@HS30-H I appreciate your prompt reply. Thanks again for the input. John

On 5/29/2026 at 10:13 AM, deanhuff said:

Oh my, look at this:

Bring a Trailer

1972 Nissan Fairlady Z432

Bid for the chance to own a 1972 Nissan Fairlady Z432 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #246,072.

Hi, when that blue Z432 was in Japan, it had been taken care of by a racing shop near my house. I am going to tell this auction to the shop owner! He will be happy to see it.

The car has an air conditioner, Z432 wasn’t planned for it originally. But he told me that car got in-dash air conditioner components to be operated just like genuine system like Fairlady ZL,240ZL,240ZG. About the color blue 115, I have collected almost all the registered Z432’s data and my friend Mr.Watanabe has been working on gathering information for existing Z432 since late 1990.

Then I would say genuine blue 115 Z432 would be one or two. I have never seen one other than that car. Also the roll bar set up, it looks genuine sports option which is ultra rare to come by. The differential is an R180 LSD, correct for the car. R192 LSD was replaced by R180 from October 1971 (That car was registered in June 1972). The S20 was rebuilt with aftermarket pistons to increase 2.5 litter, it runs great.

Let’s thank Nissan and Prince, they gave us wonderful engines. L-6 series and S20, both are capable of tuning for more power.

Carl mentioned about a tuned L20A (L24 with Solex 175hp listed on the very first brochure needs to be clarified, because Mr.Uemura didn’t know that engine when I asked him about) in a prototype, at that time engineers also tested S20 180ps and 230ps, they achieved those numbers just replacing with sporty carburetors and camshafts, and exhaust pipes.

I am not going to say which engine is superior than the other. But I must say S20 has so many things which make me excited.

The fact is, S20 was a limited production model. Carefully assembled with experienced workers. Needs a lot of bolts, no bolt is shared with L series, they are different. Also crank shaft bearing caps, they have side bolts to secure. Each gap between the side of crank shaft cap and the engine block was individually measured to have a spacer which was specifically made for the gap.

The crank shaft bearing caps and front timing chain covers were all bored at the same time, and also the crank shaft and the fly wheel had dynamic balancing at the factory. Wet liner type cylinders, a side water jacket is unique to my eye.

About DOHC 4-valve, I should avoid too much comments here. It is awesome.

People really don’t know about S20 was developed for Z432 and GTR at the same time. GTR people in Japan even never imagined the truth. “S20 was for GTR, later we gave it to Z432” but it’s not true. We can tell it from many details of S20.

In October 1967, executives thought racing engine (G8B; engine of Prince R380, predecessor of S20) going to install on GT car prior to sports car didn’t make sense. They wanted G8B on Fairlady too.

Mr.Uemura didn’t wrote about this but Mr. Hara wrote it in his book,

“Executives were all delighted with the new model “Maru- Zed” carrying a G8B, however we needed a lot of time to start its production(New Skyline was almost ready in November 1967 so didn’t need much effort than Z).

Not releasing G8B Skyline until Z was ready for production didn’t seem right,

so G8B Skyline (GTR:PGC10) was approved and released earlier than Z432.”

Like Alan said, Z432 is not just about the engine. It’s about the whole package. I am sure people will love it when they actually see it and drive it.

Kats

9 hours ago, kats said:

Hi, when that blue Z432 was in Japan, it had been taken care of by a racing shop near my house. I am going to tell this auction to the shop owner! He will be happy to see it.

The car has an air conditioner, Z432 wasn’t planned for it originally. But he told me that car got in-dash air conditioner components to be operated just like genuine system like Fairlady ZL,240ZL,240ZG. About the color blue 115, I have collected almost all the registered Z432’s data and my friend Mr.Watanabe has been working on gathering information for existing Z432 since late 1990.

Then I would say genuine blue 115 Z432 would be one or two. I have never seen one other than that car. Also the roll bar set up, it looks genuine sports option which is ultra rare to come by. The differential is an R180 LSD, correct for the car. R192 LSD was replaced by R180 from October 1971 (That car was registered in June 1972). The S20 was rebuilt with aftermarket pistons to increase 2.5 litter, it runs great.

