Sean Dezart

A quick search found these : http://www.zclub.net/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=1678&cat=1 http://www.zclub.net/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=1647&cat=1 and especially http://www.zclub.net/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=1486&cat=1 I'm sure you can find more and at varying prices ! Oh - hello Carl.

Ok chaps - get yer hammer and nails out 'cos you've got a real, live slimey Ebay villain here..........or have you ? Last week, a Parisian motorcycle cop hit an elderly woman on a pedestrian crossing, severing one of her legs, the poor lady died two days later and it was discovered that the cop had been speeding with no siren, no warning lights and was over the minimum alcohol limit. Scary that they're allowed to drink at all before being on duty but maybe he was already..... The next day a gendarme shot at a superior before blowing his own head off - an attempt maybe at improving upon the USPS sorting office life expectancy (no offence to you guys - you do a great job and I always get my Z parts delivered safely) ! The Pope, currently visiting us here has apologised for various infractions and cases of immorality undertaken by 'his' gentlemen of the cloth. What am I going on about and why ? Who can you trust ? Not men, not women not animals said Conans' father - this boy, this, you can trust as he showed him steel ! And that's it - you can't trust anyone and you're all right to have questioned this sale BUT I still have the car, well, most of it including the chassis! If any of you want to buy the numbers AND the chassis and pay for its' transport BACK to the USA - I'm open to offers. But unless someone here's a looney millionaire, that aint gonna happen and if there is one here, where was he (she ?) when I bought the car 3 1/2 years ago for $1760. History of the car : I was buying several Z to import into Europe via Spain (lower VAT) and in fact 11 were bought and 1x Fairlady Roadster, currently being restored not far from me by its' new owner. I wasn't expecting to win the 1970 Z bid - it was a 'stocking filler' - a last, cheap car to cram into a container to make the most of a bit more space ! I 'won' however, a complete car needed some attention to restore it having had a small knock in the rear panel but included a replacement rear hatch. When I saw the car...whoa, the complete rear end needed replcaing, not just the hatch (which wasn't an original type with the lower vents), both engine end chassis rails had been 'cut' and 'welded' by some guys little brother it appears, the bonnet support panels are bent and most importantly, the firewall was buckled and even pierced ! It had the orginal E31 engine and head, 4 sp gearbox and most of the interior but in very poor state. Thanks MR USA Ebay seller - sounds almost illegal doesn't it ? Let's just say that he was econmical with the truth and poorly described his car and move on. I'd hoped to sell it on cheaply as a potential track car, perhaps eligible for pre'70 race classement as it could probably be proved to have been manufactured before January 1970. BUT, I wouldn't let anyone take this car away just like that so began a programme of stripping it down in preperation for repalcement panels including a 'new' firewall - the orginal reason why the VIN was cut out ! But one starts buying panels and then lucidty starts creeping in and I realise that I'm going to lose so much money so I sell some panels, keep others in case of trouble with my own 240 and start to sell off what's salvageable on this chassis. I'm happy to have cut out the VIN because when this chassis goes to the great Z paradise, nobody can re-hash the number. So, I have a practically useless chassis, European VAT and customs duties paid upon it, all the clear titles and documents and even Nissans' certicate of conformity ready to import it on a CG normale but I'm not going to do that - it wouldn't be ethical. I'm not famous but I have a reputation and people know of me and even if you don't always like what I say, I would never screw another Z fan - Zs and Z people have given me too much pleasure in life and besides, I have principal to treat others how I'd expect to be treated ! You should know that to import a car here, the car doesn't even have to be seen - if you know someone at the controle technique station, they'll sell you a CT 'non-runner' which you then use with other official documents to get your CG normale or collection ! I've hidden nothing, the car has always been mine since it arrived in Europe, it still is and I've talked about it on this forum, on the UK forum and on our French forum. It's been advertised honestly in the UK, in France and on Ebay.fr I did palce the ad on Ebay.com for a laugh - if someone wanted to buy it - no problem but I wasn't insulting anyones' intelligence but including the chassis - niaive perhaps considering Ebays' rules and I could still place another ad including the chassis and removing the title photo........ but what would it serve ? Why then did I add "use it as YOU think fit" - to cover my ar*e but nobody came back and asked if there really was no more chassis. Anyway - it spurred some discussion and perhaps you know more now than at the beginning of the thread. Interesting to nate that the discussion went from illegal, to only illegal if abused after purchase to too expensive....... That it's now been reported as dubious doesn't worry me - I wasn't really expecting the sale to lead anywhere anyway and if now, that means that no-one else might have a chance of restoring an early chassis - tough ! Someone can still make me an offer though.... or it'll go up on a frame in my Z garage : the chassis will get crushed ! That'll boost up the early cars values......:devious: - do I get a bonus for that ? But hang on - there remains another question unanswered : why sell it on Ebay.com if the car is in France and 3/4 legally imported ? Because your country is the only one I know of where an early car is so coveted ! Perhaps Alan will correct me that maybe in Japan, pre-HS30 car command a premium but I guess that they're so expensive in any form there anyway ! But why do YOU value a 'series 1' car so ? Is it better to drive than another ? Nissan didn't think so or they wouldn't have changed so many things....are they better then, than say, pre-72 cars ? Pre-'73 cars ? It seems to me that '71 and '72 cars are the most desirable as most people can't get hold of the 'series 1' cars or don't want to because they're either : 1) basket cases and very expensive to restore to original form or 2) they're too expensive once restored or in very good original form Ultimately (in my opinion) a '73 240Z with early carbs, or a 260Z with 240Z carbs or a 280Z (both mith erhum, improved bumpers) are much better than your 'series 1s' which in all honesty count merely for snob value ! Poindexter - " I did in fact stop to think what happened, but since finding out precisely what happened to the "donor" car is nigh impossible from the US, I did not bother trying." 1) you could have contacted me via Eaby with a private message 2) after Alan highlighted the UK site advert. you could have replied 3) after it was highlighted that I was a member here, you could have PM'd me so, in conclusion it wasn't and still isn't impossible and you don't try very hard at all. No need to be disappointed Lazeum :classic: Not at all why it's being sold or I might have worded it differently and advertised it on Ebay.fr Pre-1972 cars in the UK are exempt from road tax and so I might have done the same on Ebay.co.uk and is another reason why imports are popular since not many original UK cars survive from before end 1972 although Alan has well explained the end use of 95% of LHD imports into the UK. REMEMBER THAT if selling a car to a slimey limey - the sale isn't illegal but the end use could be (words sound familiar ?) ! Rubbish - your car may have been valued at €20000 like several others I know of (mine's been valued at €30000) but you and I would be hard pressed to find a buyer at that amount. Most 240Zs over here go for around €10000 - €16000 although of course I believe that they are obviously under-valued. Thankfully, one DOES have to make sure that the brakes work right, the lights are conforming and (sadly) the emissions test is passed - some of the cars sold on Ebay are right lemons and if you're getting a CG Collection then you know that you only need to get it through a controle technique and if you know someone there - that shouldn't be a problem even if some things aren't 'exactly' 'legal' !ps My engine's a stroked 3.1 and still passes the emissions test ! I think that it's generally belived that about 850 240Zs were officially imported into France between 1971 and early 1974 with perhaps no more than 20% left running. Yours Lazeum, is one of perhaps 20 personnally imported of all S30 types. Totally unrealistic - where do you find this 260/280 ? Stateside ? Then it'll cost the same to import that as a perfect 240Z and nobody can convince me that a 260/280Z ressembles a 240Z 'cept for the bumpers ! C'mon ! Besides, this car (chassis number 4944) isn't on French plates yet ! Whatever, enjoy your presidential election - it sounds like it's gonna get really entertaining ! Cordialement,

