Z CAR 77

Hi Everybody :classic: I'm new to the Classic Z website but very old to the wonderful world of Z Cars. I've owned my 280Z since new and plan to pass it on to my Son when they slam the lid closed on my pine box. Through the years my wife and I have ran hillclimbs & autocrosses and tour all over the US and Canada in the 280Z. During those 30 plus years a number of suspension parts have found there way on and off the car ... which brings me to my question. Over the Winter I'm planning to set the Z up to do some NASA HPDE racing next year (we already do HPDE with a 2006 Honda Civic Si and a 1995 Honda Prelude VTEC which I've tuned the suspensions on). I'm looking for input and opinions on what modifications people have tried on their Zs that tune the suspension for HPDE without going over the top and setting it up for full out racing (I'm still planning to do some touring in it). The aftermarket parts I currently have on the Z are, a complete MSA Urethane bushing kit and KYB-G2 struts and stock springs. Off the car I have a vintage set of Interpart/Mulholland springs and thanks to Arne I have the matching set of new Mulholland strut on order (thanks again Arne for the source). Also off the car I have a set of Panasport 16x7 wheels & Goodyear F1 GS-D3 205/50/16 tires and a set of Shelby Mini Europa wheels & Yoko AVID S/T 225/60/14 tires. I'm just listing what's off the car so you can see some of my options as far as combinations. Thanks in advance for your valued input and opinions Stan Norton (aka: Z CAR 77)

Hi Arne, I'm currently getting really to lower my 280Z suspension so I can do a few NASA HPDEs next year. I'm currently running KYB and stock springs. I have a set of vintage Mulholland race springs (bought them from Interpart in the 70s) but the vintage Mulholland strut were shot so I went back to the KYB/stock spring set-up. Can you e-mail or PM me the Mulholland source so I can pick up a set of NOS Mulhollands. I'd given up hope of ever finding Mulhollands again. Happy Motoring, Stan

Hi Michael - Thanks for the welcome ... and thanks for hosting the "original 280Z owners list" ... it really look nice!

It all started in early Spring of 1977. I was 23 years old, married (still married to the same lady), and had a big pile of $ from working a ton of overtime. I was driving a 1974 Nova and dreamed of having a two seater sportscar. After researching what to buy I settled on either a Fiat X-19 or Datsun 280Z. I started by going to the local Fiat Dealership, but after trying to sit in the X-19 (I'm 6 4 220#) I knew that was not the car for me. Next I went to the local Datsun Dealer to check out the Z. I walked in the showroom and spotting a 280Z, I opened the door and jumped behind the wheel. In less than a minute my life was changed forever ... I became a Z-aholic ... forever a slave to Z-Car. Out of the corner of my eye I see a salesmen making a bee line over to the car. He opens the door and says "I'm sorry but this car is sold and you'll have to get out of it"! He quickly explains that they had no 280Zs on the lot for sale, but he would be "glad" to put me on a waiting list. To make a long story short, wait for 3 to 9 months and this Dealer may sell me a car ... for a few grand over lists. This started my "quest" to own my dreamcar the Datsun 280Z. The quest finally ended on 09/10/1977 (more than 6 months later) at a small Datsun Dealership 60 miles away from where I lived (and I paid list). During those 6 months, I had made a weekly call to every Datsun Dealer within 120 miles of me ... nothing, nothing, nothing ... until finally paydirt. Benson-Reiter Datsun of Peru, Illinois had just got notice of a delivery of 3 Zs ... the two 5-speeds were already sold but the 4-speed on the order was available. It was the 1st year for 5-speeds so they were the hot ticket. After sleeping on it over night I call them back and said I'd be there with a check in hand when it came off the truck ... and I was! Fast forwarding over the next 31 years ... we've raced it in hillclimbs and autocrosses ... driven it all over the US and Canada ... babied it like the true classic it is ... and plan to pass it on to our Son when we die. However, we're planning to put a bunch more miles on it before our Son gets his hands on it. I could write a bunch more, but I want to head out the the garage, take off the car cover, and start up my dreamcar. I would take it out for a drive, but there's salt on the roads, and my baby don't see salt! Happy Motoring, Stan Norton