Mike B

I would at least get rid of the stuff that is not correct, like the aftermarket carpet on the transmission tunnel, kick panels, and rear shock towers. I'm not sure how original the paint is. The hood is not original and the paint on the underside is peeling off in sheets. Besides the black rocker paint that Johnny'O noted, the rear hatch ledge and taillight surrounds are also painted black. There are also rust holes in the lower fenders on both sides. It might just be better to fix the rust and repaint the entire car. There are other things that could be fixed pretty easily, like adding correct reproduction red dot mirror knob, throttle control knob, and shift boot. The radio and early grey plastic faceplate are also missing. I would take the originals out of the owners other car (#171). -Mike

Hi Kats, I'm not sure if I posted about this before, but last year when I bought HLS30-00210 I found that it had a solid cast hood emblem (along with solid cast 240Z quarter emblems and a solid cast rear deck Datsun emblem). The rear deck 240Z and fender Datsun emblems were hollow cast though. This is the only solid hood emblem I have seen before. HLS30-00032 came with all of its original metal emblems too, but its hood emblem was hollow cast. -Mike

So, how do they start it with no starter? Do they have a big hand crank that they use? Must have been one of the changes they made early on . -Mike

Hey Will, how is the reproduction part business going? The last post was almost a year ago. -Mike

Alan, that seems to be the case with the reproduction OK stickers as well. My original looks much darker than both the one sold by Banzai Motorsports and the seller on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240Z-260Z-280Z-510-OK-Decal_W0QQitemZ380158788519QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item58833ac3a7&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245. Funny that the ebay seller says "Unlike the ones sold in U.S., this one has bright red as original one". See comparision pics below. My original is first, second is the DE-09 from Banzai and third is the one for sale on ebay. I attached a picture of mine below. As you can see, it is in Romaji. -Mike

If you don't mind the $250 price, here are some made-in-japan authentic looking reproductions http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35664 -Mike

Safari gold is Datsun code 920 and it is the same for all 1970-71 cars. Another member TVollnogle had this same issue recently. I know he had to work with his painter to get the right color match, but I'm not sure what the solution was. Send him a PM in case he doesn't see this. -Mike

Banzai Motorsports has reproductions of the P-2 decals for $3 each (DE-16) http://www.zzxdatsun.com/catDecals.php. I believe they indicated the engine had been inspected and they were placed on the front of the valve cover. -Mike

Chris, It looks like an eBay seller in Japan is selling the blue and white decal you have http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-FUEL-CAUTION-Decal-DATSUN-1200-240-Z-K-RS-S-13-110_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem33556fffdeQQitemZ220476735454QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories. The seller calls it a "JDM Fuel Caution" decal. Here is the info from his ad: ITEM Description FUEL CAUTION Window Decal. (Sticker) NEW, NIPPON NISSAN GENUINE PARTS co.,ltd. Application vehicles. Datsun 1200 (7001 - 7305) Datsun 1200 ute (7510 - 9403) Datsun 1000 (6604 - 7001) Datsun 120Y, B210 (7305 - 7710) Datsun E10 (7010 - 7409) Datsun Roadster (6710 - 6910) Datsun 240/260Z (6910 - 7807) Features. As for the vehicle of JDM, this FUEL CAUTION sticker is put on the window. Maybe, When you build the JDM-Datsun version, it is valuable. The Japanese text is written as "MUEN" recommendation. MUEN is meaning same Unleaded. Decal/sticker put it from window inside. (room side) *SIZE 45.0-72.0 millimeters. (about 1.77-2.83 inches.)

Here you go http://www.suncoastzcarclub.com/files/Memberz/JimFrederick/240Z_1972_paulnewman/Newman.htm I agree with sblake01 though, unless a car was personalized specifically for someone by the factory and has documentation of it, it doesn't do much for me. -Mike

Maybe you could just take a picture of the OK sticker instead of scanning it? Is that a reproduction or an original? I wonder what the blue/white sticker is for? I noticed that my HLS30-00210 has what looks to be the remnants of the P-2 decal on the front of the valve cover. -Mike

Thanks for the pictures and information guys. Arne, does your original also say "O L" on it like the reproduction? I was curious if that might be some kind of date code. I notice that mine says "2 E" on it, and since my car is a 5/72 production date I wonder if the 2 is for 1972 and the E is for May? If anyone has a decal similar to mine or an original on a 72 or 73 car I would be interested in seeing it. I am pretty sure the one on my car is original, since the car only had 37,000 miles when I got it and all of the other decals are original. Dan, my decal is also oriented so it can be read from the front of the car looking towards the back. -Mike

Here is photo of the "Nissan Styling Center" from another brochure I have dated 8/71. -Mike

What should the small radiator decal in front of the upper radiator hose look like on a US 1970 240z? Banzai Motorworks has two reproductions, one supposedly for 1970-74 and one for 1975-83 (see the first picture below). I bought a couple of the 1970-74 Banzai reproductions (part #DE-10), but they don't look like the original on my 5/72 car (see picture #2). I also checked the 11/69 FSM (picture #3), and it has a decal that looks more like the Banzai DE10, although this radiator doesn't have a fan shroud either, so maybe its different than what made it to production? Does anyone have pictures of an original decal from their car? -Mike

