26th-Z

I'll be there.

I'm not here to knock the rules but rather tip my hat to the people who put in the hard work to write them in the first place. I first judged a ZCCA natonal convention in Long Beach five or so years ago and have judged or chaired the judging every year since. I have judged three major regional events - chairing one of them - and conducted three judging schools. In my yonger days, I was a nationally licensed SCCA scrutineer. I am now part of the ZCCA car show committee as co-chair with Fred Buoni of the stock classes. Some months ago, our committee chair Paul Hollander asked to review the rules in an effort to clear up the definitions of the various categories - stock, street modified, Nissan modifed, ultra modified, and daily driver. He also asked to add the 370Z model. So, I found the original WORD file and started editing. I hope to make a presentation at the Board meeting in San Antonio and ask for adoption of the revisions. That's the reasoning behind my quieries as well as my direction. All this conversation for that one paragraph! Here's where I'm at; "The guidelines by which an object is evaluated validate the significance of the award and I would like to see the ZCCA awards ranked amongst the highest of automotive recognition". How's that?

He was emphasizing the three Zs in Zzzap, or ZZZap depending on how you pronounce it, so that I wouldn't mis-speel the term. And I don't want to go overboard on the seriousness of this topic. It seems the cars are peculiar to the North American market - fine. I'm just going to have to buckle down and search through the archives more to see what I can gleem. Here is what the ZCCA judging rules say; "* Special Note: In 1975-1978, Nissan took 280Z cars from the U.S, port of entry, repainted them and added specialty wheels at a factory in Long Beach, California. While being offered to dealers as special, they are considered STOCK. These were also offered by Nissan in nationwide advertising. The most common paint was black with special red striping." I want to clarify that ruling statement and I want to decide what to write as I am in a position to do so. That's my motivation for all this conversation. Thanks for the tip on the literature. The place I'm referring to is Lindbergh Co. Ltd. I'll look your suggestion up, Alan.

Oh, I'm so glad to see you. Carl is in Georgia for the weekend. We can talk freely! Can you shed any light on my questions? My appologies if this subject has been kicked to death previously. I don't seem to find what I'm looking for and what I find isn't accuarate - or at least I'm not convinced. BTW, I stumbled across a source in Tokyo to buy Japanese motoring literature. Pricey! Just ordered "Great Cars Memory - Fairlady Z".

Nice car. Thanks, Mike! I'm prodding the tender spot for a couple of reasons; the first being the ZCCA judging rules. I judged a 638, '78 280Z in the last couple of conventions. I also judged a Black Pearl or two. Wouldn't you imagine that the 'Special Decor Appearance Package' was applied / installed AFTER it arrived on American shores? Were the 411 and 638 colors available anywhere else in the world? And what about something I heard several years ago that the cars were actually painted in the US? In other words, how did they leave 'the factory'? Were these "promotional cars' available anywhere else in the world?

Carl, you crack me up and I am so sorry that I will miss the Mitty with you. Please work on your thoughts about next year and I'm in! Could be too much fun. FYI - Sarasota isn't what you think. You should come visit instead of making me do all the driving! Of course, any excuse for a road trip eh? But many many thanks for doing all that typing and expaining those ads. I noticed all the same stuff. Let me post them here. One ad implies to introduce the '77 model year 280Z with more Zzzap. The other specifies the special decore package available for the 411 sunburst yellow color, dated April 1977. The Zhome paint swatch page identifies the 411 paint color specific to the '77 model year and shows it with the Zzzap decore package. I would like to see more information, specifically if the 411 paint color could be purchased without the decore package as in the case of the Black Pearl. Ok, allow me a Beckism, please...Zzap = oops! my bad! Would you not agree that 'decore" and 'appearance' especially in this case, are synonymous? Point being, the Black Pearl was a '78 280Z color 638 with an optional package just as a Zzzap was a '77 280Z color 411 with an optional package.

Well then, point me to the explanation in the archives. I'll be damned if I can find it. All I find are pictures of incorrect Zzaps - Zzaps with painted valve covers, Zzaps with G-noses, Zzaps with the wrong wheels, etc. And the deal is that for the last couple of years I have seen / judged 280Zs with nothing more than the paint in the stock class. Now, Carl contends that the Black Pearl could be purchased without the stripes, mirrors, louvers, etc. However, every piece of Datsun literature I can find describes the Zzap as including all this stuff. Then Carl says; "The SAP option was only available on the Black Pearl edition." So if the Zzap yellow 411 could be purchased without the SAP, I want to point out to Carl that he is wrong once again and that he owes me $1,000;)

So...clear this up for me, please. The BP came with or without the SAP. Does that include the stripe or not? Did the stripe come optionally? Now what about the '77 280 Z Zzap? Did it come only with the stripe and SAP? Otherwise it's just a yellow 280 Z, or is the yellow a specific color to the ZZap? Paint code 411

Arnie, It has been just recently that I have picked up on the "tribute" word. And my understanding is that a "licensed tribute" from BRE has only happened within the last couple of years. The BRE web site has not been up very long. I may be wrong, but I remember when Ron Carter built his 240Z "tribute" (his threads should be in the archives) and I don't recall his project being called a tribute. Rather, a replica. I'ld like to hear his comments on this. Datsun / BRE Interpart offered a Trans-Am "tribute" package and we discussed this some time back when this literature was on eBay and this car was on eBay. It is my understanding that the optional equipment offered in this literature would be what is considered a 'tribute' and that we move on to the term 'replica' beyond that. The first time I heard about a licensed tributation from BRE was not that long ago and I think it was Ron Carter who explained it. I also want to point out that the 240Z version of the gear shift knob emblem is pure fabrication and was never an Interpart / BRE item to the best of my knowledge. I have both the gear shift emblem and grill badge, however.

