Mike B

What do you need "ammo" for?

I've got a couple of sets I don't need. I'll send you a PM. -Mike

Yeah, I'm sure Unkle will try to pin that on US territorial expansion plans, but the Service Bulletin was printed in Japan. Honest! -Mike

Dan and Ron, According to Service Bulletin 125 (Introduction of Datsun 240Z Sports Model S30 Series), Ontario received the HLS30U model, which had the crankcase and exhaust emissions control devices, but not the evaporative emissions equipment (no expansion tank, different fuel tank, etc.). This is the same model as the low VIN cars in the US. The rest of Canada got the HLS30UN, which didn't have any of the emissions equipment. Later 1970 model US cars were the HLS30UV model with all of the emissions equipment, including the evaporative emissions equipment. -Mike

Thanks for the additional information Alan. I thought I had heard that those seats were made by an office chair manufacturer before, but I am glad you can confirm that. They definitely have that look. Sorry about the headlight brand typo, I went back and updated my post. What do you make of the hood? Have you even seen one like that before? Its too bad that the hood was closed. I would have been interested to see what the engine bay looked like. I noticed the missing shift knob, but I wondered if the museum might have just removed it for some reason? I also noticed that there is no rear exhaust. I wonder why that was removed. I wouldn't think they would have run it like that. Here is another shot of the steering wheel. It was interesting to hear more information about it. I wasn't sure what to make of the clear glass. I was surprised that it was actual glass all around and not plexiglass as I was expecting. It must have been a requirement for the production class they ran the car in to have glass, but I can't see the benefit to switching out the tinted glass for clear, if that is what happened. -Mike

Here is an old Datsun dealership used car sign that was on ebay recently. It was only posted for a couple of days and then the auction ended early, so I think someone worked out a deal to buy it directly from the seller. I believe the auction was only for one side, but it looks like he had the other side too. -Mike

Here are a few more pictures. It looks like the gas tank is also the non-emissions version without the vapor tank. I noticed a few errors on the display sign (year this car set the record, driver, speed), so I sent an email to the Lane that pointed them out and included a scan of the newsletter to support the needed changes. The display sign even incorrectly noted that production of the 1st gen of Zcars (S30s) ran from 1969 through 1979 (instead of 1978). -Mike

The VIN on this car is HLS30-05834, which would make it a June 1970 production car. The interior is in near perfect condition, with an uncracked dash, and perfect door panels, vinyl, console, etc. The odometer shows 2329 miles and I wonder if that might be the total miles on the car, based on how nice the interior is. Eiji and I had a close look at the g-nose and it looks to be original. I think those might be the same seats used in the Z432-R. Maybe Alan or Kats can comment on that. It was interesting how the driver’s seatback and headrest were mounted to the roll bar. Even the upper portion of the rear deck carpet and all the plastic interior panels were left in the car. I was most surprised that all of the glass in the car is the clear glass used on the very early North American cars and the base Fairlady Z. The hatch glass has no defroster. I wouldn’t expect to see those things on a June car, since US cars had tinted glass after the first couple of hundred cars and the rear defroster was also added by Jan 1970 I believe. The car even has the original Koito headlights behind the G-nose headlight covers. -Mike

One of the activities at Zcon this year was a trip to the Lane Museum. Apparently they regularly have cars from Nissan North America's collection on display. The only Datsun currently on display, and the most interesting car to me, was the 1970 240Z that set the F/GT production class land speed record at Bonneville in 1976. Beginning in 1974 a small group of Nissan USA employees built a Datsun B-210 that set the I production class record. Then in 1975 they built a 280Z 2+2 that set both the F and G production records. This was all done in their spare time using Nissan parts and surplus vehicles that were scheduled to be scrapped by Nissan. A couple of months ago I won an ebay auction for one of the original Moon wheel covers used on the Bonneville cars, a plaque presented to D. Roberts in 1975 as part of the 280Z 2+2 team (he was head of the Nissan Comp Department at the time), a group photo of the B-210 team in front of the old Nissan USA headquarters building, and a Nissan USA employee newsletter almost completely devoted to coverage of the Bonneville cars.

