HS30-H

They grew into a forest, Kats...! OK, this subject has been bugging me more than a little - so I started to dig a bit deeper to see if I could come up with a different part number. I felt sure that somewhere I had seen an early part number reference for the covers, but I couldn't remember just where. After what seemed like an age of fruitless searching - with paperwork and reference material spread all over the floor and shelves ( what a mess ) - I sat back down again at my desk and looked straight at the front cover of the Nissan competition prep manual for the Fairlady Z 432-R. This is one of the first places I should have looked. I'd had it on the desk for the last couple of weeks, as I had needed some data for my 432-R replica project car. I couldn't see the forest for the trees.... Turn to pages 71 & 72 and there it is, a pair of new part numbers ( well, new to this thread at least I think ) and a reference to FOUR screws on each cover. The manual is dated February 1970. So, we now have: 63900-E4100 SET HEAD LAMP COVER RH 63901-E4100 SET HEAD LAMP COVER LH and also: 63920-E4100 PLATE NUT ( qty. 8 ) ...however, there's no firm reference to the pattern / positioning of the mounting screws in this manual. You win some, you lose some. My 'translation' is marked in red: Alan T.

Carl, Thanks for posting this, but I'm sorry to say that I found it slightly uncomfortable to watch..... It's good to see people like Matsuo san engaging with the English-speaking media, but in this instance I really feel it would have worked better with a skilled translator and some more thoroughly prepared scripting of the questions. Matsuo san's English is fine for one-to-one conversation, and if a pen and paper is on the table then all the better, but I fear it's not really up to the level needed in a 'live' video exchange. More than once I found myself feeling embarrassed for both sides as meaning and nuance whizzed over heads. Presenting Matsuo san as "the" Designer - as though there was only one - is a mistake. Matsuo san was the 'Chief Designer' on the project, a chief among designers and engineers, tasked with coordinating the work of all the different individuals, all the different departments and all the different suppliers. Yes, he takes the credit for certain details of the overall design ( the hatch hinges and gas ram to name two seen in the video ) but seeing him credited as though he almost single-handedly conceived, designed and produced the first Z is only one stage removed from that old Goertz problem. Matsuo san might also be advised to use the word 'we' instead of 'I' where more appropriate. It's no wonder that the other members of the team feel as though they have been crowded out of the story. When we talk about the styling of the car, we should give Yoshida - the man who really should be given credit for the overall styling of the car - and Tamura - the man who picked up where Yoshida left off - the credit that they deserve. To see Matsuo san being called an 'Engineer', and then a 'Test Driver' ( even in half jest ) no doubt makes the true Engineers on the project - Uemura, Benitani, Kamahara et al - wince. The design / styling of the dashboard - commented on in the driving scenes - was the responsibility of Chiba san, not Matsuo. I won't comment on Mr Randy Rodriguez ( he came across very well, and very modest ), except to point out - perhaps stating the obvious - that no one individual will have 'designed' the Z34. Nissan might want to attribute the styling theme to him - as they did to Ajay Panchal with the Z33 - but it's a little bit more involved than such credit can convey. Much like it was with the S30, indeed. And how come Goertz is still getting the credit for the Toyota 2000GT in shows like this? Sorry to rock the feelgood boat. Alan T.

A few more images of that '69 Tokyo Show 432:

Perhaps some more grist for the mill: These images are all dateable, as they are from known sources at known times. First two depict Nissan's first ever S30-series Z race car - specifically a Fairlady Z432-R - just before its first ( and last - as it was T-boned by another car... ) race in January 1970, and the third is a scan from part of the JAF homologation papers for the PS30 Fairlady Z432 - which was dated March 1970, and unusually shows the clear acrylic part attached to the car without the metal trim ring. I think the screw positions can be seen relatively clearly. Alan T.