Just looking across at Zhome: is this true ? The HS30 series cars (right hand drive models) started production in Jan. of 1970, and were given a separate chassis serial number series. While there seems to be some wide spread misunderstanding related to the year of manufacture of these cars, (which is not helped by Nissans own publications, which give broad ranges within which certain series of cars were produced). There is sufficient evidence to bear this out. I assume that the figures given are export figures as Japan doesn't appear ? And that others are made up of HS and HLS Zs ?

Can anyone help me with more details regarding European Z sales please ? Primarily the 240Z but I'm looking for figures on all 260Zs, 2 seaters and 2+2s ? Any specific information for France would be VERY welcome ! In the absence of any figures, I'm stumped because the figures I've seen for the JDM and export markets and take away those sold in the US don't add up !

Well, err.........it's got some nice reproduced photos and some info on Aussie racing/rallying that I didn't know but someone should really do a correct book - since 1996, there have been at least 4 Complete Z Story books and all of them stop short of complete fulfillment ! I'd still like read more on the JDM models and the Japanese Z races - gotta be important in the development of the cars as this was hands-on testing on their doorstep and crucial to have good results !

I believe that there is a little read (small print) ebay rule against spreading falsehood and then again the moral argument against selling said information to other Z owners - perpetual Goertzism would continue into yet another generation ! Don't do it, think of the calorific value of these books in your fireplace :-) ! I have already said I'd put some money up front for another member here to write a book with more than re-hashed trash in it, a book with un-discovered info or at the least, not widely known, a real book with real facts for real enthusiasts ! Go for it !

ISBN no is : 0 947 079 89 0 Started reading but stopped when it said that Goertz was hired by Nissan to design the 240Z, primarily destined for the US market :-) ! It'll look great holding up one corner of a spare bed I've got.........

Got any photos of the frame damage please ?

He's like a Z engine - runs hot but efficiently ! Don't forget to oil regularly !

And the export RHD to Europe and Australasia were the same spec ? I can only work out the S30 P, S and HS for now, RS and whatnot later !

Sorry, been away from this site for some time and THAT book, isn't on my shelf, I lent it to the guy writing the French book on Zs ! So, I'm getting there (I think) : JDM Fairlady Z model S30-S VIN S30 JDM Fairlady Z-L model S30 VIN S30 JDM Fairlady 240Z model HS30-S VIN HS30 JDM Fairlady 240Z-L model HS30 VIN HS30 JDM Fairlady 240Z-G model HS30-H VIN HS30 JDM Fairlady Z432 model PS30 VIN PS30 JDM Fairlady Z432-R model PS30-SB VIN PS30 Export market 240Z model HS30 VIN HS30 (RHD) Export market 240Z model HLS30 VIN HLS30 (LHD) Any other export models ? Z-Gs, Z432s etc ? Or are all the others personal imports ? Sean

Stephen, It's up to the likes of us (or more likely - THEM with us posing our questions) that CAN clear up the myths, confusion, heresay, outright untruths, etc, always allowing for differing viewpoints but one can't argue when the truth is presented on a plate ! So here I go again (wanting to understand) : JDM Fairlady 240Z VIN S30 JDM Fairlady 240Z-L VIN S30-S but second 'S' doesn't appear on firewall and tag stampings JDM Fairlady 240Z-G VIN HS30-H but second 'H' doesn't appear on firewall and tag stampings First 'H' in HS-30 refers to 2.4 litre engine ! Questions (still) - why are the first two above (S30 and S30-S) known as 240Zs if they don't have the 2.4 litre engine (no 'H' suffix) ? Were there two Z-G models ? One a 2 litre and one a 2.4 ? How does Nissan denote the 2 litre Z-G model ? S30-H ? And for the Z432 ? PS30 and PS30-H (was there an official Z-G 432) ? "if the HS30-H was the same as the HLS30 A or HLS30 AU" - WHAT ? Never heard of an 'A' or 'AU' (automatic ?) Someone out there knows something.....

HS30H - the second "H" signifies a JDM Fairlady 240 Z-G and only a Z-G ? Not any other JDM Fairlady 240Z model ? I might be getting the hang of this ! It was all so easy back in '89 when I bought my first one when I read two books and thought I knew it all ! I still knew 100x more than my neighbour who said it was a cross between a Capri and an E-Type - limited view, limited knowledge !

When the book is delivered, I can quote you !

Well, I've bought one now - it'll go into the collection and end up as a prize in some best Z competition :-) ! There will be another new one out some time next year (in French) without the Goertz drivel, thanks to HS-30 ! And what's this I read about a Fairlady Z book coming out next February written in English by a Japanese who usually writes about the reproductive system ? I'm not kidding and wonder what the connection is :-) !

