26th-Z

Mid eighties AutoCad would have been version 2 or so running on an 8086 processor. Yes, we've come a l-o-n-g way.

Yo, Bill. Good to here from U

I have original art like the piece you have, Wing. I have the various paint scheme art proposed for the IMSA GTS 300ZX and the IMSA GTP Lolas. I also have (can't seem to find them right now) some layouts for the NISMO calendars. These drawings are fairly crude and they have edit notes written on them. Similar, but not as nice as your example. Who knows what they are worth considering that you probably have THE only example.

I have to comment that the 240Z community is fortunate that brand new parts are still available and that we are not generally faced with the costs of reconstructing a part to maintain originality. Unfortunately for the 'stock' guys, at least for me, the new part is sometimes not the same as the original as it is the superseded number. Enrique, that car is without doubt radical. Why on earth would anyone want to build a CorZette?! Yes, a radical flavor with a slight hint of FiberFab Avenger.

Ha,ha! You guys are great! 'Illegible' means not clear enough to read. "His handwriting is illegible". Perhaps the Z is so fast (blurred to vision) that it can't be read! Mathieu, I'm making plans for the 24hr next June. I'll be in touch. Perhaps you can teach me some French! Chris

I agree. You have an early floor mat that has been cut out for the spare tire, early jute and early (style) carpeting. The carpeting should velcro to the spots on the car and the jute should have cut-outs for the velcro to attach the carpeting. Shame that the floor mat was cut. Would love to see pictures of the footwell floor mats. The snap connection to the firewall insulation is the correct connetion for either the floor mat or carpeting.

Rear view mirrors are not original. Too bad its an automatic.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/thread45765.html

I think you'll like it. Brock makes some of the very same points you made - especially about the commercialism (sales pitch) involved in racing, how that relates to the construction rules, and the tendancy within the sport to resist change. A very well described position on the topic.

I suppose you would read the articles found with the internet search?

Just got my copy of the July issue (#157) of Classic Motorsports magazine. Peter Brock wrote a very intersting editorial in his BROCKON column; "Deltawing: Racing's New Era". I recommend it as it addresses the difference of opinions we have been discussing. You'll recognize the issue immediately. The cover article is; "Rising Suns - Japanese Cars: Is It Time To Call Them Classics?" Great article, but for another thread...

Stephen, Although the front track is very narrow, the car has four wheels. Actually, the front suspension is quite ingenious. 75% of the weight is on the rear wheels but the underbody aerodynamics make a significan amount of down force. The Deltawing concept was originally proposed for the spec Indycar (the Dallara chassis was chosen). Development then went to Dan Gurney's All American Racing and from what I have read, Phil Remington was involved. Nissan, with their 1.6L turbo came late to the process. The transmission was custom built for the car. And the car is VERY light weight. The point of all this work was to demonstrate that a very small engine, using far less fuel, could compete with the larger cars. It was expected that the Deltawing would use less than half the number of tires used by other teams. It's a 'green car' concept which is why everyone is so interested in it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeltaWing Read more here. And now my comment about the driving I saw. I looked closely at three 'accidents' including the Deltawing shunt. In each case the overtaking driver was, IMO, at fault. I don't know about you guys, but when I did my driver training I was told that the overtaking driver is responsible for not hitting the slower car. I think every one of those drivers (including Allan McNish) should be penalized. You all may remember that Allan hit a red Ferrari last year also. My opinion of him and his driving skill just went down the tubes. Crash McNish!

"Built of the 1978 International car show..." http://www.theisca.com/ Read all about what inspired this creation.

I concur. The 1971 brochure you picked up, Fred, would have listed the export (HS30) Fairlady 240Z and ZL equipped with the 2.4 liter engine but not the home market S30 for the 1972 model year. Another source "know for sure" would be Brian Long with his publication; "Datsun Z - From Fairlady to 280Z", Veloce Publishing 1998. I would be willing to bet that the owner is not aware that his engine is the 2.0 liter and is assuming, (because 240Zs came with 2.4 liter engines - right?) that his car has a 2.4 liter. I wonder. It seems highly unlikely but would a Tokyo dealership in 1981 have an export 1977 version for sale?

Best of luck with the engine. I have known Eiji for years and I'm not surprised with your praise. Love your valve cover. Polish off the raised lettering :-)

Ahhh...(smile) and the Austin Healy Sprite made #5. I'll bet I've owned a dozen Sprites.

Profile on Bob Bondurant. Thought it would go best in this thread. http://www.sportscardigest.com/bob-bondurant-interview-and-profile/

Wow! You don't see many 2+2's and certainly not in THAT shape! Love the wheels.

In that pic, the lettering is all black.

You have it on the picture. Yuasa Battery Co. Ltd. / YUASA / + Yuasa - / and N50Z

The battery is black and the Yuasa lettering could be either yellow or white. All the rest of the lettering is black. The caps could be yellow but they would be covered by a black cover. You have a good picture to work with.

That type of washer prevents the screw from backing out. It would go between the screw head and the seat belt hook. I wasn't aware of the washer but it makes sense. Thanks for the pics, Mike.

Greg, Sorry, I have only three crappy pictures of the early type. There is another type, a longer hook which mounts on the door post but I have sometimes seen it mounted on the seat. These pictures show the very small seat hook which would be the earliest. The screw is typical of other interior locations - it is chrome with a domed phillips head cap and the head is tapered to fit in the tapered opening on the hook. It is a sheet metal screw and attaches to the seat back frame (which should have a hole for it). Sorry I can't be more descriptive. Chris

The front bumber bar is not "OEM". Looks like it didn't do any good. The headlight covers with the trim ring are "OEM", just not in the North American market. Love the Watanabes.

Roll bar steel specification, tube diameter and wall thickness would be specified as part of the General Competiton Rules, I believe. I would have to do some contemporary research, but back in the day (BRE and BSR) the racing sanctioning body (in this case, the SCCA) specified design and construction of required roll over protection. I recall those specifications for steel grade, tube diameter and wall thickness. A hole was required in the main hoop so that wall thickness could be measured and verified. This could be an interesting conversation given the level of engineering you are discussing.