Ron, You're confusing me.... So, you think the headlamp covers seen on the '69 Tokyo Show 432 are "prototypes" - but then you say: As all of the '69 Tokyo Show 432 pictures depict the same car , the headlamp covers seen on it cannot be both "prototypes" and E4126 ( or E8726 ).... Personally, I'm not entirely convinced that the '69 Tokyo Show 432 had only three fixing screws on its headlamp covers ( as depicted in Kats' drawing ). I know that Kats has looked into this quite closely, but I'd like to see more conclusive evidence. There were many pictures published of that car 'in period', and I believe I can count four fixing screws on each cover by cross-referencing the photos taken from different angles, even though I don't have one diamond bullet photo that shows them all clearly and indisputably..... I believe - and hope he'll correct me if I'm wrong - that Kats' sketch and notations were an effort to begin understanding all this. I don't think he meant them to be 'Gospel'. And I still have trouble believing that the E8726 suffixed covers could have existed - using that E8726 suffix - as long as one full year before the E8725 suffixed ZG type covers first appeared. Anyone care to speculate? Er, I'll have to remember where it went first! I've bought and sold quite a few of these things over the time I've been a Z owner. Let me look into it..... Alan T.

I think we are all in the same boat here, Ron. I wouldn't class you as being 'out of your league'. Quite the opposite, in fact. Points taken, but I still firmly believe I can see those distinctive mounting screw positions on the photos of the 432 at the '69 Tokyo show. Here's the front-on photo again, and this time I've circled those screws in red. Does anyone agree with me that these are indeed mounting screws, rather than reflections / distortions?

Mike, At least two different 'stock' wiper blades in the Japanese market models before the end of 1971 ( 26370-E4100 and 26370-E8700 ). I know the E4100 was the same as the one offered on the north American and European / UK export market cars. 'Winter Pack' wipers - more suited to cope with snow and ice - were also available in Japan ( as were electrically heated front 'screens, for example ) although I don't believe they ever showed up in the early Japanese parts lists. You can however see them in the R-Drive export parts lists [ B6365-89914 ASSY-BLADE WINDSHIELD ( SNOW ) L=400, and B6365-89915 ASSY-BLADE WINDSHIELD ( SNOW ) L=340 ). I would have thought some regions of north America, and especially Canada, would have some 'snow' wiper blades? But, like the headlamp covers, I don't think the part numbers tell us the whole story. Alan T.

Just to add a side-by-side comparison of mounting screw positions: EDIT: Note that this is a shot of two different L/H covers - one on top of the other - to illustrate differences.

Ron, We can certainly believe that the E4126 number was the first part number, but what mounting hole position layout does it indicate? My conviction is that the E4126 numbered covers had more than one mounting hole position layout. I can't track the E8726 suffixed parts as appearing until the introduction of the 'H' prefixed models to the Japanese market ( late September 1971 ), and have noted that the part number closely corresponds with the E8725 suffix of the longer 240ZG headlamp covers. And yet I can see period evidence of at least two different mounting hole layouts long before September 1971. As far as I can see, that's two distinct variants within a period where we have only one part number. You say that you can't see them clearly, but I am quite convinced that I can clearly identify the front screws on the 1969 Tokyo Show 432 pictured above. They are visible on both sides of the car. I can't make you see them, but photos of the car from other angles clearly show the absence of screws on the forward top part of the covers which would be there in the 'other' layout. To move this discussion on from parts in boxes, and in an effort to give some dating perspective, here is some evidence of 'period use'. Three photos taken in mid November 1970 of two of the four Works 240Z rally cars that were about to take part in the 1970 RAC Rally here in the UK. You will notice that the top parts of the headlamp covers were painted satin black to match the satin black bonnet and wing tops, and I believe the mounting screw positions are clearly visible, and are different than those of the October 1969 Tokyo Auto Show 432:

Yes, OEM on some 'early' ( ) Japanese market cars:

One down, 100 million to go...... I think you're overestimating the influence of the "much larger North American market" with regard to OEM headlamp covers. I believe the wants and needs of the Japanese home market would have completely dominated those of any other market in relation to these particular parts. Japan was their biggest market, the market where they were fitted to cars as part of a showroom options package ( not the case in other markets ) and where Nissan had an obligation to customers who had bought them. The fact that more than one type could have needed replacement in later years seems to me to be a good reason for Nissan to keep making both/all versions well into - at least - the 1990s...... I note that the Japanese market parts books don't list the E8726 as superseding the E4126, and that they are listed as parallel parts - with their model applications clearly stated. Alan T.