At the Zcon this year Eiji relayed a story that Mr. Matsuo had told him about the hatch hinges. This is coming third hand from me, so take it for what its worth. Apparently Nissan Shatai was supposed to design the hatch hinges, and their plan was to make the hinges exposed on the interior of the car. Mr. Matsuo saw the design and told them it wouldn't be acceptable, but Nissan Shatai said it was the only way they could do it. Mr. Matsuo sketched out the design that ended up being used, where the hinges recess into pockets in the roof. When the engineers at Nissan Shatai saw his design they were really impressed. Eiji also mentioned that Mr. Matsuo preferred the front end treatment that North American market cars received, with the bumper guards and the slat grill (instead of the JDM style mesh grill). He also preferred the look of the stock front end over the g-nose. Hopefully I got that all correct. If not maybe Eiji will see this and he can jump in. I wish I had more time to talk with Mr. Matsuo with Eiji translating. -Mike

Hi Rick, It was good talking to you and getting a chance to see your car in person at the Zcon this year. I believe the Clifford header is the same as the Datsun Comp header mentioned by Conedodger in post #2 above. Here is an old thread that discusses them http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32243. I have one myself and I'll probably use it on one of my cars eventually. I don't think they are available new anymore, but they come up on ebay periodically. That's were I found mine. -Mike

You still have time Arne. I'm sure there are flights leaving tonight or early tomorrow am . -Mike

It looks to me like they are both stamped D606-52, which is the Hitachi model number for the Euro distributor. -Mike

Alan, is this a photo of a protype Fairlady Z at the Nissan Chuo Kenkyujo wind tunnel? I assume it is a protype since there doesn't appear to be any badges on the hood or fenders. -Mike

No need to post the same question twice in two different areas. As V12horse noted above, the duplicolor graphite is a close match (although I believe it is actually HWP102, not HWC102). -Mike

Me too. We arrive about 6pm and will be staying at the Hilton. -Mike

Reading the comments from the clueless muscle car crowd is the most entertaining part of the BaT post http://bringatrailer.com/2010/07/27/factory-two-cammer-1970-datsun-fairlady-z432/. This one is my favorite so far: "I didn’t know the 6-cyl. was an option on Fairladys (or is it Fairladies…)". Then after someone points out all S30s had 6 cylinders he says "Typing w/out enough caffeine early this a.m. meant twin cam. I think i was blinded by the Webers…" :stupid: -Mike

Try searching for "MSA discount" http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34243&highlight=msa+discount -Mike

I re-read an old issue of "Zcar and Classic Datsun" magazine recently (Sept/Oct 1998) where they were building an ITS car. It noted that the 70-71 Z's have a flywheel that weighs 17-18 lbs and the ones in later years weigh 22-24 lbs. Probably not the lightest one out there, but it should be pretty easy to find one cheap. -Mike

It was probably shipped home by a military member that was stationed overseas. I was never stationed outside the US, but I was stationed in Hawaii and they paid to ship one vehicle there and one back. I think the same thing applies for those outside the US. I'm not sure how many Fairladys of various years were shipped back, but I would guess it was not that uncommon. Since the cars were pretty inexpensive and getting parts for them in the US can be difficult, it is not surprising that many of the ones left are in pretty rough condition. There are some nice ones still around though. There was a nice maroon g-nose S30 on display in the lobby of the hotel at last years Zcon. -Mike

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/SBC1C02/30-7291 -Mike

That same car was auctioned three times by Mecum last year and supposedly sold for about $15k two times and didn't meet the reserve the other time. There were a couple of threads about the car. Here is one http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35241. Here are the photos and description from the Mecum site from the latest "sale" http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=IA0710-96136. HIGHLIGHTS - 19,000 actual miles - 90% Original Silver paint - All original interior - All original engine compartment - Underside like new with original exhaust - New tires - Registrations back to 1974 - Original keys - This is a museum quality vehicle - Runs and drives like new -Mike

I printed the ads and then scanned them if any one is interested. -Mike

Here you go http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35247. -Mike

There are some pictures of my non-emissions tank from HLS30-00210 in this old post if that helps http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showpost.php?p=288184&postcount=32. -Mike