That's an interesting perspective Ron. My thoughts are that the HLS30 model we received in North America was designed as a mid-level 'value' model. It was somewhere between the base Fairlady Z model and the more highly optioned Fairlady ZL model. If you look at all of the Datsun advertising in US in the late 60's it stresses the value of the cars with 'no extra cost' features at an economy price. I think they were trying to include the 'right mix' of options that would satisfy customers, but not increase the price so much that it was no longer a great value. It seems Nissan was working right up until the introduction of the car to finalize what the right mix of options and cost would be. If you look at the 1969 US 240Z brochure it notes that a 5 speed was standard, and shows the engine with triple solex carbs, but they were both dropped prior to production. It also doesn't list carpet as std equipment, only a "trunk floor mat". According to the original carpet supplier for US cars, Nissan initially planned to sell the cars with only rubber mats (standard in the Fairlady Z) but changed their minds after they got feedback from select dealers that were shown a protype. The early HLS30 cars also came with clear glass instead of tinted glass, but that was also changed after a couple of months production. Since JDM model cars had the ability to include these options from the beginning, I think part inventories could have been adjusted as needed. Especially since volume was pretty low initially, with only about 500 HLS30s produced in 1969. -Mike

You should still be able to get them from Z Club of Texas. Contact them at zcotboutique@aol.com. I got one about a year and a half ago for $10 plus $4.60 shipping. -Mike

Actually, that is not true. Nissan had thought of it, and the JDM Fairlady ZL models came with heated rear glass from the beginning of production (1969). Apparently Nissan initially thought that it wasn't necessary for cars exported to the North American market, but that changed after only a couple months. -Mike

The US general public via the media. Companies frequently issue these types of releases in an attempt to get media coverage for something they would like to publicize. Datsun was working hard to grow market share in the US in the late 60's. Their ad campaign at the time was "try a Datsun and then decide". I think the purpose was to highlight the fact that Nissan had its own design center and designers, some of whom were trained at the prestigious Art Center School where Peter Brock and other top US designers also attended. I don't think there was any attempt to protect the Japanese people from some type of dishonor. As the release indicates, the designers considered the entire overseas market and designed vehicles for the world market. So you think this may have been a disinformation campaign by Nissan to make their designers look more competent than they really were? That seems a bit of a conspiracy theory to me. -Mike

It looks like the low VINs are coming out of the wood work now. I've seen this car listed several times on ebay and the seller is always vague about the VIN, which would definitely concern me. It shouldn't be a secret to someone considering bidding on the car. This car is a mess and no way it is worth the $2000 starting bid in my opinion. Look at the rot on the frame for starters and it doesn't get any better from there. -Mike

There is a lot of information on this site about dropping, cleaning and coating a gas tank. Here is one thread I found with a quick search that outlines how to drop it. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34033. Here is another about treating it with POR15 http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19034 -Mike

I'm going to have to agree with Chris and Alan on this one. What started out on the CTZCC site as a thread related to finding an early car has morphed into a one sided conversation between a group of like minded individuals that don't want to hear anything that doesn't fit into their narrow views. It is really disappointing to me that Frank T (supposedly a 'Moderator') makes comments like the ones Alan highlighted above and then posts the following: "An extensive [and informative] response has been deleted from this space, since it was worded in caustic and abrasive manner, which violates the respectful nature of this Website. ...Please maintain common courtesy in all forums of this website)." "Personal attacks and insults will not be permitted on this Club's website." You can make the case that this thread has gotten off topic, but don't almost all threads deviate somewhat? I think it all relates to the discussion of the relative significance of HLS30-00013 and I was glad to at least be able to read Alan's reply to the CTZCC comments, since they were censored over there. I think Chris nailed it with this comment "My recomendation is go to the (CTZCC) site for the pictures and ignore the conversation for any historical value." -Mike

I agree with Ron, that the tunnel vinyl looks like it was painted black and the black paint has worn away next to the gas pedal. I don't think that is body paint. That would be one place to check. If the tunnel vinyl was painted, the remaining vinyl, headliner, and plastic interior panels may have been painted black as well. Yes, I noted in my first post that the door panels are not correct for a 240Z. -Mike

Good eye Ron. I was wondering what Bonzi saw that identified it as originally having a blue interior. No bids on it yet. If the original engine has been replaced it will take a big hit to its value. It would be nice to see more pictures including the engine bay and common rust areas too. -Mike

Ron, I think Unkle realized after his first post that there was already another thread about the car I had started a few days ago http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35743 -Mike

I have no connection to the seller. Here is the link to the ad http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130329022162&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#v4-38. It is a 11/69 production car. Unfortunately, it sounds like the original engine has been replaced. Seats, door panels and radio are not original. Looks like it was originally 903 blue -Mike