Behind the passenger side rear plastic panel there is a steel panel of almost the exact same shape covering the gas tank vapour recovery tank, does it really serve a purpose?

 

It makes it look nicer and maybe helps keep some fumes out but I doubt that


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Its not cosmetic or fumes. (It's not sealed, and you can't see it normally).

I'm guessing some sort of safety agency requirement. Something like "there must be a metal layer between anything containing fuel or vapor and the occupant interior." maybe?

Only other guess would be noise reduction?

32 minutes ago, Captain Obvious said:

Only other guess would be noise reduction?

A Canadian cure for fuel tank flatulence???

Seriously (yeah, sure), I vote for the safety aspect.  I've never seen this in US spec cars, possibly a Canadian rule.

I've never seen that either. I would agree with Jim's assessment

I have one in my car too. I will put it back in and hope it aids in sound deadening.

I have one in my 78 280z and it’s US spec


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8 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

Its not cosmetic or fumes. (It's not sealed, and you can't see it normally).

I'm guessing some sort of safety agency requirement. Something like "there must be a metal layer between anything containing fuel or vapor and the occupant interior." maybe?

Only other guess would be noise reduction?

Probably right, if I do put it back in I'll add a some dense foam between the steel panel and the vapour tank, then there will be some noise reduction.

6 hours ago, ryanotown22 said:

I have one in my 78 280z and it’s US spec
 

Well... with one vote for a US spec car, this looks to be a 280Z thing and not a Canadian rule thing.  Shows to go my lack of exposure to the intimate details on 280Z's.

I haven't checked my car, but my assumption is that it's not a Canadian thing and my car has one as well.

12 hours ago, jfa.series1 said:

A Canadian cure for fuel tank flatulence???

Smells like maple syrup maybe?

I have one in my Fed 77' and there's one in the 78' I'm putting together so it's not just a Canadian thing.  If Canadian fuel flatulence smells of maple syrup then my car needs a different diet.......

May be due to proximity to new speaker addition.