New owner, Socal!

[crummydustbunny]

Hey everyone! I've been wanting to fix My very clean, straight, 1973 260z for awhile now, but just recently got a steady income to fix her up. I really don't know what's wrong with it, but I know the cam is scored, and one of my main bearings is cracked. I'll probably post a more in depth help topic later!

[crummydustbunny]

Oh, and is it strange that my VIN says 73? Cause I do searches, and all I ever get id results for a 74+.

[Arne]

Well, 260Zs here in the US were all '74s. What is you car's VIN?

Oh, before I forget - Welcome!!

[sblake01]

Oh, and is it strange that my VIN says 73? Cause I do searches, and all I ever get id results for a 74+.

You're 'VIN' doesn't say that is a 73. You probably mean that your build date is in 73. The prefix on your VIN would be an R if it's a 260Z. A 74 260Z would have a build date from 8/73-8/74.

Well, 260Zs here in the US were all '74s.

Arne, due to Nissan being late in the development of the 280Z, there were actually 75 260Zs in the US built from 9/74-11/74 prior to the introduction of the 280Z in 12/74. Any 260Z with a VIN RLS30060001 or higher or for the 2+2, GRLS30015001 or higher would be a 75.

[Arne]

I'd always heard those cars referred to as 'late '74s' or '74 1/2'. But I admit to being rather ignorant about the fine points of 260Zs.

[sblake01]

A few years ago, I worked on the AC system on a 260z with a build date of 10/74. It was titled as a 75. That caused me to do the research on the build dates. I'm really not up on the 'fine points' of them either, however.

[crummydustbunny]

Well, I just went out and checked on the car, the plate on the door jamb has the date 3/74 and the first part of the vin says RLS30. I take it 74 is my year with 3 being march?

[crummydustbunny]

Also, anyone know about fitting Bride Brix II seats in the S30?

[sblake01]

That means your car was built in March 1974. Like I stated in post #4, the 1974 model year ran from August 73 to August 74. Don't know much about those seats. There's a kid up the street from me that I help solve mechanical issues from time with a riced-out Acura that has them in his car. I'd imagine that they could be fitted into a Z. From what he says, they're kind of pricey.

[Carl Beck]

A few years ago, I worked on the AC system on a 260z with a build date of 10/74. It was titled as a 75. That caused me to do the research on the build dates. I'm really not up on the 'fine points' of them either, however.

Hi Stephen:

I worked for DATSUN in 74/75. The 260Z's built on the 280Z Bodies had to be sold and titled as 1974 or 74 1/2 Model Year Vehicles here in the U.S. The L26 could not meet the U.S. Emissions Standards in effect for 1975.

If that 260Z was titled as a 75, it was a title error or mistake of some kind. It would seem that it would make it very difficult for it to pass the CARB standards for a 75 model year in California - at least in years prior (if it was in California when still requiring vehicle inspections for emissions etc).

FWIW,

Carl B.

[sblake01]

Okay. That makes sense. I recall basing my conclusion on the build date info in the microfiche. I've seen them titled as a 74 and as a 75. Surely you're not suggesting that the California DMV could ever be wrong!

[e_racer1999]

welcome! sorry i can't add anything of more substance though