26th-Z

What are you talking about! You got your Watanabes. You got your fancy racing gear shift knob. You got your autographed sun visor. Dude! You are Mr. Modified!

From the morning e-mail; fellow in the Washington DC area looking for S/N HLS30-01316; Engine L24-4415; Color 907. He has the original owner's manual and invoice. PM me if you have the car and I'll you put you in contact. Chris

Here are a couple of blurbs I got from The Georgia Z Club in the morning e-mail: ...wanted to foward you some information I got from the Georgia Z Club President (Henry) regarding the Walter Mitty event that will be held at Road Atlanta on April 28th - 30th. The Georgia club will have a big tent up at the event - where Z folks can congrigate. The Georgia club is extending an invitation for all Datsun/Nissan folks to come out and enjoy the festivities ... Georgia Z Club will have a large tent where Z, 510, and Roadster owners cna meet. As a special treat, Hector Cademarton will be at our tent autographing and selling his poster.... Thanks to Classic Motorsports magazine, all sports car owners purchasing their tickets on-line and noting what club they are a member of, will have the opportunity to have touring laps on the famous Road Atlanta during lunch breaks. Information and a complete schedule can be found at Classic Motorsports Magazine web site www.classicmotorsports.net/mitty.php . Tickets may be purchased a number of different ways: Online: TheMitty.com or HSRrace.com Call HSR at 404-298-5616 Prices go up April 14th, so get your tickets now. We are looking to have 1000 Z’s, Roadsters, and 510’s in the infield for this historic event. As more details become available regarding the Georgia Z Club, Roadster Club, and 510 Club activities, visit www.GeorgiaZClub.com to see the latest information.

The Sports Car Club of America (in Florida) requires at least a Snell 90 certification for their autocross / solo events. This should tell you all about the Snell Foundation and what the differences are. http://www.smf.org/faqs.html The best advice I would give anyone who is considering buying a helmet (or for that matter, any protective gear) is this; protect yourself with the best equipment you can buy. Protect your head for every possible scenario - even fire. Last year at the ZCCA convention track day, a gas tank (full of gas) fell out of the back of a Z car and I use it as an example of all the crazy things that could possibly happen. Lets face it. Cars are dangerous and even though you may think an autocross is reasonably safe, that doesn't mean you can't get hurt. Helmets are very personal items. They shoud fit properly and be cared for properly. They shoud have the features you will need for the specific purpose you are using it for. Have fun shopping for helmets. I love shopping for helmets.

Ferrari Case Takes New Twist w/Possible Tie to Bus Agency The trail leads to a nonprofit operating out of a Monrovia repair shop. More puzzling is its police force and 'anti-terrorism' unit. March 3, 2006 As sheriff's detectives investigate last week's crash that destroyed a $1-million Ferrari, they are now looking into an obscure nonprofit organization that provides disabled people w/transit in the San Gabriel Valley. The car's owner, a former video game executive from Sweden, told L.A. County sheriff's deputies at the scene of the Feb. 21 accident in Malibu that he was deputy commissioner of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority's police anti-terrorism unit, detectives said Thursday. A few minutes after the crash, two unidentified men arrived at the scene, flashing badges & saying they were from "homeland security," according to Sheriff's Department officials. Deputies allowed the men into the accident scene, where they spoke to Stefan Eriksson before leaving, Sgt. Phil Brooks said. Sheriff's officials on Thursday said they now want to question them. "We would like the public's help w/any information about these men or the crash," Brooks said. They are also looking into the transit organization to see what connection, if any, it has to the case. Brooks said detectives believe the two men from "homeland security" rec'd their badges from the transit authority. No one was injured when the rare Ferrari Enzo traveling 162 mph smashed into a power pole on Pacific Coast Highway. But the case continues to generate interest because the Ferrari is one of only 400 built, & detectives have struggled to understand what happened. Eriksson told investigators he was a passenger in the Ferrari & that the driver was a man named Dietrich, who fled from the scene. But officials have been skeptical, noting that Eriksson had a bloody lip & the only blood found was on the driver's side airbag. On Thursday, Brooks said detectives now doubt initial reports that the Ferrari was racing a Mercedes SLR. Detectives had interviewed a 2nd man who said he was a passenger in a Mercedes SLR that he said was racing the Ferrari at the time. "There was no Mercedes SLR," Brooks said. "Simply, there was a Ferrari w/two people in it. One of these men was driving." Just as murky is Eriksson's connection to the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority. The organization is a privately run nonprofit that has agreements w/Monrovia & Sierra Madre to provide bus rides for disabled residents. On its website, the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority lists its address as 148 E. Lemon Ave. in Monrovia. The location is Homer's Auto Service, an auto repair shop. A transit authority bus was parked in one of its driveways, but nothing on the storefront indicated it was a HQ for the agency. Inside, a young woman, who declined to give her name, said she was a dispatcher for the transit authority. She telephoned someone she said was an agency official, who declined to be interviewed. According to the website, the organization also has its own police department w/a chief, detectives & marked police cruisers. Sheriff's investigators said Eriksson told deputies that he was deputy commissioner of the department's anti-terrorism unit. But Monrovia Police Chief Roger Johnson said he found that the department is less than meets the eye. "I don't know if they have a police department to go w/the website," he said. In a brief interview, transit authority board member Yosuf Maiwandi said Eriksson had helped the police department's anti-terrorism unit w/camera technology for the paratransit vehicles. Eriksson's civil attorney, Ashley Posner, is chairman of the transit authority board. Posner declined to comment; Eriksson's criminal attorney did not return calls seeking comment. Officials in cities where the agency does business said they didn't know why a small transit authority needs a police department. "We do not see the need for a ground transportation system for handicapped & disabled folks to have a police agency," Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa said. "We warned them that if the police agency operated w/them in the city of Monrovia, it would jeopardize their [transit] agreement w/us." It remains unclear how Eriksson, who lives in a gated Bel-Air estate, came to work w/the transit agency. Alan Deal, spokesman for the Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training, said he has never heard of the transit authority's police department. Most police agencies are part of the commission, which governs training standards for officers in the state. But Deal said some specialized departments are not members, & there are provisions in state public utilities law that allow for transit police agencies to be run by private transit providers. Sheriff's Sgt. Brooks said Eriksson voluntarily gave a DNA swab, which will be used to determine whether his blood was on the driver's side airbag. Eriksson had a blood-alcohol level of 0.09% — just over the 0.08% limit — & could face drunk driving charges if he was the driver, Brooks said. Another mystery is the Glock ammunition magazine found near the crash. Brooks said detectives believe it's connected to the crash but don't know how.

