I think i have a Black Pearl

[Datsun-Fever]

Hey guys, the color code on my car matches the black pearls, and it HAD the same pinstripes! i got it for $450, Not bad huh? so how rare are they? i want to put a l28ET in my car later, and some other performence parts but i dont want to deface it if its really rare. Im of course going to repaint it pearl black though.

[Bambikiller240]

The only way it will stay a Black Pearl 280Z is if you change NOTHING, and restore what is currently missing from your car that was part of the Black Pearl package from Nissan.

Change the engine (or anything else), or fail to restore what is currently missing and all you have is a modified 280Z.

[sblake01]

Take a look at this attachment. The only other option I've ever seen on them is the factory alloy rims like in my avitar:

[Datsun-Fever]

I can get EVERYTHING OEM, but the pinstriping is all gone! if i get the paint exactly black pearl and i get a custom pinstriping to the exact original, will it be a BP? how rare are they exactly?

[v12horse]

According to Zhome.com there were only 1200-1500 made. So, it is pretty rare. Be proud and restore it to oem specs. If you install the factory alloy wheels that Stephen has on his car, it would give the car an awesome oem/enthusiast look. Look at the auction of the black pearl that I posted in the other thread to see exactly what it would look like. Congrats to you on having a "Black Pearl."

Ben

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by Datsun-Fever

I can get EVERYTHING OEM, but the pinstriping is all gone! if i get the paint exactly black pearl and i get a custom pinstriping to the exact original, will it be a BP? how rare are they exactly?

From the attachment posted by Stephen, it looks like the pinstriping is a decal or vinyl stripe kit. Maybe they are still available from Nissan.

In order to maintain the value of the car as a "Black Pearl" edition 280Z, the paint will need to be the exact OEM color, AND exact type of paint (Enamel, or whatever), and the exact stripe kit would need to be on the car. Just painting on replicas of the stripes isn't going to do it. You would also need to have the exact Racing Mirrors supplied by Nissan, and the exact same Rear Sunshade. The important word here is EXACT. Anything less makes the car a replica at best.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but in the collector car world, this is what is expected, and it is why so few of these cars survive today, and why they are more valuable than a regular 280Z.

[sblake01]

Mike, could you post some pictures of the car? What kind of shape is it in? Does it have the mirrors, louvers, etc? I believe that part number in the attachment is for the stripe kit. I ran that number on the Nismo parts site and it superseded to another number which usually means its available. Check the site and email them and ask whats in the kit. I find it hard to belive it's under $70 like it says. http://www.nismoparts.com

[Datsun-Fever]

I have the sunshade and the mirrors, sorry man but i dont have a digital camera, never had the use for one but i think i can get my dads some time soon. Sorry, i dont know much about pinstriping, i thought it was paint. Thanks alot guys, im going to E-mail that site. I read that another way to check if i have a BP is that the color code on the radiator is 638? is this correct? because my number is indeed 638.

[Datsun-Fever]

This is actually very agrivating! i cant really afford a full oem restoration.....and i really wanted a Turbocharged 280Z......I think a Turbocharged Black Pearl would be cool, but i guess that would make it a normal plain old 280Z.

[v12horse]

Well, it is your car. Don't let someone tell you that you can't do what you want to do to it. You can still modify it and be able to put it back to oem later on if that is your choice. It would be cool if cosmetically it would be dead stock BP, and there was a turbo under the hood, but if you change out the engine, keep the old block for if you want to make it oem when you do get the money later on. Any restoration is going to be expensive, and if you are going to go with an L28et, I think it would be more than restoring the stock L28. Good luck, and no matter what people say, no matter how you mod it, your car IS a Black Pearl.

-Ben

[Datsun-Fever]

Thanks alot man, thats just what i was thinking, ill keep the stock l28 around.

[lordbiotree]

The only way a turbo would be cost effective is if your doing all the work your self.

The paint job alone (what ever color you chose) will be around 3K. A used turbo with computer is around 500-800. Add another 500 it have a shot install it. then look at the rust problems. This car better have absolutely no cancer if your planning on running a 300-400HP setup.

Then you are going to have drive train problems. The stock 280Z 5-speed cant handle much over 300HP. You'll going to need a T-5 tranny.

-Brandon