Jim Frederick

Sorry Tom, I only made them for the 240z cars. I guess I could try to make them for 280z's but I'll need a good sample set. Do you know if all the 280z's years 75 thru 78 take the same set? Jim

Sorry, no website as this is just a hobby. Email me direct Jim240z@aol.com or call my office 813-949-3398 and I'll be happy to try and help you out. Thanks Jim

Happy New Years everyone. I actually offer an engine bay set and an under carriage set for 240z years 1969-1972. Each individual set is $55 shipped. Please email your year and production month to Jim240z@aol.com.

Pomorza, you are welcome to visit anytime. Tours are usually 2-3 hours or longer if you want providing you're not bored. The Tampa line is behind my back yard property line so I should be within 20 minutes drive from anywhere in Tampa area. Hey Bill, yes I receieved an invite from Bill Coffey and plan on bringing 3 cars as long as I round up 2 additional drivers. One of them has confirmed and waiting for the other. Should know this week. Looking forward in meeting you and seeing your Orange 72.

Ok by popular demand here is the newest version of Z Mecca you tube clip. Jim Osborn was nice enough to shoot a much higher resolution clip. Unfortunately the lighting was poor and interior shots are very difficult to view. Jim will do another clip at our club's Christmas party. I will have every car parked outside the garage so he can get much clearer interior shots.

Sorry Chris, sounds like I hit a nerve. Students should never respond to their teachers that way. I was invited to respond to Adam's question. My answer was not intended to make you look bad but to enhance your answer. As far as this "boy" sparring with you I wouldn't waste my time. With 26 years of hands on experience repairing, restoring, collecting, and owning over 50 240z cars I seriously doubt you could bruise me. Maybe a scratch but definitely no bruising this "Boy". That being said I am going to give my greenhorn student a chance to earn some extra credit to get that "A". Here's your question. Other than all the differences you, I, and the other guys have already discussed there are the five (5) additional differences. Can you name these five (5) differences and the production dates when the changes occurred? I'll give you a hint. Two (2) of them you can probably google and the other three (3) were pointed out by me to you at one of your Z Mecca visits. I believe you took pics as you normally do when you visit. Anyone following this thread if you know the answers please refrain from replying till Chris has a chance to respond. Sorry for the late reply but you know I don't have the free time to spend on this site.

Chris, you are almost right on this. Other than the decals there are actually 4 different series 1 air cleaners. The three that you mentioned plus the intruduction of the winter/summer flapper as I like to call it. The earliest were on the 1969 non emmission type Japanese Fairlady Z and Canadian Z models. The next were the US 1969 low vin number models with emmissions but lacking the fuel vent tube. The 3rd were on the vins starting in Jan 70 thru July/Aug with the emmissions and fuel vent tube and then finally the winter/summer flapper which went from Aug 70 thru series 2 1972 cars until the 73 flat tops were introduced. We did have however a few exceptions. Cars that were stamped with post 69 production dates but were actually 69 cars had the first or second type air cleaner depending if they were a US or Canadian car. These were the cars that had problems along the assembly line, got pushed aside, and then finished at a later date between Jan and Feb of 70. Anyway, I guess I'll give the greenhorn z guru a B+ on that answer. , just kidding Chris. I just couldn't resist but its good to keep the head judge up to speed just in case a point is deducted in error at a National convention.

Wow! Great looking car show on a day you fellas finally had some sunshine. I'm glad you didn't get rained out and had a nice day. All the cars look great. I recognize Jeff's lime VZ and also the silver 1972. I believe it belongs to Ken Lewis if my feeble mind is correct. That car was here in Plant City, FL and I kept it fine tuned for the 2nd owner for 10+ years until Ken flew down to buy it and drive it back. Anyway, great show. I'll have to make it a point to attend some of these New England car shows as there are many fine examples to admire. Jim Frederick Z Mecca, FL

Hey Brian I have a very nice one and I'm in Lutz just north of Tampa. You can call my office 813-949-3398 or email me Jim240z@aol.com. Jim

I wished I knew you were looking for these, I have 1 new set(both hand throttle and matching choke knobs) and one used set all original equipment off two hand throttle assemblies that I have which by the way are both for sale. I don't care for the later square knobs that Nissan sells now. I think the early round knobs are much nicer and more original. If anyone is interested in either the knobs or the hand throttle assembly shoot me an email Jim240z@aol.com.

Unkle, I too can appreciate your point. I also have original equipment on my cars but a few of my low vin cars either has the piece missing or the original piece is too far gone to restore. I would not break down like other restorers and replace with another part from a different year even though the judges allows this. For example a 1972 dash is allowed on a series 1 car because you can't buy a new series 1 dash or the hood bumpers from a 1971 to 1978 car is ok because you can't get the early style or a non red dot mirror is ok because again you cannot buy it new. For my cars this was totally unacceptable. The pieces I had contracted out for reproduction were all new pieces I had in stock. Each piece made is of the highest quality and an exact OEM match. No one can tell the difference, they are that good. As far as Chris's comment about the gas lid knob I don't understand what he is saying. The knobs are an exact 100% OEM match cast from a brand new OEM knob. (Bryan spent close to a year perfecting this part.)The base plates are separate from the knob as it is a 2 piece part. The knobs I had reproduced will fit any pot metal knob.

ok guys, anyone interested in new hand throttle knobs, new early style plastic gas lid knobs, and new red dot mirror knobs I will bring a few to Amelia Island. Bryan stopped by my place tonight and dropped some off. Jim Frederick Z Mecca, FL

Yeah I made the big time, I'm up to 23 posts now. So you think I need to do episodes? Like a reality tv series? . How about an episode on restoring a car step by step? Or one of our Hooter luncheons? Can you say "Twins"?