Oh MUCH easier said than done. I just watched a freind of mine do his 260Z.

I would think the Ferrari guys would be all over this. Funniest damned Ferrari joke I have heard in years. Size medium, please...

I think the big three woke up a long time ago to find they were passed. Some guy named Katayama had a big part of it, I recall. Didn't he out sell VW in America in...1975? Yes...the big three are now Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Honda, by-the-way, has jumped in F1 full time again. Remember the old F1 Hondas?

Also keep in mind that the 280Z body is not molded for the early bumper. You may end up replacing the front valance and other pieces. My suggestion before jumping into this is start comparing what you will need to make the change. Start looking closely at the two different models. The crash worthiness issue is important in that your insurance company may not like you taking off the crash bumpers. However, there is really no need for bumpers at all because rule number one of driving is don't bump anything. If you violate rule number one, you deserve what you get. I think the flashy chrome strips on each end of the Z make it look pretty snazZZy!

I dont't recall looking at this one, but it doesn't matter. I called before I drove up to Bradenton for lunch. The car sold before Christmas for $12,900

It's too close to not go look at. I'll be back this afternoon.

The MG Midget had rounded wheel arches in 1972. My car was actually a '69 Sprite with the fenders cut out. Much easier to make tire clearance that way. My Spridget was RHD also, which I loved. The conversations about Datsun design in the later '70s has me thinking about these styling prototypes from 1966 and the Nissan 270X concept car.

Thanks, moonpup! Don't need any of it, but I got an e-mail from a friend looking for the hand throttle knob last week.

What do you think about this base, Alan? The casting mark looks Hitachi. Installed upside down? Everyone go have a look at your lower radiator cross member and see if it is pre-drilled for the brackets. My cars are.

Nothing MG about that car or midget about those boobies! That is an Austin Healy Sprite Mk II. My guess pre1965 depending on the engine size. The first of the "square bodies" came with the same 997cc engine of the Mk I "frog-eye" and are easily spotted by the way the top fastens to the rear deck. I recall they had side curtains, but I may be wrong about that. There was an 1100cc version of this car before the Mk III was introduced with the popular 1275cc engine in 1967, I believe. The Mk III rear deck had a lip for a perminent fastening of the top along the rear edge. A marked improvement as it made the top weather-proof with the addition of roll-up windows and swing-out vents. The 1275cc engine gave the car the real oomph it needed, although it was cast-iron block and head - pushrod overhead valve. It ran twin SU carburetors - smaller than the Z Hitachis, but the same. Healy Racing constructed five or so of the MkIII unibody shells in aluminum and campaigned a racing effort at LeMans and Sebring - probably more I'm not aware of. A three-woman team (Donna-Mae Mims?) was entered by the Ring-Free Oil sponsored team in....I don't remember. The "Sebring Sprite" chassis was made in both coupe and roadster form. The coupes raced at Sebring. I have driven a roadster. They were equipped with Lucas fuel-injected 1275cc engines and five speed transmissions derived from the MGB gearbox. Solid rear axle...lever arm shocks...four-wheel disks. I used to be a sprite freak. Here I am in 1973.