Let’s thank Nissan and Prince, they gave us wonderful engines. L-6 series and S20, both are capable of tuning for more power.

Carl mentioned about a tuned L20A (L24 with Solex 175hp listed on the very first brochure needs to be clarified, because Mr.Uemura didn’t know that engine when I asked him about) in a prototype, at that time engineers also tested S20 180ps and 230ps, they achieved those numbers just replacing with sporty carburetors and camshafts, and exhaust pipes.

I am not going to say which engine is superior than the other. But I must say S20 has so many things which make me excited.

The fact is, S20 was a limited production model. Carefully assembled with experienced workers. Needs a lot of bolts, no bolt is shared with L series, they are different. Also crank shaft bearing caps, they have side bolts to secure. Each gap between the side of crank shaft cap and the engine block was individually measured to have a spacer which was specifically made for the gap.

The crank shaft bearing caps and front timing chain covers were all bored at the same time, and also the crank shaft and the fly wheel had dynamic balancing at the factory. Wet liner type cylinders, a side water jacket is unique to my eye.

About DOHC 4-valve, I should avoid too much comments here. It is awesome.

People really don’t know about S20 was developed for Z432 and GTR at the same time. GTR people in Japan even never imagined the truth. “S20 was for GTR, later we gave it to Z432” but it’s not true. We can tell it from many details of S20.

In October 1967, executives thought racing engine (G8B; engine of Prince R380, predecessor of S20) going to install on GT car prior to sports car didn’t make sense. They wanted G8B on Fairlady too.

Mr.Uemura didn’t wrote about this but Mr. Hara wrote it in his book,

“Executives were all delighted with the new model “Maru- Zed” carrying a G8B, however we needed a lot of time to start its production(New Skyline was almost ready in November 1967 so didn’t need much effort than Z).

Not releasing G8B Skyline until Z was ready for production didn’t seem right,

so G8B Skyline (GTR:PGC10) was approved and released earlier than Z432.”

Like Alan said, Z432 is not just about the engine. It’s about the whole package. I am sure people will love it when they actually see it and drive it.

Kats

Hi Kats  Thank you for sharing so much great information. A friend of mine is bidding on this Z432, so I’ll point him and Justin to your Post. Maybe they can keep both Z432’s her in Florida.

$200,000 no-sale- that's 32,000,000JPY in home currency. I have not been following the Japanese market these days, but that feels like a pretty decent result.

5 hours ago, xs10shl said:

$200,000 no-sale- that's 32,000,000JPY in home currency. I have not been following the Japanese market these days, but that feels like a pretty decent result.

However, a 'Late' production car, slightly scruffy and non-original (mostly later non-period mods) but in a great colour, put in front of people who - largely - have no idea what they are looking at.

Weak Yen is distorting current USD conversion figure, but then that was the story of the S30-series Z from the beginning.

If somebody wants a really good - original and correct - 432 today, 99% of the cars are still in Japan and the best ones still tend to change hands there privately (often involving cash). I think any 432 which has been brought out of Japan has already been 'picked' and therefore somebody has already made some money off it, or expects to. And if those people are buying whilst expecting to turn a profit then they'll probably be looking at the lower end of the Japanese market. "There be dragons..."

I have personal experience of two 432s which pitched up here in the UK in recent years and both were horror stories that had been disguised for quick sale and bought by neophytes who had been 'advised' by shyster 'appraisers' who had no idea what they were looking at. Sad for the cars - they were innocent victims - but hard cheese for the speculators and their stupid 'investment portfolio' hubris.

Meh.

Edit - about $32,500. Not bad for somebody's garage hobby race car.

The 76 US import to the UK is ending in minutes. Interesting that the seller commented that the fender edges had been cut and properly sealed to fit the flares and wide tires but the images he uploaded seem to show raw rough cut steel. Nobody commented about it. Still looks like it will get a decent price. About $24,000 already.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-datsun-280z-117/

"The flared aspect of the wheel arches were removed to accept the new extended wheel arches to allow wider wheel fitment (10×5). This was done in a clean and linear manner and sealed with a view to no potential future corrosion.

