Carl Beck

Hi Mike - maybe I mis-understood. Are you saying that there were only 1 Post to this thread - before May 2015? I was thinking the thread started way before that, when motorman7 first got the Z. Carl B.

Did we ever get the full thread reloaded to the site? Is all that information lost? Carl B,

Hi Terje: Looks like a great road trip to enjoy with your friends. Is the Feria Chocolate Factory on that Road? That's the road I want to be on. Carl B.

Could be something as simple as the server is down.. Maybe try it later.

Hello Everyone: Mr. Shigeru Nagata (retired Nissan employee) wanted to provide a little more information related to Nissan’s use of full size clay models, in the Design Development Department starting in 1961. Mr. Nagata was assigned to assist Mr. Goertz as a translator, during Mr. Goertz time at Nissan. He was also responsible for the Design Development Departments implementation of the US FMVSS related to Interior Design. Mr. Nagata wrote a 9 page article, in English that he wanted to share with the American Z Car Enthusiasts. Toward that end I have added it to the Z Car Home Page, along with more introductory information about Mr. Nagata. I think everyone will find it very interesting. See: http://zhome.com/History/ShigeruNagata/SNagata.htm FWIW, Carl B.

"Does your Dog Bit?"

Mr. Brock has "re-designed" the rear spoiler. He wanted to make it fit clear across the top of the rear quarter - so the outside edges of the rear spoiler lines up with the body line {or in the case of the BRE Livery - with the paint line}. The original was just a little short of reaching the body line on each side. Some people found out about the new redesigned one's before they were even publicly announced.. and they sold out. So if you want the new one - it may take a while to get an order filled. You can see more about it on the BRE2 Facebook site. Nissan did offer the rear spoiler in Japan...Because of BRE's Contract with Nissan, BRE was allowed to sell any of the performance options direct to the public. BRE also supplied most of them to the Authorized DATSUN Dealers her in North America because they cost less to produce locally, than to produce and ship them from Japan. At the Dealership I worked at - it was pretty much a Customer Choice related to paint or not. So we bolted them on Black.. but if the Customer wanted we'd paint them for a bit extra money. On a few 240's for the Showroom Floor - they were painted body color. Those 240Z's usually got full optional equipment - in order to display everything on the car. {spoilers, mag's, body side molding, Racing Strips, etc}. FWIW, Carl B.

In case you haven't already seen it - Motorman's beautiful 240Z is featured in a story on the Hagerty Web Site. https://www.hagerty.com/yourstories/2015/11/29/all-in-the-family-unrestored-240z20151129112335

Thin sheet metal does not equal “weak”. It equals “lightweight” if anything. The 240Z body doesn’t flex because of thin metal. Uni-body flex is more a matter of the exact design of the structural components, the specific grade of steel used and how well it is all welded together. There is a good reason Race Cars are “seam welded” for example. Agreed that rust damage to structural components can weaken the uni-body.

I think that slogan was very relevant prior to 1970 here in the US. That was a time when “price” was actually related to “quality”. Also a time when Brand Name was a reliable indication of “quality”. Today you can’t count on price nor Brand Name to give an indication of the quality of the product. So we need a new slogan.. “Just because it is expensive - it doesn’t mean it is any good” “Poor quality goods are everywhere. If you want high quality - you have to seek it out” Maybe still the Best: “Ask the man who owns one." FWIW, Carl B.

The ABSORBER - the local WallMart carries them as well. Soft Bath Towels I believe that the key to avoiding the micro scratches you see in the surface - is to be consistent in keeping the surface clear of the micro fine particles of dust/grim that get attached to, or stuck in, the waxes and polishes that are used to coat/protect the paint. Most of the drying methods mentioned won’t actually scratch your paint. The micro scratches you usually see, are actually scratches in the surface built up wax/polish left on the car. They are the result of grim/grit that is still trapped in that remaining wax/polish even after you wash the car. Most people rinse the car off with just water if the car has a good wax shine, or they use very mild soaps so as not to remove the wax. So the remaining wax gets contaminated with micro fine particles. These micro fine particles can be dragged or moved across the surface - by contact with almost anything used to dry the car. If you are getting micro fine scratches showing up in your surface - it is past time to Clay Bar the car. Wash and dry your car - then run your finger tips over the dry surface. Clay Bar that area - and run your finger tips over it again. You will quickly see that what you thought was a “clean” surface - really had a lot of grim trapped. That grim you just removed with the Clay Bar - is what puts the micro scratches in the finish, if it is dragged around by anything coming in contact with it. FWIW,Carl B.

The Pictures Posted at #1 and #17 aren't loading? Any reason? Carl B.

Yes - $4106.00..your window sticker is more legible.. Dealer installed accessories were included on the New Car Sale Order. Many times the Dealers put a secondary Price Sheet in the windows of the cars, beside the required Manufacturers Window Sticker. On that secondary Price Sheet they listed the costs of the additional accessories. A/C and spoilers would have been on the Sales Order for sure.. FWIW, Carl B.