Thank you so much for the kind words. I was very lucky to pick up a few from Randy. He did have some very nice cars in his collection.

No problem, try to make it down next year. I will be at Amelia Island next week. Hopefully we can hook up.

Yes my garage is larger than my house by 50 sq ft. I do drive them all occassionally to keep them all in perfect running condition. They are all insured thru Hagerty. The bill is not too bad, less than 5k a year for the entire fleet. The garage was put up in late 98 or 99 I believe. It weathered all teh hurricanes. Hurricane Jeanine put a mature oak tree on top of it. No real damage happy to report but it was a close call. Jim Osborn has I believe 6 z cars. He has a 70 or 71 race car named Z Devil. He is a memeber here under that name I believe. Please feel free to come down for a visit and tour. Everyone is welcome to come down. Just shoot me or Carl an email as he is only about 30 minutes away.

Yes, you are right. I don't have alot of time to visit this great site. Taking care of 20 cars, running an insurance agency, and taking care of a 2 1/2 acre property doesn't leave me much free time. I guess I could sacrifice visits to my local Hooters but I like it too much so I think I'll stick with Hooters. I spoke with Jim Osborn about doing another clip in high resolution and a more thorough clip of all the cars. He said he would do it when he makes another trip over here. We will be sure to post it here when its done.

A very good friend of mine Jim Osborn (Z Devil) from Delray Beach took this clip after our Christmas party last year. Since I get a lot of requests to update my pics on my page I thought I would post this for everyone to view and hopefully enjoy.

Carl is absolutely right that Rick's car is a bargain at $12500. One would spend almost twice this amount if done in todays dollars plus the time one would save doing it. Rick's has invested a lot of time and money in new parts to make this car as perfect as possible. This car needs nothing except a good home and will definitley make the next owner happy and proud.

All my low vin cars came with the rubber mats but only the rear deck mats survived. The other mats were tossed once replacement carpeting installed. I looked into reproducing the mat but could not match original grain. If you can match it up I would be interested in a few complete sets less the hatch area.

Hey Arne, I have to say that my theory is pretty conclusive as I have an original car that sat covered in the air conditioned enviroment of CA all its life with only 16k miles that was not driven since 1973. Granted its a 1972 car and not a 1970 car but still it's as brand spanking new as it gets. As far as the judging goes I have volanteered to be a judge in the past, met and been briefed by the chief judges and judging rules and I have never receieved any type of specs or rules of what is OEM correct for the 240z especially for series 1 cars. I really found this quite disturbing and think there should be some type of guildelines set so we can all try to get our cars done correctly and on the same playing field. As far as Les's paint I have its say its a perfect match for the D hubcaps but for the grill and finishing panel I believe it's not and have asked him how he determined that was the correct color and he told me that he based it on the D hub cap only and not on that grill or finishing panel.

I can't agree with that. Can you honestly say that this car has been in the same position ( in the shade ) all its life? I have to conclude after 30 plus years driving the 240z that the heat of the exhaust fumes will definitely discolor the finishing panel and tailight assembly. I can't tell you how much black soot I clean up off those two parts on my cars when I wash and wax them. Its totally amazing.

This could be true. I'd love to hear what you find out.

Hey Gary, I haven't updated pics in years. Our local club memebers have been on me about that. Here is the link to my page from our club's website which shows a few of the cars. http://www.suncoastzcarclub.homestead.com/clubcarz_jimfrederick.html I'll try to get some posted especially Vin # 52 which is now under full restoration and is in the reassembly phase.

McKrack, You are correct that the hubcaps, grill, and 3 piece finshing panel are different colors but this only applies to the early cars with D hubcaps notably 69 thru 71 cars. The lighter color of the Z hubcaps on 72 thru 78 cars are identical to the grill and finishing panel. The paint Les sells is the correct color match for the D hubcaps but not for the other pieces including 72 thru 78 hubcaps. I have debated this for years with other z car restorers and Carl Beck who also aggrees with me. We have compared new OEM grills and new OEM finishing panels with a new OEM D hubcap. I have also compared Les's paint and it indeed matches my new OEM D hubcap. I have also compared these new OEM pieces with my 1971 Vintage Z car restored by Pierre and a 1972 240z with 16k original miles that 99% of the miles were put on the car in 1972. The owner's wife who was the principle driver of the car died in 1973 and surviving spouse could not part with the car. This car was from Thousand Oaks, CA and was always garaged. When I purchased this car a few years ago its condition was as new and fresh as the day it left the showroom in 1972. It was truly a time capsule car. I am convinced 100% that these colors are correct.