26th-Z

Thanks Steve. That is how I remember the car. Notice the difference in the roll cage? Someone should build a replicar of this one as nice as yours, Ron.

Whoa! Guys! You are getting fooled! The original HLS30-00006 in 1970 and 1971 was dark burgundywith white numbers. I just passed on some really nice pictures of the car on eBay not too long ago. I was shocked to flip over to Zhome.com and NOT find pictures of the original car. The car we saw at the convention has been repainted into the later scheme - 1973 and 1974 when Jim Fitzgerald drove the car. That chassis, as we saw it a month ago, has been substatially modified from originally raced to accomodate subsequent years of racing. That's 06 all right, but not as 06 was originally raced.

THE TWINS ! ! ! ! Yes...they were there! Her Majesty the 26th and Princess 27. There they are!!! I'm saving that photo for the archives! Thanks.

Oh Geeze! This “collection” isn’t anything extravagant. I just nab pictures I see every now and then. Mostly from eBay. I don’t have enough to cut a Cd or anything. Never really thought of it. Remember that conversation we had going a year ago about when a car is “born”? Alan was contending that any specific chassis is “born” when the serial number is stamped on the firewall. Do I have that right, Alan? Anyhow, through those conversations about how the actual chassis / body shell / unibody was constructed, I set up a separate file for pictures of individual sheet metal. I’ll attach some of my better ones:

Yep! June 30th if that "8" on the back of your mirror is really a "6". Nice fog lamps!

Enrique, The picture of the vent cup in my post is a shot I nabbed off eBay for my collection of sheet metal. When I stripped and dipped 26th, I became fascinated with how the chassis is assembled from sheet metal stampings. Origami comes to mind. Simple shapes take form and forms become the whole. These cars are simply "stapled" together along miles of seams. I can just see the Japanese guys welding up the shapes over wooden bucks and jigs. Then big blocks of the car assembled on a jig. I wish someone had some pictures. Thus, I started collecting pictures of the individual metal pieces. Pretty nerdy, huh?

Craig, We're just a bunch of car guys having a nerdy car conversation, that's all. No one is dissing anyone's small VIN. I keep flipping over to the '71 Fairlady thread and comparing pictures. Alan, thanks for the explanation. So this is just an anomaly? What picture are you talking about, Enrique?

The "plastic thing" is probably the sound matt / tar matt, like dyno-mat, and have fun getting it off. It should be on the floors and rear deck also. There are several methods discussed in different threads in the archives. I would not blast the inside of the car because you will never get the dust out no matter how hard you try. If you insist on blasting, then the sound matt and the firewall insulation will have to come off. Replacement firewall insulation is available for around $125. The tar matt insulation is about $75 a yard. The horse hair material is padding and also acts as insulation. The tunnel was originally padded vinyl...you can do whatever you want. I have nothing against the idea of media blasting the exterior of the car. A friend had good luck with soda blasting. Make sure you wipe the metal down right away with a rust inhibitor like OSPHO to avoid flash rusting. I think that's why soda blasting has become so popular, because it doesn't send the steel molecules into rusting frenzy like sand blasting does. I'm no expert on blasting. I'm also on a campaign to promote seam sealer. I firmly believe that the primary reason these cars rust so badly is because they aren't sealed up. Clean those seams out and seal them back up! I'm using 3M-08300 Ultra-Pro.

I just spent an hour or so with all the pictures - in photoshop. I adjusted brightness and enlarged areas. I would love to see more photos of the tool box / rear deck area, please. Are the tabs for the earlier type of tool box welded in place? I notice the passenger floor is gone from one photo, but a foot rest and seat in another? Is the VIN plate in the engine bay gone? Looks like the car had air-conditioning. The rear-view mirror is not a red-dot. This firewall photo bothers me the most. What is the marking around the serial number? The chassis is clearly a later design / type. I don't believe the metal pressings for the shapes in this chassis existed in 1969. If it were a "test mule", there would be evidence of welding from one chassis style to the later. For instance, the side vents in the rear quarter would normally have this cup welded inside. What about S30-00002? Dates on the wiring harnesses will provide more evidence. Long pig-tail fuse box, or short? Thanks for sharing all this, Kats.

Dayle, Those are the rocker panels, not the frame rails, and the holes are the standard fabrication for the S30 chassis. I'll make some other comments... I agree with Ben and Alan that your car is probably the ZL model, probably because so many of the "options" are present. The ZL model included many of the items we see as "options". Your example includes several more items and judging from the age, I would suggest that your wheel flares are indeed "factory". They appear to be the same FRP material as the rear spoiler would have been. The headlight scoops would also be FRP. I am surprised to see the lack of headlight covers. The rubber strips on the bumpers are correct, however I am surprised to see the over riders on the front bumper. Does the car have a mesh grill? And how about the lower lip front spoiler? Would love to see a picture of the fog lamp remains. Looks like you have a nicely optioned out ZL there. Best of luck with your restoration! Chris

Greetings from Florida! Welcome to the club.

Guten Tag, Peter! This may help, but no picture of a car in 306 silver?!!?!! http://datsunprojects.org/zpaintcodes/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9148873/

I'm with ya , brother! I'm there for you! You can do it! Heal, baby, heal! Weld away your blues, my friend! Hows that for support?

Nice pictures, there, Hypertek! Paul, I have been collecting period correct stuff for three years or more with a similar intention. I think the thing to do is your homework and make a plan about what you want. There are several "period corrects" to choose from. I think you will find that the more you look, the more you will find. For the most part, I would say that the more obscure you get, the more costly it is going to be. Have fun... Chris

Sorry James, I saw your e-mail and forgot to forward this to you. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16870&highlight=build+dates This discussed the various dates and their meanings. I think you are correct with December 5, 1970. What dates do you find on the wire looms? I suggest you drag up that old thread and add your info to it! Chris

Ahh yes..."song BY Arlo..." Sorry. That should read; "Authored by Woody (a devout communist I'm told from the right-wing Christians) sung by Arlo." I don't get it with all you sour-pusses. I love that ad. Makes me chuckle and make mouth noises in my car like I was a little kid again. And BTW, Alan. Heads up. Package in the mail to you. Global Express. Should arrive next week some time. Brrppp Broomp Brrppph

Sounds like it, Will ! Go-for-a-ride-in-your car-car-car. Brrppp Brppp Brooomm Brrooomm I love it.

Check it out. Song by Arlo Guthrie. The red 350Z was at the convention. http://www.nissanusa.com/zcommercials?Site=N06ZZZE0805WAA000303&Area=03&Creative=03

Thanks for this thread, everyone. Really enjoy it.

You are describing the sound insulation mat we commonly refer to as the tar-paper insulation. Some guys have had luck heating it with a hot air gun and scraping it off with a putty knife scraper. Some guys swear by freezing it with dry ice and breaking it off. But the answer to your question is yes. You have to scrape it off inch by inch. My advise is that if is not rusted beneath it, don't scrape it off. I also advise you to not use POR, but suit yourself. I hate the crap.

Thanks for posting this thread, Ben. I'm a big fan of the historics, as you might have guessed. Would love to have a Cd of your pictures. Chris