Gav240z

RE: Headlights, I assume the metal die used to cast the headlight buckets could not easily get that sharply defined edge on the headlight buckets the way an FRP mould could. So probably why they have a more "dull" looking edge. But to be honest I never would have noticed if it were not for you pointing it out! RE: Date stamps I love finding that stuff, problem is if you have those parts re-plated during restoration you lose the little factory stamps.. 😞

Hey Kats, I had a bumper restored by a company in Melbourne who were able to straighten it out really well, better than I could with a hammer/dolly. Photos before: https://www.viczcar.com/forums/topic/12896-wtb-rear-bumper-2-seater-s30z/?do=findComment&comment=176976 Photos after: https://www.viczcar.com/forums/topic/12896-wtb-rear-bumper-2-seater-s30z/?do=findComment&comment=186589 Originally I was going to put this back on my red 72 (HS30 10552), but it was too nice compared to the rest of the car. So I swapped the bumper off HS30 00150 onto the red car and have kept the restored bumper for HS30 00150 when that car is repainted. They did such a great job, I would not bother buying the aftermarket bumpers on offer. Instead I'd have them restore the originals! I think the finish is probably better than back in 1970.

@katsI wonder where you find such rare pieces? My blue interior - especially the plastics have faded to turn more green than blue.

I can do the same thing when looking at the Rb26 in my Nissan Stagea (260rs). I have been fascinated with the RB26 for 20+ years and I just like looking at the engine in the bay at times.

Write an email to Carl Beck and ask him to post it on Zhome.com 🙂 Tongue firmly planted in cheek. 🙂

Hi Kats, The data I have is all from user submitted data or from cars I've managed to uncover chassis no.s for, usually from for sale listings or from licence plate reverse look up's. So it's patchy at best. But here is what I can tell you. HS30-01501 was on TradeMe.co.nz in NZ recently for sale (May 2020), according to the then owner, it sold new in Queensland Australia. Photo of how it looks now. HS30 01501 I've tried to determine what is the highest HS30 prefix car before reaching #2000 and the highest recorded number I have is: HS30 01973, I don't have photos of that car, but the next highest car is: HS30 01945 and I do have photos of that car. This car is also Australian delivered. The compliance date (date they arrived and were certified in Australia) seems to be consistently around Dec 1971. HS30 01945 What I've found is that towards the end of the chassis range, cars were sold in NZ and the UK. For example: HS30-01838 HS30-01839 HS30-01843 All appear to have been in NZ. HS30-01914 was sold in the UK. I think your guesstimate of 300+ cars is probably fair. What I noticed with HS30's (In Australia anyway) is that the 72 model year is by far the rarest model (compared to 70,71 and 73). I am guessing this is because Nissan ramped up production of Fairlady 240Z and Fairlady 240ZGs around this time period and perhaps made less HS30's for Australia, NZ, PNG, South Africa, UK, Hong Kong etc.. I do try and collect HS30 data outside of Australia, but getting VIN #s from Japanese cars is always a challenge as @HS30-H has informed me of strict privacy laws (I actually think this is a good thing) and to be fair I think the bulk export HS30s did arrive in Australia out of all RHD export markets and so that's where I've found most of the data. As you know I also own HS30 10552 which is a "72" model, but the date stamps on the seat brackets indicate Dec 71 manufacture date.

Difference is your car is a Fairlady Z-L and the car in the photos I linked to is a Fairlady 240Z-L. L24 = H prefix. And yes it was a beautiful car, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but at the time I should have snapped it up...

I thought about it later and figured that was what you meant. Did Fairlady 240Z-S come with steel wheels only? Not hubcaps? Here is another 240Z-L that found its way into Australia but it's a later 73 model. So the blue is different. https://goo.gl/photos/ouLBkiFBY2c2SkbL9 It doesn't have the black wipers but possible a lot was changed over the years.

I did not realise the 240Z-L came with those features! The black wiper blades, and horizontal grille are interesting. I thought it would have had the "mesh" style grille like all other home market cars. What do the scallop style wheel caps look like? A 240Z-L here with the black wiper arms. https://petrolicious.com/articles/this-nissan-fairlady-240z-l-is-a-rare-japanese-survivor

Yes the PNG markings were good. I actually met someone not far from me with a red 240z imported from PNG and I forgot to look under the dash on his car. Next time I see it I will. The radio marking was a first for me also. Most of them have long since faded or been covered in dust. Now I look everywhere for markings on factory parts.

Well I have a forum thread for you! https://www.viczcar.com/forums/topic/18677-glovebox-inscriptions-on-s30zs/ A couple of the images look broken (I'll fix those later) but if you click on them the image should load (it's just the thumbnail that is broken). It also wasn't just the glove boxes, but original radio's also got markings!

