v12horse

I don't mean to make it out like the judges were anti- Fairlady Z, because a few of them owned or did own Fairlady Z's. It may be some National Convention rule that the car must have been imported here, which I think if it is a rule that it should definately be one to be broken. They were really nice people. I only met one judge that seemed closed minded towards the JDM cars, he was still a nice guy though. I hope I didn't sound misleading in my prevous post. However, they did make the claim that Fairlady Z's were really not part of the classes. The more I think about this, the more I think they do break the rule because Tetsu, the president of the UZCC of Japan won first with his modified FAIRLADY Z in the super modified 280ZX class. Hmm, now I have totally contradicted myself. Being a judge had its ups and downs. I hate docking points for stuff. It is really not my type of thing. I am glad I learned more about the interior of 240z's, but I don't think I would do it again. I cann't be mean, but I had to a few times just to be fair. That part was not cool. -Ben

I agree with you Remy. Save this car from the crusher. If you want to see beautiful examples of 2/2's, take a look in Brian Long's book, " Fairlady to 280." Maybe some of you will change your tune. They are going to be come extinct, or very rare if we keep this mentality of 2/2's being the lesser car. OMO, Ben

Alan, I too wonder what Matsuo was thinking when I asked the questions that I did? He was very talkative and he was telling me, and others, about the details of the S30 that many people would disregard. The hinges, the emblems, the non-belted radials, Kobe Sieko as an outside company, etc. I guess I will never know what he thought when asked so many questions on the design of the S30, but that is why this forum is great. I am so intrigued by the history of the Z, and I think many of us see the gaps in the history of the Zcar, and want to be able to learn and share what may be forgotten. There are no books about this kind of stuff, and the information that gets passed from one person to another on this forum about these things would make an outstanding book. I wish Matsuo san could read and reply to some of the discussions that go on here. I am sure he would be most intrigued. This is a little off topic, but sort of the same. I was a judge at the convention, not knowing until the day before. It is a long story. I stated in the application that I had a little experience with judgeing from the MSA show (ballet) and another show (ballet). So they made me a judge. I was first going to have to judge S130's, and I said I am really not familliar so it would not be fair. They put me on the 240z daily driver class and I was judging with an "expert." He judged the exterior while I judged the interior. It was a lot of fun by the way. Anyways, now I will tell you all my story. I was in a conference room and there were all these other judges around. They were talking about different hoses, clamps, belts, batteries, etc. and if the cars didn't have them, mark points down. I was pretty overwhelmed. I thought that someday I would like to restore a Z back to oem specifications, and the extent they were talking about was a concours standard. I much rather find a non-abused S30 still in its stock form. Moreover, all I was hearing was 240, 260, 280, 300, 350. Never once did I hear Fairlady Z. Thanks to my smart arse mouth, thanks so much to the members of 240z.org, I brought up the question. "What about the Fairlady Z? Are they put in with the US market cars?" They said that since Fairlady Z's were not in the dealerships here, that the Fairlady Z was basically in the modified class. I was shocked, no offended is a better word. Right off the bat they thought I had one, I replied with a, " NO no no, I am just an enthusiast of them." I was now an alien, but that is okay. I really wonder if there was a Fairlady Z as nice and bonified stock as other cars there, would they not judge it in the stock class? would it be docked or put in the modified class? One day, I hope some one challenges the convention with that, if not, I will. Give me 10 years. Alan is right, there are huge gaps in the knowledge of these cars, but with this forum and the people on it, there is a potential to shorten those gaps, and in some ways the thinking that we do from participating in these "philosophical Z" threads is a great start to finding new knowledge. It is out there. I will try not to be so passive, and through out my opinion on the table. Ben

Lachlan, I apologize for my assumptions. I shouldn't have let it all hang out like that. I was not trying to offend you or anyone for that matter. I totally agree with you and Alan on the people trying to say that the S30 was totally for the US market as being a hurtful and incorrect statement. Alan, your thoughts and facts on the S30 initially starting and hinting at being a RHD car first, I agree with. I am going to leave it at that for now. However, I would love to hear more about the possibilities of what the S30 could have been. Is there any really good pictures of the convertible (targa) Z out there? I can picture it, but I would really be curious to see exactly what Matsuo envisioned for the S30 cab. Why did it not become a reality? A V12 Z??? Darn, my sn could have been correct for an s30. -Ben

This is another philosophical topic that I take the blame for starting. What ever anyone says- we should agree (huge opinion. I am inpsired by the pictures in Brain Long's book, if you know what I mean.) that the 240z, 260 (early or late, 2+2 or 2 seater), 280z(2+2 or 2 seater), Fairlady Z( base, ZL, 2 seater, and 2/2), Fairlady 240z ( including the long and short nose), Fairlady Z432, and Fairlady Z432-R are all great cars. Some are different due to being for export or for the home market, but they are all great cars. Let's not try to say which one(s) is superior to the others, but enjoy the cars we have and look at them all as S30's (which they all are, except for S31, but still the same car for the most part). I don't know how or what I am trying to say, but, hmm we have different cars from diferent places around the world and like Matsuo said, the S30 was meant to be a worldly car. The US got the cars they got because of legalities and of what the North American's would love, and they loved and still love the 240, 260, and 280. Australia, Uk, and every other country besides the home market got the 240 and 260. Guess what, they love them too. Home market? You guessed it, they have big car clubs for these beauties just like many other countries. Lachlan, I don't want you to think that I am mocking your words, because I am not. I am just trying to voice my opinion and what the function of me asking Matsuo the question that started this thread was. Matsuo told me that the S30 was to be a car accepted world wide, and like Alan said, each place got a different varient to conform to the needs of that area. Here is another question. Why were the 240zg and the Z432 only for the home market? (I only mention this because if there are 2 z's that are the most sought after, I would think it would be these two, but this is only an opinion by many- not all.) I would assume that it was for homologation purposes, just as there is a long nose Fairlady Z (Z33) offered for the home market currently. Why? Homologation for racing. These are just a few Ideas I have had, and I am not going to say that all S30's are equal. We all have our opinions, and I definately have mine. I hope this clears things up a little, but I can see it fogging things up even more as well. I don't want to make generalizations or inaccuracies, so please correct me. Voice your opinion(s) too. Errr, I don't know what more to say. I really think studying is getting to me. *stepping off soap box* Ben

Yeah I would like to find a set of those works rally wheels too. I am afraid of the price, so I won't look too hard. I can lust though. I would be very happy with the same size and offset Watanabe. Ben:classic:

Thanks Kats for the correction on Mr. Akamatsu's LY. I will change my post. That is a nice picture of Mr. Akamatsu, my father, and I. I just wish I was standing up straight. I really need to correct my posture. Ben p.s. My Dad is a little eccentric as you can probably tell. He is a great guy and I am glad we went on the trip together.

Awe Marc, that is too bad about the dent. Even if you do find out who did it, what is going to happen? Are they likely to pay for it? Or are they just going to give the, "I am sorry man." The ding has to be professionally fixed, but can you rub out the scrape? I don't know what to say . It is horrible that it happened, but it could have been worse. Are you sure it wasn't Anya again? J/k . Take care Mark p.s. It is still the nicest 280z I have seen. Just hang low and don't say anything to anyone about it because like Lachlan said, you don't want any haters.

That is great. I really am becoming more fond of the Z33.

You deserve it Marc. Your car kicks A$$. It is the nicest 280z I have seen. I love the cleanliness and the wheels. Keep it OG.

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=11556&password=&sort=2&thecat=997 Need I say more. Get some Wats Victor.

You are a lucky man dhoneycutt. Thank you Chris for sharing some of your talk with Matsuo.