jayhawk

You reminded me that it was 11 months on THIS vintage flat top IN 1972 that allowed me to save enough to buy the Z in 1973: USS Kitty Hawk, CVA63, Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Philipines, 1972

Bridgestone Turanzas are available at the Tire Rack, but not in any 14" sizes and not in any 195/70 sizes either. Tire Rack does carry a 175HR14 88H tire, the Vredestein Sprint Classic, but in my quest for authenticity, I wanted a Japanese tire for a Japanese car. Coker tire also has the Vredesteins, plus Michelien XAS tires, for 14' rims, but again, still German tires on a Japanese car... Tire Rack does have lots of choices in 195/70 14 sizes and larger.

The original tires size on all 240Zs is 175 SR 14. I still have my original spare Bridgestone RD150 in my '73 in that size . I believe that was the most common tire fitted although I've seen some reports that Toyo tires were fitted on some. That tire size translates to a 175/80 14 tire size today. When I went looking for Bridgestones in that size for the restoration to stock condition of my car, (see the thread "We're Bringin' Back the Flattops" on classiczcars.com) I discovered that Bridgestone no longer sells that size in the US. I think there may be some manufactures that sell that size in the US, but not from any Japanese brand. HOWEVER, Bridgestone does sell that size in Australia and Europe. (Bridgestone B330 Evo 175/80 S 14s) I found a seller on the UK eBay site that would ship them (from France!) and now have them fitted to my car. About $125 each, including shipping.

Love it! If Supercuts cannot do this for me, I can fall back on this: https://www.amazon.com/MyPartyShirt-MPS-13817-S-MC-Poser-Wig/dp/B018GM6HP0/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=vanilla+ice+wig&qid=1564099622&s=gateway&sr=8-2

I tried to get Motorman7 to install a carbon fiber cup holder for just that purpose, but he just laughed... ?

Motorman7 is more than a Datsun expert, he is the Fountain of Youth, who made me 24 years old again! (with key work by Datsun paint expert Miguel). I am incredibly grateful to him for enabling me to recreate that wonderful feeling getting a brand new 240Z - the car I knew even in 1973 that I would keep forever. This is not a car to be sold, but to be enjoyed and driven. Although we will try to show it off for a while, so everyone can see how a heavily used Z can be made new again by a knowledgeable and dedicated lover of Datsuns. Thanks Motorman7! Now for a road trip!

Yeaaaaa! the radio works!!!! (Oh, yeah, and that other stuff too...:-)

My car (the subject of this thread) was mfg'd 10/72, although the V3, kit which I recall included the fuel line insulation and the electric fuel pump, was not installed until July '74. (after returning from an 8 month Navy deployment). If the "lip" was part of the V3 kit, I never realized that. But I do not know when else that would have been installed. I just found the work order where the V3 kit was installed, although it has no details about what was in the V3 kit:

Oops. *I* just went searching in junkyards for Kioto headlights. Unsuccessfully. It was for a friend, though... ?

A photo of the Z from 1973 showing the steering wheel: I did not really like the "feel" of the bare steering wheel, so in 1974 or 1975 I installed a black wheel cover for a better grip. Always had a wheel cover on from then until Motorman7 took it off last year. (I believe I replaced it once during the time I had it.) So for 44 years, it had that black cover on the steering wheel. (and 170,000+ miles). That and heat during its outdoor storage period might explain why it was "dark" for Motorman7. photo from arrival at Motorman7 (the interior is looking better now...:-):

My '73 also had the pointy tip. (I've also seen it called the "acorn" or "bullet" tip). I had a slide of my '73 from a couple of weeks after I bought it (new, in April of '73), and I recently cropped and zoomed to see what the shape was. Its a little hard to see, but it looks like the acorn/pointy tip to me: blown up from this photo taken late April, 1973:

Just read the rules, and it states in Section II A (Stock Class): "Any dealer preparation shall be limited to removal of protective shipping coatings / coverings and installation of components shipped with the car in protective coverings." So probably does not need to be in cardboard boxes in the rear. But that would be great if someone actually had those original boxes and displayed the car that way.

No 240Zs in the US came from the factory with stereo radios, only mono, so that was why they only had a single speaker. (but 72 and ‘73s did get AM AND FM mono radios - whoopee!). As best as I can determine, 1978 280Zs were the first to get a stereo radio from the factory (In the US anyway) However, according to a UK poster in this thread, some other countries had a factory option for stereo radios in their 240Zs, which would explain the unused speaker mount and perforations in our US spec 240Zs .

If it helps, here are photos of the steering wheel and interior from a 1971/1972 brochure: The cover of the brochure, for reference:

News to me that I'm "pretty tall" Maybe 5'10" on really good days. Are you sure you are not confusing width for height? But risers "out" on the driver's seat works for me - unless I shrink... That interior is looking so bright! I originally wanted a blue Z with a black interior, sure glad now I got the white. Probably cooler also, since we are going original with no air conditioning. Will have to make future summer driving with a cooler full of ice in the back. A bag of ice on the arm rest really helps too. (Ask me how I know...:-) Looking so good! Thanks!

Pardon the ignorance of a Flat Top owner (actually they are also SU carbs. SU HIF designs) but did the round top carbs have any heat shields?

Answering for Motorman7: Carl, it is an NOS core that I purchased either in 1988 (when the heater started leaking) or about 2007 when I was acquiring some parts for the restoration (that I was contemplating doing myself, but never got to it.) Sorry, not a recent acquisition from a secret supply... ? --Bob (aka Jayhawk)

This would be fun too: Or if I had a three car garage:

What I wish I had in my garage...

@240Z73, Since you are in N. California (apparently) you might look into the new event, the Golden Week Kyusha festival that is a gathering of classic Japanese cars on May 4th in Richmond. I know one ZONC member is planning on taking his Z (that Motorman restored last year). I'd be there as a spectator, but have other commitments...:-( The Neillo auto dealer group is sponsoring some weekday evening events this summer around the Sacramento area called Concours Reduno that look a little less intimidating than standard Concours events: http://theconcours.net/concours-raduno.html. There are a number of Concours events in N. California this summer that look like a little more Japanese car friendly. Concours in Danville, Hillsborough, Chico and Murphys, etc. The Ironstone Concours d'Elegance in Murphys (September 22nd http://www.ironstoneconcours.org/) has a category just for Amphicars! That has to be a fun event. I'm planning on keeping my car in southern California this summer (except for the trip to Branson) so Motorman7 can have his handiwork displayed at events closer to him. Then will bring it north in the fall and start driving it to events in N. California next year.

I agree. Motorman ought to raise his rates.... AFTER he gets done with this car! <grin>

More than just a brand new 1973 Z, I'm counting on it being my Fountain of Youth. It will make me 24 years old again! (No pressure, Motorman...:-)

Your RLS 260Z was made for Europe (maybe Japan). They made 260Zs with the Hitachi SU-HIF Flat Top carbs for Europe until 1978. Per Wikipedi: " Continuing through the 1975–1978 model years, other non-US markets still received the 260Z coupé and the 260Z 2+2 hatchback..." Do you still have the Flat Tops?

This car is certainly heavily modified, but not "ratted out". It does show how popular the early Zs have been for modification, even extreme modification. I'm really a advocate for pure stock, but kind of have to admire this one! (from a 2003 N. California event)