molded stadium seats. FRP was chosen as the material for reason of weight and complexity in shaping the case in metal at that time.

That's why I replied to the comment about the driving lights. What a great looking car! #22 belongs to Nick Mason I believe. Ever notice how pleasing the kit-car looks on the S30? Coincidence?

Typically French. Could be Belgian also.

Fog lamps / driving lamps like these? Or these? Or these?

Pretty good article. I would recommend John's book; "Stainless Steel Carrot".