26th-Z

How come I keep missing you guys? Carl? Where were we? Asleep at the switch! I forgot all about the national in Daytona. Kick my as!

That's a real one. Listed as the 31st constructed in Pete Evanow's reference, the car was originally sold to Ferman Nissan. The last one of these I saw sold in the low 30s. The two before that sold in the low 20s. The asking price is quite reasonable. A banking plate over the radio was common for these restorations. The plaque on the console is standard. I didn't like the looks of the carpeting and the luggage straps are missing? But loop pile would have been the proper replacement for these cars. If anyone has questions about the Vintage Z / Z-Store restoration program, ask away.

Really there were only 8 bidders and it appears as though a bidding war broke out between 2 of them with a third bidder throwing fuel on the fire. Too bad we don't have a clue to who was bidding. I hate that about eBay these days. As Will pointed out, we can't even tell if it went to a good home or if it stayed in the country for that matter. The selling price is way too much. Rest assured, everyone, that as an expert (and I'm certain the commander will back me up on this) I can tell you all with complete confidence that the valve cover is an aftermarket item. Furthermore, it is used. But what great entertainment!

Carl, The basic answer to your question is yes, they are still around, in private collections, sometimes shown and driven, and highly sought after. Chris

Therein lies the difference. I tried "people's choice" at Z-Fest twice. One year the ballot box was stuffed by a particular club and the last year, everyone complained because they were not judged in class categories. I know that most ZCCA shows include "people's choice" categories for things like best engine, best paint, etc. With a class judging structure, everyone has a better chance of getting a trophy. The playing field is much more level. And, chances are, the judges at a ZCCA show know what they are looking at. No doubt, judging activities and awards are quite difficult to manage. As I recall, ZCCA class judging can award around 90 trophies.

The filler cap would be my last choice. Check the flat rubber gasket inside the cap and if it looks half way decent, it is probably not the culprit. My bet would be a vent hose. Fuel fumes are flat out dangerous and I suggest some urgency to resolving the problem.

Surf the net and you will find a number of used parts places like Z-Barn http://zbarn.com/ Ask around. I picked up all my stuff for 27th used or given to me. I was surprised to hear that Nissan still has fenders and hoods. The correct hood for an early car is going to be really difficult to find. When you find used hoods. ask specifically if it is an early hood or a later hood (like for a '72). However, I concur that if you are going to use an incorrect hood, go for the obvious. This is 27th resting in her storage tent. The stripes on the fender are paint color samples used when ZRush was built. ZRush gave me a set of fenders.

This is the second time in a week that I have heard about interior panel squeek, rattle, and noise! Humphf! Now an attack on those cute "once-in-a-lifetime" rivets! When I started restoring my car, interior rivets were a premium on eBay, but now they seem to be commonly available again. In all colors. I believe the panels were originally fit with thin foam strips on the edges to keep them from making noise and I have used silicon sealant as a gasket in the past. Most of the old panels I remove have only the tattered remnanats of the foam remaining. Although screwing is generally a great idea, I like the drywall anchor suggestion. Keep in mind that a fastener like a screw may crack or chip the plastic panel.

I don't think anyone really knows for sure when the emblem changed from a chrome Z to a white Z. I know the chrome Z is quite rare and didn't appear on many cars. Kats discussed this some tme ago in terms of differences in the shape of the emblem. He maintained that the mold for the hollow cast white Z was different from the mold of the hollow cast chrome Z. I think white Z metal emblems on a March 1970 car are fine and I wouldn't slam points in a competition for it. I'm going to put hollow metal chrome Zs on my cars because I only have the one solid casting. I'm saving the emblem to talk about in Hooter's over a beer... or two. The bidder "old guy" is a member of this site and of the Low VIN club. But check out the seller's other items. Hand throttle, 'D' hubcaps, ash tray.

Oh my! Perhaps I have expressed myself in a confusing manner. There are two versions of the "chrome Z", hollow cast and solid cast. 76807-E4600 shows application up to 1-70 and replaced by E4601. E4602 shows application up to 12-70 when it is replaced by E8200 which I believe to be the round vented emblem to coincide with the vents in the quarter wings. Of the early 240Z emblems, they come in chrome Z metal, white Z metal and white Z plastic. I have no idea what part numbers go with these. The point I was making was VERY anal and just a point of interest. Before there were chrome Zs, metal cast, and hollowed out on the back side, there were chrome Zs, metal cast, and solid. Here is a picture of mine. Solid hunk of metal - quite heavy. This emblem, as I heard from Mr. Matsuo, was the original prototype production emblem. Several hundred of the first HLS30s were fitted with solid cast emblems and every one I have seen came off a 1969 production car- pre December. Of course, this is very anal. Once you put the emblem on the car, you can't tell the difference. I bought this on eBay many years ago and got into a bidding war with another member on this site whom I did not know at the time. I paid $100 for this.

