Looking at my friends all original 05/71 Z, and another friends original low mileage stored and babied early 240Z cars, a set of new, never (ok, out a few times) out of the box hubcaps and then my own, used for the past 35 year old hubcaps and the various shades of rear panels, I have formed the opinion that the original paint used fades to a lighter color over time, and that is why we have these descrepancies. I have seen orignal paint cars where the rear area is the darker color that seems to match the original hubcaps as well as lighter rear panels that are a better match to my well used, original hubcaps.

Anyways, "that my (theory) and I'm stickin to it" :classic:

Here's my latest thoughts:

All inspection and evidence indicates that my red car's finishers have never been refinished.

There is an obvious difference in color on my car from left to right. Close inspection now leads me to believe that my car suffers from both sun fading (primarily on the right side) and exhaust discoloration (obviously on the left side). The symptoms are that the left side is darker and gradually fades to lighter as you go right. On the left, the darker color is not just on the face, but also extends to the top surface where the plastic rivets attach it to the body. This would be consistent with exhaust discoloration, as the exhaust could easily get up there as well.

But on the much lighter right side of the car, the same top flange where the rivets go is darker than the visible surface. Not quite as dark as the exhaust stained left side, but close. I attribute this to the inability of the sunlight to get to this area.

The color/shade of protected area on the right finisher is indistinguishable to my eyes to that of my near-NOS 'D' hubcaps (which came from a car built around 4 or 5/71).

Numerous people have stated that the paint from CDM is absolutely correct for the 'D' hubcaps.

Which brings me back to the conclusion that - for my 7/71 car at least - the color/shade of the finishers (and presumably the grill as well) is either the same as the 'D' hubcaps or so close as to be indistinguishable. So in my case, the paint offered by Les at CDM is either correct, or so close as to not matter. This may or may not be the case for earlier or later production cars, as it is extremely possible that the shade of the paint used may have varied slightly over the production run. Frankly, that only makes sense. But I'm satisfied with this conclusion for my car.

Sooo Will - Looks like you won't be needing that NOS dash?

Getting a perfect score and having a perfect car have just been shown not to be mutually inclusive!

Can I backpedal fast enough....

Will

Sooo Will - Looks like you won't be needing that NOS dash?

Getting a perfect score and having a perfect car have just been shown not to be mutually inclusive!

Can I backpedal fast enough....

Will

So Will doesn't need the dash, as we've learned it's not necessary for a 300 point car. And with this revelation, the price of NOS dashes are now plummeting around the country:cheeky: . But have no fear, I will happily take that dash off your hands for my pedestrian daily driver at a fire sale price...and I'll even pay for shipping!:bandit:

Gary S.

I have decided to paint the grill and rear taillight panels the color of the grill and trim on the 2006 Landrover Sport. Why you ask because I can. No seriously I think it's the exact match between the series 3 Z Hubcaps and the Series one and two D Hubcaps and has the same texture.

Now I just hope I don't lose the pegs of the rivets when I tap them through from the top of the panels. They may fall in to oblivion.

McKrack

[waving]Hello everybody![/waving]

Anybody want to buy some paint?

Toodle-oo!

The drip on the can near the lid looks rather black?

The drip on the can near the lid looks rather black?

Could it be due to the fact that it's a black & white photo? :eek:

True, but we are discussing a shade of gray, aren't we?

Any colour pic's, Alan?

Its got a fair amount of what I would call black in it. Depends how well you stir it, and how deep your mixing stick goes into the slurry at the bottom of the can before you drip it over the side.

Not much point in me taking a colour photo of the colour and posting it here, really. I don't think it would prove anything. The subtleties are too fine in daylight, let alone on a computer screen. It is a colour that is claimed to be 'Nissan Jidosha, Charcoal Grey Metallic' for the detail parts on a factory ZG, however.

That'll do for me. :-)

Well, I guess the solution might be to go to a Nissan Dealer and order the correct paint, there couldn't be any argument then (or could there)?

And if you do, Mike, this is probably what that can of paint may look like. Not saying it definitely will look like this, but it may. This is for color 112 and who knows what it would be for the charcoal. But hey!

Since we are wondering off track a bit anyway - Your local Nissan Dealer's Parts Dept. would most likely tell you that "paint" for a 30+ year old car is NLA from them.

That simple can of paint pictured by Chris - really is a "symbol" of multi-millions of dollars in capital investment - planned and made over a five year period by Nissan Motors - all to eliminate the need for that can of paint. (well that was one main benefits anyway).

Nissan originally supplied a can of paint, in the glove-box of all their Datsuns coming into America (and most likely North America) because of the rather common "shipping, handling and/or Port damage" on cars prior to 1972. More than a mere "touch-up" tube of paint - it was a can of lacquer mixed to match the original factory paint (enamel) that could allow entire body panels to be repainted if necessary. (and many many were!). Lacquer was used for touch-up/repairs because it drys far more quickly and can be buffed down without loss of the skim coat found on enamels. (pictured is the can that came with my Metallic Blue 72).

By 1972 Nissan had many of it's new fleet of leased car carrying ships in use, which allowed vehicles to be driven on and off the ships. They also had greatly expanded their Port Facilities in both Japan and the US. All this was an ongoing project initiated in the mid-60's and pretty much put in place by 1971.. By April of 1972 Nissan had eliminated the need for the can of paint, because they had eliminated 90% of the damage to the new cars - and thus quite putting it in the cars and trucks.

FWIW,

Carl B.