I will upload photos of the inside of the arches on Monday."

Edited June 9Jun 9 by Zed Head

On 6/9/2026 at 9:27 AM, HS30-H said:

However, a 'Late' production car, slightly scruffy and non-original (mostly later non-period mods) but in a great colour, put in front of people who - largely - have no idea what they are looking at.

Weak Yen is distorting current USD conversion figure, but then that was the story of the S30-series Z from the beginning.

If somebody wants a really good - original and correct - 432 today, 99% of the cars are still in Japan and the best ones still tend to change hands there privately (often involving cash). I think any 432 which has been brought out of Japan has already been 'picked' and therefore somebody has already made some money off it, or expects to. And if those people are buying whilst expecting to turn a profit then they'll probably be looking at the lower end of the Japanese market. "There be dragons..."

I have personal experience of two 432s which pitched up here in the UK in recent years and both were horror stories that had been disguised for quick sale and bought by neophytes who had been 'advised' by shyster 'appraisers' who had no idea what they were looking at. Sad for the cars - they were innocent victims - but hard cheese for the speculators and their stupid 'investment portfolio' hubris.

Meh.

On 6/9/2026 at 9:27 AM, HS30-H said:

However, a 'Late' production car, slightly scruffy and non-original (mostly later non-period mods) but in a great colour, put in front of people who - largely - have no idea what they are looking at.

Weak Yen is distorting current USD conversion figure, but then that was the story of the S30-series Z from the beginning.

If somebody wants a really good - original and correct - 432 today, 99% of the cars are still in Japan and the best ones still tend to change hands there privately (often involving cash). I think any 432 which has been brought out of Japan has already been 'picked' and therefore somebody has already made some money off it, or expects to. And if those people are buying whilst expecting to turn a profit then they'll probably be looking at the lower end of the Japanese market. "There be dragons..."

I have personal experience of two 432s which pitched up here in the UK in recent years and both were horror stories that had been disguised for quick sale and bought by neophytes who had been 'advised' by shyster 'appraisers' who had no idea what they were looking at. Sad for the cars - they were innocent victims - but hard cheese for the speculators and their stupid 'investment portfolio' hubris.

Meh.

On 6/9/2026 at 9:27 AM, HS30-H said:

However, a 'Late' production car, slightly scruffy and non-original (mostly later non-period mods) but in a great colour, put in front of people who - largely - have no idea what they are looking at.

Weak Yen is distorting current USD conversion figure, but then that was the story of the S30-series Z from the beginning.

If somebody wants a really good - original and correct - 432 today, 99% of the cars are still in Japan and the best ones still tend to change hands there privately (often involving cash). I think any 432 wh

I have personal experience of two 432s which pitched up here in the UK in recent years and both were horror stories that had been disguised for quick sale and bought by neophytes who had been 'advised' by shyster 'appraisers' who had no idea what they were looking at. Sad for the cars - they were innocent victims - but hard cheese for the speculators and their stupid 'investment portfolio' hubris.

Meh.

Was it the orange coloured one that was sold by the leading GTR Specialist up north?

Interesting 2+2. Has some strange labels and strange claims. 290 HP!? I don't think the owner knows much about it. A PO apparently did the work.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-datsun-280z-116/

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1970 Datsun 240Z Series I 5-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 1970 Datsun 240Z Series I 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #248,430.

Ex. original Australian delivered car.

Can’t get the link to open on my end.

That's why I always wait and turn the preview back in to a link. You have to find the sweet spot in the preview image to get it to open. Click on the title words.

Here's the straightforward link:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-datsun-240z-147/

I tried to post a midly critical comment about the 290 HP 2+2 but BaT moderated it away without posting it. I was actually giving the guy a chance to explain the weirdness of his car. It looks kind of like a con/scam at the moment. No way it makes 290 HP.

But BaT filters out any comments that are even mildly critical. Cheers and happy talk only. It used to be a place where a potential buyer could get some good feedback about a car. Now it's all caveat emptor. Tending towards eBay level. Shame.