Got a phone call about this last night. Always interesting to see early stuff for sale. This emblem is hollow cast, meaning the back is hollowed out rather than a solid piece of metal. The most early chrome Z emblems were solid cast. This emblem would be most appropriate for a later 1970 build car - say late spring / early summer 1970.

Paul, There are tons of articles on site about buying new vs replating either sending it out or doing it yourself. You will find that gold cadmium plating is rather difficult, but there are people around who do it. Several companies sell stainless steel kits for complete areas of the car and I also know of guys who have tried to get Nissan hardware. It all is an option, depending on what you expect from your project. I cleaned my hardware in a rock tumbler, wire brushed it all, cleaned it all up, and sent it out. I went through three different companies before I found the finish I really wanted and learned a lot about how to prepare the old hardware to be restored. You will find lots of stuff searching the internet.

Pictures of the heater face plate from 26th. 27th is the same. White letters on adhesive lables. Notice the "air", "temp", and "defroster" labels are not painted nor are the fan switch settings. Generally speaking, one will find that early cars were quite crude with respect to the individual parts compared to the later cars and later versions of parts.

Concure with MikeW. The 62300-E4101 shows application to the Japanese Fairladys (all versions) and the 432 Fairlady. The 62300-N3000 indicates from model year '73. The E7200 version is listed for the 432R. Our version of the grill E4601 is listed for the export models H and HL. This grill on eBay is used!?!??? Perhaps it is the E4101 version which is why Charlie wants so much for it?

Thanks for the PM, Ron. I have the original shipping information for 26th and she didn't arrive on American shores until May of 1970. What with the engine number and all, it is quite possible that she didn't see the light of day until after 357 was assembled. Interesting.

Yea, zhead. An armorer? You go, guy! 907 green rocks! The tail lights and valance are from a later model 260, I think. You should be able to find a valance easy enough. I may have one. Tail lights are going to be spensive! Nice project car! CW-

The number stampings are the same size, geezer. The blocks were stamped, evidently, with individual dies and they don't line up very well. I think that is what you are seeing. The firewall numbers usually line up much better. I'm surprised to see a VIN this high with a November manufacturing date. 26th is November. But I think she was pulled out of line for a new engine. Her engine # is 2338. 27th, on the other hand, is engine # 2162 and she is an October car.

I would be real careful of this car if you are considering buying it. Read the description closely and look for the discrepancies in what is said. It may very well be a numbers matching car, but clearly it has many incorrect parts. No early Z imported into America came with "factory" air. Air conditioning at the time was a dealer installed option. Best of luck to the buyer.

Thanks for the pictures, Bob. Flip over to the other thread.

Jush gots bak form the bar crying in my beer. $34? Is that all? OMG cry cry.

Arne, Although Mike McGinnis of Banzai Motorworks did not restore any cars in the Vintage Z program, he provided detailed replica parts including identification plates to replace damaged originals. In addition to a wide assortment of rubber parts, Mike provided instructional and identification decals that were on the original production cars. Shops / people who actually restored the cars are: Pierre Perot - PierreZ Les Cannaday - Classic Datsun Mark Jones - Datsun Alley Terry Stokes - Old Car Service* *As named in "Greetings from the Z-Store at Nissan Corporate", 1998 Just thought I sould make the clarification. Chris

Thanks everyone for the kind regards. I received a number of e-mails as well. Have talked with Vicky a couple of times this week and I feel she is doing well. You stick around here Vicky! You have tons of friends and support here! Vicky tells me that Scott's headstone will be engraved with a picture of ZRush and his drumsticks - how cool. At some point, I was asked about pictures of the Scarab and I said that I didn't have any. Not true. I only saw the Scarab once and found this shot of that day. We were all headed up the road and I must have been hanging out the window to take this photo. Scott is driving - Vicky in the co-pilot's seat. Thought everyone would enjoy this. Chris

Thanks for the pic, Jack. Way cool.

That's a great collection of pictures from Jeff. Can I have the box? I'll give a hunnerdollars for the box! I recall someone asked about mounting location. Check out Kats' 432 pictures on his web site. That's our baby on the firewall next to the "emergency signal lamp". To Hell with the clock...have you ever seen and "emergency signal lamp"? I gotta have an emergency signal lamp!

Yes, good guy - active member of this site.