No, but I'll have one anyway ! Wonder if it's updated the Z story or the same old copied drivel ? Big Healey successor / Goertz / made for exporting / mimited competion history, limited to a bit on the SCCA and Samuri in the UK, and completely forgetting about the rest of the world except East Africa ? Be nice if it has some more info on country specific models and options !

Alan, You can't blame me for seeking a worldwide opinion on this, the other site is SOOOOO limited :-) ! I am quite satisfied with the info found over there but curious to see what others think, especially those from the US in whose market this particular car was sold. So all the Fairlady 240Zs had the HS30 prefix ! Now I'm confused, as I thought that the JDM 240Zs were S30s and the H was possibly for exported models (HS for RHD and HLS for left hand drive ! So what models are covered by the 'S30' and 'PS30' (Z432 and Z432R ?) or is the 'S30' a contraction of HS and HLS30 ? Be patient with the ignorant, help me to crawl out of the darkness and to help others - the gospel is coming, I can hear the angels singing !

The only other fact I have to go on is that the date stamp on the rear view mirror fitting is May 1970 ! The date of first registration in the US was 1971 but no month ! Wouldn't it be nice to be able to look up chassis number ranges to see - their market destination, factory options etc.....yeah, dream on ! Thanks for more precision - I accept that it is precocious to claim it is the 4944th built but, as you say, it won't be far off - all depends how many they built and stamped in a batch :-)

From what I've been advised, there is probably an HS30-004944 and an S30-04944 (I say probably because maybe the cars in time have been scrapped, maybe not ! I agree that the build date stamp plate is not accurate but I doubt that the plate date is later than the manufacture, why do that ? Hmm, perhaps I should be clear; I doubt that the plate date is significantly later than the actual manufacture date, perhaps the plate date is a month later than actual manufacture, when they got around to fixing the plates at the dock before departure ! In any case, the plate date would be later than build date (plate date the same as the date of plate fixation?) unless Nissan was on a scam of some sort to produce more cars than expected in 1970 or before a certain month ? Hardly likely ! I therefore have tio assume that mine was built no later than June 1970 ! Logical conclusion ???

Been out of things for a while so sorry if this thread is a repeat ! So, I have a 'US' 240, with a build date stamp plate (inside of drivers' door) showing June 1970, and chassis number HLS30-04944. Now, I read somewhere that the chassis numbers run was not 'consistent' and/or ran in parallel and so I'm wondering if that means that there is an HS30-04944 and that mine isn't necessarily the 4944th ever built ! Can anyone enlighten me please ?

Hi, We have a new member over here who, after an accident is in a wheelchair. He's always dreamed of Zs since the mid '70s and now has a 280ZX and has begun restoring a 260 2+2. The 280 is fitted with a mechanical hand control system for the clutch and has a hand throttle (obviously) but he finds this is system a little less precise than he would wish. Anyone know of any alternatives (other than fitting an auto box), factory made or DIY ? He was thinking of some sort of hydraulic system !!! Cheers, Sean

Mr T, I'm looking for more in depth tech spec, eg a V12 but running what compression, dry sump etc..... and a tech spec of the car - suspension, brakes, dimensions incl weight etc. The original request was for the R380 but that's in part because I only knew about that one ! I thought I read that the R380 did turn a wheel in the States (are we being finnicky here and saying "yes, but it never raced" ?) ! Sean ps, Belated, but your pictures from Gama and Ginza and others' contribution to this thread are fabulous - a Z convention over there with a day in each 'museum' would be worth saving up for...!

Err, so what engine did the R380 officially have guys ? I read that in the US some US engines were used, in South Africa ???, and in Japan ? Can anyone give me the technical spec for the car please ?

Mike, deal direct with Sandor at : info@zclubhungary.hu He'll be very happy to hear from you - he created the site ! Sean

Hi Chaps, There is a new site and forum created in Hungary; http://www.eu-z-club-net.com/ It would be really great if this could be included on this sites' link pages and a link to this site would, obviously, by courtesy be posted up on the new site ! Sean