Really happy to see this 240Z in the hands of someone that can appreciate it. It is a rare beauty and the type of 240Z most Collectors and Enthusiasts dream of finding. I'll be watching this as the progress takes place. A word about the finish - CAUTION. Wash, Clay Bar, and very lightly polish that 40 year old enamel... you don't want to cut through the shiny skin coat - once it is gone, so is the shine! Enjoy the process... Carl B.

Yes, in that context I'd agree. For decades the 240Z's have been very low priced relative to the value they represent. It is a Supply/Demand situation. For decades the 60's Camero's and Mustangs were very inexpensive. You could pick up a well used 63-67 Vette for $3000.00 at one point. Sooner or later Suppy/Demand change. Now at 40+ years old - I think we are finally seeing the supply of good 240Z's becoming more limited - and demand is finally starting to increase again after the financial melt down of 2007/8. One problem, if that could be called a problem - is that too many people kept and cared for their 240Z's.. Amazing how many are still being driven after 40+ years. FWIW, Carl B.

Maybe MSRP $4156 for 1972? But that didn't include A/C {$499.00}, Dealer Prep, Transportation to the Dealership... Of course he could have got a "Deal" - but that wasn't very common in 72. Every one we sold had several Dealer Accessories added before the sale. Mag.'s, body side molding, front/rear bumper guards, custom pin stripping, vinyl roofs.. Out the door closer to $4800 with tax/tags.. I also looked at new Vette in 1970 - it was around $5200.00 then. But I really didn't like the Vette compared to the Z. It felt too cramped.. no luggage space etc. Plus the Chevy Dealer was less than impressive.. FWIW, Carl B.

I understand you point - but have to add a comment. I hear people all the time saying the 240Z sold because it was inexpensive.. I bought a 240Z in 1970 - trust me - it was not inexpensive and anything but "low cost". Sports Cars were a luxury to begin with - and the 240Z cost as much or more than any of its competition at the time. Lower cost Sports Cars like the like the Fiat 850 Spider, MG Midget and Austin Healey Sprite were closer to $2000.00.. No the 240Z was not a econo box..it was loaded with features that screamed Luxury {in a Sports Car}. Nor did many people actually buy a 240Z for less than a $1000.00 more than the MSRP.. when other cars could usually be bought for slightly less than their MSRP. MSRP’s on some 1970 Models: BelAir $2988.00Pontiac Catalina $3249.00 Fiat 850 Sport Spider $2168.00MG Midget $2279.00Austin Healey Sprite $2050.00 Toyota Corolla at $1856.00Datsun 1200 $1695.00Datsun 510 $1935.00 FWIW,Carl B.

SOLD $230K or $253K with buyer's premium

Wow.. a short drive to Memphis for the ZCCA Convention.. Bentonville by chance? good luck with the move.. Carl B.

As usual - you would have to see the quality of the repaint - along with everything else to determine if it's worth $17K.. High Quality repaint {as good or better than the original factory job} - with the engine bay gleaming etc etc - $17K doesn't seem too far out of line.. especial with a one owner car. If it was a less expensive surface repaint, with all glass left in etc... and the engine bay looks like 76K miles ..needing new shocks, a complete brake job, other suspension work....etc etc... $12K.. Although it looks great in the two pictures show.. Carl

Factor Service Manuals - show the windshield in the 240Z's attached with adhesive..

How about something like this...?

I wonder - without the rear strut tower brace - who has actually measured the amount of flex or distortion that is taking place at the tops of the shock towers to begin with. Is the brace supposed to hold them apart - or hold them down? {especially on a street car}. As far as body rigidity, or suspension movement etc goes - you might be better off bracing something else on a street car - without going to a full roll cage. As to your question - I don't see any difference between bracing one side or the other - but then I'm not an M.E... I could see the suggestion of using an "X" between the two sides - to help keep the floor or that section of the body from flexing. Up front you have a strong cross member holding the engine - and a strut tower brace above. With the rear you don't really have a lower structure as strong. At least no one else is offering anything like that {effective or not - }. Carl

Mr. K's first return to the USA for a Z Car event - was at the invitation of the Georgia Z Car Club. That was for the 25th Anniversary of the Z and held in Atlanta, GA 1995. Much of the HISTORY CHANNEL "History of the Z Car" was filmed there at that time. FWIW, Carl

Tamo - very confusing. Especially when you quote only part of what is on Wikipedia. Wikipedia says: "Mr. K, was a Japanese automotive executive who was employed by Nissan and served as the first president of Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A” Wikipedia is quite wrong. Mr. K. was the second person to hold the office of President, "Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A.” Mr. Takashi Ishihara was the first President of "Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A.” Mr. Ishihara’s offices were located in Japan, so Mr. K. was the first President of "Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A.” … who was located in the U.S.A. So perhaps it was poorly phrased -“Nissan’s first President in U.S.A." - but for the most part I think the fact that Mr. K was the first person outside of the Nissan Corporate Offices in Japan - to be elevated to that level of authority, President of a wholly own Nissan Subsidiary here in the US is significant.