10 hours ago, Zed Head said:

I got curious so I looked in the GI pages of the FSM's. 1972 seems to be the first time they describe the stamping of the identification number on the firewall (cowl).

I wouldn't take that literally if I were you. Their intent was to convey information on location and form in an easily understood and digested nature for people who were used to the national vernacular of their automotive scene, not describe the process with which is was executed.

That's pretty cool! I had thought maybe the firewall was labeled before being included in the chassis but you're saying the chassis was complete and the fixture was mounted to the chassis and the ID number was applied then...

14 hours ago, Zed Head said:

I got curious so I looked in the GI pages of the FSM's. 1972 seems to be the first time they describe the stamping of the identification number on the firewall (cowl).

Incidentally, you might be interested to hear that the Japanese market FSMs use the term 打刻 ('Dakoku') in relation to the individual vehicle ID on the firewall. It translates as 'Stamping' in English.

They use the same term for the engine number and the engine bay tag, when they are clearly performed with different processes to that on the firewall. Again, I would not take it literally. It is similar to saying that something is 'written' on a page when it is printed, and vice-versa.

1 hour ago, Patcon said:

That's pretty cool! I had thought maybe the firewall was labeled before being included in the chassis but you're saying the chassis was complete and the fixture was mounted to the chassis and the ID number was applied then...

Exactly that. The engraving fixture hooked onto the firewall in a fixed position (one for RHD, one for LHD) and the operator did his stuff.

99.999% of the time he got it right. The rest of the time stuff like this happened:

If this was a Ferrari or Maserati, a VIN 'typo' like that would either add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the vehicle's value or (more likely) add the same amount of dollars to the coffers of the lawyers and auctioneers adjudicating in its re-sale value.😄

Route66 et all,

Want to clear up a couple of things about the Z Store program. 1 - Those are 280 front fenders that Nissan superseded the 240/260 numbers to in about 1995ish. There are 2 subtle differences that in the end don't amount to a hill of beans. 2 - Poorly run, then and now, Nissan - just last week they announced the closure of 2 factories because nobody is buying their cars - didn't go back into production of parts for the Z Store program. If they did why did they have very little me supply them with so many goodies?

However, before he retired I had a friend pretty high up in the Nissan food chain in TN. One day I got a call, Mike, windshields and rear mufflers are available again. I called my local dealer where the guys are long time knowledgeable friends and asked them to do an INQUIRY - that's the official word - on those 2 part #s. Sure enough they were available. I ordered 10 muffs and 5 windshields. The muffs and windshields arrived a few days later but 2 of the windshields were cracked. I had them order 2 more windshields but only one came in as they were again unavailable! What the hell was that?? This was after the end of the Z Store program.

Now, the fly in the ointment of my story are slam panels. That is, the horizontal panel visible when the deck lid is open. Nissan had someone reproduce them and they were listed with a special description and part # 240 PATCH PANEL 999M1-M0000. I still have 2 in stock. I have a real strong suspicion that this was a Nissan US deal. I feel this way because Nissan batteries, manufactured by Interstate, have the same 999M1 part # prefix. Cheers

Right you are Mike, 280 fenders…..We had to alter a small section of the top of the fender and move the catch for the little inspection doors to make em work. The hood and two fenders were bought for under $600.00 total. I should have bought em all. Hope you’re doing good!

Guy

Always a pleasure Guy.

9 hours ago, zspert said:

Poorly run, then and now, Nissan - just last week they announced the closure of 2 factories because nobody is buying their cars - didn't go back into production of parts for the Z Store program. If they did why did they have very little me supply them with so many goodies?

Being devil's advocate here, who expected Nissan to go back into production of parts just for the Z Store program in the first place?

Seems to me - and I was paying attention on the Japanese S30 owner/enthusiast/specialists/parts supply at the time for my own needs - that there was a whole lot of 'Lost In Translation' going on between the Z Store planning people, NMC USA, the shops doing the work and the many-headed operation that was NMC Japan. That's the only reasonable explanation. Who would embark on a project which required new parts to restore a three figure number of cars without checking on and securing the stock and/or resupply of said parts?

We could easily make a case for the Z Store Program being a good idea that was - in its execution - very "poorly run", in spite of its success in publicity and PR terms.

On 7/21/2025 at 1:07 AM, Namerow said:

If this was a Ferrari or Maserati, a VIN 'typo' like that would either add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the vehicle's value or (more likely) add the same amount of dollars to the coffers of the lawyers and auctioneers adjudicating in its re-sale value.😄

Personally speaking, I love it. It's a rare example of 'finger trouble' at the factory which Nissan corrected and a very human touch as such. But for others it has created some consternation and questioning, largely because it is so rare and undocumented. I'd be happy to own such a corrected number, but others wouldn't...

Interesting beetle frenzy mania going on. Almost like a whole different brand of car.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-datsun-240z-290/

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Zed Head
found my word

It is a different brand of car!