Hi Kats, Reproduction fuel tanks can be bought here. https://s30.world/

Does anyone know what happened to that car? I recall seeing those photos of it on this site at least 15 years ago. But no follow up on where it is now?

Not great photos, but AU market dealer fitted system on my 71.

I've been thinking about fitting aircon to all my S30z's. With the change in summer over here in Australia in the last 20 years. Summers in a Z on a hot 35-40 degree day it's just unbearable to drive. I want to have less excuses to not take my Z out and enjoy it. So for me fitting aircon is the way to go. Funny enough my 72 (red 240z) HS30 10552 had dealer option aircon at 1 point. But was since removed by a previous owner. I suspect when the dash was restored. My 71 240z HS30 01415 automatic still has the dealer aircon set up. Which I intend to upgrade the required components to have aircon it all working again. I'm very interested in the Fairlady Z-L aircon components and how difficult they are to source now?

.

I would love to put an S20 engine in my Safari Gold 240z. But I'm afraid of what it would cost to make it happen. I've seen long blocks advertised for as much as $80k AUD. That's before all the ancillaries and supporting parts required.

Yeah I love the "Gotti" style wheels, I would be tempted to get a set of those also.

Hi Kats, I'm still having trouble getting a full set together. I now have 3 narrow Kobe Seiko mag wheels and 1 wide wheel, so I need either 1 more wide and 1 more narrow. I did find a wide 1 on YAJ! But was outbid by someone on the East Coast of the US of A. I have a possible lead on another lot but haven't pursued then yet as I'm sure the asking price is outside my budget. So the M-speed ones will give me a complete set and require less special treatment.

Nice Kats, are they the M-speed wheels? I would like a set myself.

Maybe the ghost of Mr K. will change all the bumpers over on the docks once they arrive in North America to save the new Z and make it a guaranteed sales success? On a serious note, I actually liked the front end on the proto version (in yellow) but after seeing this orange car I think Nissan should make the orange car the standard look of the new Z.

Haha, I bought HS30 00150 in part because a friend of mine has HS30 00149 and I had seen the car a few years earlier for sale and thought gee, I'd like an early 240z in that colour! (920 Safari Gold). Im glad you got it Kats, it's a great colour combination. I bought HS30 01415 because it was 904 white and blue interior - which as you probably know is extremely rare for HS30 delivered cars. The new Z looks good in the orange. I like the brochure you posted photos of. I hope they make it a standard version (not a dealer tune up version). I think Alan is right with the early cars appreciating in value and the recent high profile 432-R sale and attention on the model it's likely to have inspired the design team). I am now hoping for a Safari Gold colour..

It's very Z432-R or PS30-SB inspired. I'm looking forward to seeing how the tuning scene takes to these cars. With twin turbos I'm expecting them to be quite a popular thing. Edit: just saw others reference the 432-R also. @katsI think your photos make me appreciate it more than another couple of earlier photos I saw. The only critique of this car I have is regarding the hip lines. Which seem to be able to be drawn back to the 350z. The original S30z is very svelte through the waistline, where as the 350z/370z are quite wide in that area. I am not sure if it's a constraint of modern cars or a design choice. But I also own an FD3S RX7 and I just feel the S30z and FD are so similar in design approach. Both have feminine lines, but at the same time are quite muscular. Perhaps I will feel different when I see the new Z in person but I think it's the 1 thing I would change if I was lead design at Nissan. I otherwise think it's a great to see Nissan finally start to embrace what was so special about the early cars after years of moving away from it.

I've done a few of these wheels now, first photos are of 1 I stained and used polyurethane to refinish the wooden rim. The flat black paint was too black, I may re-do it in future. Next wheel I used roll bar paint in a semi-gloss black and it looks much nicer and closer to the original wheel finish for the paint. On this wheel I used a more flat rather than gloss polyurethane finish but I prefer the "pop" of the wooden rim above. However the spokes look better. Here is another wheel with re-plated hardware. And here is 1 refinished by Romas (from Facebook). He used automotive clear coat to get the glossy rim, which I like. For comparison, here is a NOS in the box wheel. I took was confused by the "blonde" looking colour in brochures, but have decided over time they must get darker and I'm fine with that as I actually prefer the dark redish colour. And I quite like the gloss on the wheel and semi-gloss black on the rim and of course the re-plated hardware. Some day I'll refinish 1 of these "just right". ha.

Yes, the tip is a bit bigger than the OEM S30z version. It has a thread at the bottom for screwing it onto the mast but I haven't tried it to see if it's the right size. So it depends how fussy you are re: exact size.