I had not noticed this thread until yesterday. Thanks for four lovely pages of entertainment and information. Thanks Alan, for posting the parts book image. I added it to my book and will write you privately for the part number information associated with it. I would like to compare part numbers and I want one of the fancy oil cooler covers with the buckles - how great. Thanks Carl, for referencing the various dates of publication for the competition parts information. Indeed an "authority" is right here in our back yard. Hope to see you for lunch Saturday. For most of the rest of you, I should point out that there are a number of people who collect "literature" and bathe in the unique luxury of historical study associated with our cars. I am one of them. Carl is one of them. Alan is one of them, and I can think of half-a-dozen more. I would not go anywhere near as far as to say that one particular individual knows all. We are all quite specialized. We have thousands invested in our libraries and they form a significant resource for those of us interested in fully understanding the history of Nissan and the Z. Had the initial post been encouraged to submit pictures, we could have had a look at some rare parts. Instead you guys turned this into a flame and the door of opportunity closed. Thanks.

I would be interested in the tire, Gary. It is by no means useable other than show. Her Majesty came with Bridgestones and Princess came with Toyos. Do an archive search - there is a thread by Kats about original tires. What do you think it would cost to send it to Sarasota, Florida 34236? PM me and we'll chat. I came back to edit this after you mentioned the date code, Arne. Yea, for the strick connoisseur, the date code is vital. But hell, I figure anyone is just fortunate to see one at all. I DO know guys, however, with correct tires that they show with. Chris

Whoops! Thanks

By royal declaration of the Z, Her Majesty the 26th has been extended the honored privilege to announce an autocross event to be held April 22, 2006 in Gainesville, Florida by the Florida Z ***ociation. http://home.earthlink.net/~cwenzel/index.html The FZA is a group of five Florida Z Car Clubs brought together for the purpose of organizing Z Car events and contributing to Florida Special Olympics. This is the group that grew out of Z-Fest and has bid to host the 2007 ZCCA International Convention. The track is a very nice facility offering Solo level speeds on a well paved driver training course in a lovely North Florida pastoral setting. Our schedule permits around 50 cars to maximize track time during the day. Register early for your spot and choice of car number!

Great picture, isn't it? Reminds me of a "Creature from the Swamp" movie poster. And it's the best picture I have! All the rest make her look like junk!

Mike, There are several threads floating in the archive about relative value for the early cars. There was a blurb in the Wall Street Journal not too long ago and Hagerty Insurance just published some research. However nothing really addresses the implied value of a low vin car. Of course, a car is only worth what a buyer is willing to spend at any given time, but the going trend seems to be around $18,000 + for a drop dead gorgeous, pristine example of a '70, '71 Z. You will see higher prices - lots higher, but the published values are lower. That has nothing to do with a low vin car, however. 27th was purchased in 2004 for under $3,000 sitting in my driveway. I know another double-digit vin project that traded less than a year ago for not much more - and it's a driver! The one low vin car I know of that is absolutely flawless (restored) is not for sale for anything under $30,000 - more like $40,000. Keep in mind that it will take $40,000 to restore a Z that is worth $40,000. Hope this helps. I would guess from your description the car is worth $4,500 to $6,000 depending on how original it is. Something like a missing seat is a big red flag to what else is missing. Chris

OSPHO is a 15% phosphoric acid which is actually classified as a rust encapsulator. I like it to treat metal before painting. RM makes an 801 metal ready product that is similar. These products treat (etch) the metal and prepare it for a primer application. Spray on and wipe dry with a clean paper towel. On the other hand, as beandip points out, a simple self etching primer at this stage of the game is all that is really needed. Just spot prime. RM and SEM sell self etching primer in spray cans. Neither one of these suggestions weather proofs the metal. NO-no outside!

Isn't that from the Pininfirina studio? Yea....Holy Crap is right. That would make me smile all day.

Sharp eye, Joseph. Yes, it would probably have clear hatch glass. I would have to look up the service bulletin for the vertical line demister, but a blanking plate would be on the console for the switch location. Early cars came with rubber floor matting as shown around the tool box area. Rubber floor matting was standard on the economy Japanese version S30 model. The luxury S30-S / Fairlady ZL model came with carpeting. The papers for 26th say she came with carpeting, but she also has the rubber mats on the floors, front and rear, and the rear deck.

Your post #34 collection is my favorite, Alan. Those are the cars of my youth - in awe of them to this day. I'm glad to see you post pictures of your favorites.