Oh...and scuttlebutt has it that the reserve is $39,900.

Interesting comment but I would suggest that the ZR moniker for a performance prepared version is exactly the reference to the competition history. Another example of the shambles is the reference Carl made to HLS30-98389. This car does not appear to be in the VZ standard however it has the dash plaque and it was sitting in the warehouse with the rest of them. And as the story goes...Mr. Evanow had to go to the warehouse to see what the VIN numbers were? Ahhh...?

It should be noted that some cars were "customized" at the time of restoration. With all the buzz about the modifications, two cars come to mind and I believe they are HLS30-08808 and HLS30-29247. Neither Carl nor I have confirmed ownership records for these cars but I believe they are pictured below. One is the 240Z-R noted in Evanow's book and the other was custom built for Keith Crane, publisher at the time of "Autoweek". Keith's car had a custom suspension, cam, and polished valve cover. Keith's car was built by Pierre. The detailing of the Z-R is similar and I think it had these seats because of pictures I have from "Datsun Alley". I saw these seats for sale on eBay some time ago with a car that supposedly sold as a VZ but unfinished.

This is indeed one of the missing cars from my list and I'll have to dig through my records to see if I can find anything more about it. CDM did very few restorations; two if I recall correctly. In all probability, this is a Pierre.

Terry, From everything I can find, the American HLS30-U came with bumper rubbers. It also came with the uprights and I think the guards are unique to our American version as much as the red side-marker lights. I'm not certain about the HS30 but the S30 and PS30 are shown in the picture with rubbers - the S30-S without. The North American test cars had rubbers and both my owner's manuals show rubbers. I would say that if you are trying to go original stock original with your restoration, you need rubbers. Chris

And Datsun logos on Japanese race cars

Cool video. I did not know about it. I guess they made six cars. Also wanted to point out that Beck's car is in Autoweek, Vol. 59, Issue 8, 20 April 2009, the Amelia Island article.

Sidestepping Carl's spelling issues for a moment... Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2601 is scheduled to auction May 15th on a Discovery network televised broadcast. I understand that Peter Brock and Bob Bondurant will be on hand with comentary. I also understand the starting bid will be 10 million dollars. http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=SC0509-79207 This would be a great chance to see two people significant in the history of the 240Z. Peter Brock, of course as readers of this site will know, went on to establish Brock Racing Enterprises with numerous American national championships in Datsun products. Bob Bondurant is a personal friend of Yutaka Katayama. Can't say enough about Bondurant if you are not familiar with his resume', including his involvement with Datsun products. It isn't often that we get to see one of the old F1 guys. I will enjoy watching this piece of Cobra history too! One of five cars, with history out the wazzoo.

The 370Z is absolutely drop dead stun-F'ing gorgeous! It oozes "rice-rocket" juice just sitting there. "Shake Your Head, Old School!" The Z is alive and well!

Agree. The center valances are different for the model years. They don't mount in the same places. The fenders are fine, though.

Yea, but there was that "casual seller of automobiles through the internet" thing that sounds to me like the seller was more than a guy selling his vette.

Carl, Your car is featured in this weeks' "Sports Car Digest - Rally Cars of Amelia Island". http://www.sportscardigest.com/archives/4220?awt_l=Kq1it&awt_m=1ZZUHZCsz8s.C0

I did the Dashboard Restorations thing several years ago. If you do a search through the archives, there is a thread about the group buy with EricB and we all shipped our dashes to Australia. I didn't send my gauges and fit them myself with a hot-air gun when the dash came back. I am very satisfied. At the time there was a business in your part of the country, Mike, that was dealing through Dashboard Restorations that may have been Dash Specialties. They were actually shipping their Z-car work to Australia I think because Dashboard Restorations had the mold. Then I heard Dashboard Restorations set up a shop in America or Dash Specialties bought molds? something like that. We chose Dashboard Restorations because of price and the finish grain. We felt that Dashboard Restorations had a finish pattern / grain that was the closest to original. I think it was called "hair cell" or something. But your'e going to be satisfied with any of the choices you mentioned. Just Dashes did the upholstry work for the Vintage Z program. Ask to look at grain patterns for the finish. The other major issue facing you, Terry, is shipping the dash. You will find that the size of the box is going to determine shipping cost. I forget what it cost me but it was a huge amount. My restoration came with new foam and skin on the original frame. The new skin material is much thicker than the original. Easily twice the thickness. This makes fitting the gauges difficult and tight. Also, you will notice that the creases in the shape of the dash are not as clearly defined. Bescause the skin material is thicker, styling lines, creases, and edges are just a little softer. I recall one of my 'expert' friends remarking that the difference in a restored dash was easily noticable, however I never challenged him to it and I think he could only tell if a new and my restored dash sat side-by-side.

Very nice pictures, Gary! That's the piece. With the tail bend still intact! I went out and looked at mine. It's too grungy looking to photograph, but 26th had a similar set-up.

Mike, those are great books! I have the USA and Canada parts catalog, 4th overall revised master binder December 1973 and I couldn't find the N3000. The numbers revise as; E4100 to E8700 to N3399 and N3300. It was my copy of the Japanese parts book that listed the N3000. And yes it does supersede E4100 there also. Hey Kats! Make plans to come to the convention in San Antonio!

26th has a glasspack too. The whole tube back from the downpipe was made for me in 1991.