I'm trying to get across that I don't believe two sets of numbers, the labels 'early' and 'late' ( or even 'chromed' and 'stainless' and my suggestions of 'Zenki' and 'Kouki' ) are the whole story with regard to these headlamp covers. I've seen plenty of other examples on these cars where parts have changed in construction and/or detail without changes to part numbers. I'm especially wary of trim / brightwork parts that don't have an interactive mechanical function. It would not surprise me in the least to hear that part number changes for the headlamp covers did not cover all detail changes. And speaking just for myself here ( and not necessarily trying to convince anybody else of anything..... ), but I'm not convinced that the 'early' / 'late' labelling of the mounting hole positions is correct in some of the earlier posts in this thread. Here's a photo from the Nissan display stand at the 1969 Tokyo Auto Show. I feel fairly confident that this instance would qualify as a textbook example of 'early'. Please note the clearly visible front mounting screw position, which I see being described as "late" elsewhere in this thread: Alan T.

The point I was trying to make - and it's only a theory at this point, as I think we're all groping around in the dark so to speak - is that I noted E8726 following closely on the heels of E8725 ( the ZG type covers ), and the E8725 - in my experience - I have only ever seen in polished stainless ( never in chrome ). It seems likely to me that the E8726 would be stainless too.... The scenario I would expect ( especially comparing with other showroom 'Option' parts in Japan ) would be that more were sold over the counter - for retrofitting onto cars that were no longer new - than were chosen as extra-cost options on new cars. The second owners of cars, or even the original owners looking to add something to a car they bought new, would be likely to buy such items over the counter in the same way that they might buy some aftermarket nick-nacks, to give the car a fresh look or feel. Not forgetting of course that the headlamp covers were available for many years longer than the actual cars were..... And also, if your car had covers, and one or both of them got damaged or tired / faded, then what did you do? If you took them off, you had an unsightly mess of holes to look at ( three for each mounting screw ). You'd either need to buy another set of covers, or have some localised repairs and paint. No wonder Nissan kept making them for a long time. Alan T.

Ron, Have you noticed that the change to the E8726 suffixes coincides with the introduction of the L24-engined models to the Japanese market, and therefore the introduction of the 'HZG' variants? Fairlady 240ZG ( HS30-H / HS30-HA & 'HZG' / 'HZGA' ) models used 63900-E8725 ( RH ) & 63901-E8725 ( LH ) headlamp covers, which were - of course - the longer type, to fit the 'Grande' nose. In my experience, all the original ZG type headlamp covers I have come across have been made from stainless steel, and - generally speaking, as I've had a lot of them pass through my hands - the earliest 'short nose' covers ( and therefore probably E4126 suffixed ) have been chromed steel, and the known-to-be 'later' ones ( likely E8726 suffixed? ) have been polished stainless. Therefore, 'Zenki' type = chrome, 'Kouki' type ( after introduction of ZG ) = stainless....? PS: What I'm saying is that the different part number suffix doesn't necessarily indicate the change in mounting hole location...... Alan T.

You could read it as some kind of Newtonian equal and opposite reaction to reading / hearing mistakes, untruths and plain lies. If people keep saying that Goertz designed / styled the S30 ( and the Toyota 2000GT ) and all that other stuff, then I'm afraid people like me are going to pipe up to try and get it straightened out. Tilting at windmills perhaps, but worth taking a shot at, in my opinion. One phenomenon I sometimes come across - and which surprises me every time I see it - is where people seem to want to connect Goertz to the cars, but then profess not to care who was actually responsible when the Goertz story is so easily dismissed. It's almost like the Japanese people responsible don't deserve to have their names mentioned. Papa Smurf? Hmmmm. That might just be a very revealing comment. I beg to differ, of course. But can you tell me why you would say that, and indeed why you would go to the trouble of posting it if you really don't care? Cheers, Alan T.

Marco69, No offence, but.... No they didn't. To be blunt, there are no such "facts". What magical 'sketch' is this, then? The real hands-on protagonists in the stories of both the S30-series Z and Toyota's MF10 have all made it clear that Goertz was not behind their designs. The only person who claimed such influence was Goertz himself, and his claims were not based on any substance. They are - quite simply - not true. This is not what happened. You are confusing the story of the 'Nissan 2000GT' / 'Nissan A550X' Yamaha prototype with the stories of the Nissan S30 and Toyota MF10. There is no direct lineage between the three designs. Not a single line or curve on, or in, the S30 and MF10 can be attributed to Goertz. It's that simple. Please don't be offended, but I believe sometimes it's worth being forceful about such things. People seem to want to believe the Goertz stories, but they are based on little more than his own hubris. It really is time for us to give the credit to the people who deserve it. We are closer to the truth right now than we have ever been in the past. Alan T.

Mike, I certainly didn't dream it all up on my own after eating too much cheese before bedtime. As Kats points out, the early Japanese market parts lists don't show the "untint" clear glass of the 'Z-Std' / S30-S, but early models certainly featured clear, untinted glass. I believe that this is just another omission from the parts lists, and that later 'Z-Std' models ( although I don't know how late ) received tinted glass in much the same way as they suddenly received the dipping mirrors. I wonder if this was some kind of rationalisation measure? If you compare the S30-series Z to other contemporary Nissan models like the C10 Skyline, the 'Std' or most basic models often had clear, untinted glass whilst the 'Dx' models got tinted. Also, GT-R models of the C10 Skyline range got clear glass, no doubt as part of their 'pure driving' image. I'm fairly sure I have an early 1970 Japanese magazine road test which mentions the clear glass of the Std model. I shall see if I can find it again. Alan T.

Apart from a few small details ( EG fender mirrors, RHD wiper orientation ), this might be of more use to you:

Esprist, It might be worth clarifying that these repro Master Vac hoses will be for LHD applications, and that they will not work with RHD cars. Cheers, Alan T.

You're welcome, Mike. Here are a few more, this time taken when the car was on display at Nissan's old Ginza, Tokyo HQ:

Here are a few of the photos I took when the car was on display up in Sapporo a few years back:

Aha, I see what you mean. I was looking around for anything obviously missing rather than damaged / hacked off. Shame about the sunroof, and to a lesser extent the side trims and re-upholstery job. Other than that it seems like a nice honest example that's 'had a life'......

Looks like an L20A to me ( judging from the scale of the carbs, they look like HJG38s ). What makes you think its "2.4L" from the photos, and what part is it missing "from the rear"?

One for the hardware fans, perhaps: Until just a few days ago, I had this sitting on a shelf in my office. A beautiful thing. Ironically, these photos of it were taken with my little Ricoh GR Digital II, which is what I tend to grab anytime I think I'm going to need a camera. I have a Nikon D70 too, but somehow it seems to get in the way when I'm carrying it around and I always feel like I'm going to bash it or drop it.

Ian, Just to make it clear for anybody who hasn't seen that Nos. Hero article, the whole point of the article is that Goertz didn't design the CSP311 Silvia Coupe. The article - which, as you point out, Kimura co-operated with - shed some light on the fact that Kimura and others had all but finalised the design and styling of the CSP311 a good while before Goertz had got his foot through the door at Nissan. The only major change after Goertz turned up was the slight re-shaping of the rear pillars.... I believe Yamaha finished the first CSP311 prototype before the 15th October 1963 deadline that they had been given, but that Nissan decided not to show it at that year's Tokyo show? I have a big hunch that there's still more of the A550X story to be revealed, and that - given his track record - we can't trust a single word that Goertz ever uttered about his time with Nissan / Yamaha / The Yasukawa Institute. Alan T.