26th-Z

What you missed was this little beauty - the real thing. The early Datsun corporate HQ was at 137 East Alondra Blvd. in Gardena (CA). In 1970, the Master Parts Depot (MPD) opened on Artesia Blvd. (also in Gardena). From early 1970 until the famous 9-story HQ building was finished in '72, the corporate HQ was located in one of the front modules at the newly constructed MPD. Originally, the building had front & rear entrances. However, upon completion of the 91 freeway, the back entrance (on Walnut Street) became the main (& only) entrance. Prior to the freeway coming thru, the front lawn contained a volleyball court (complete w/sand pit) for the employees to use during lunch hour. Mr. Katayama (Mr. K) was also known to have flown his kites on that front lawn. This sign is made from 3/4" wood w/plastic lettering & border. It measures 30" x 18" &, except for being a little worn from 15 years worth of exposure & dirty from 20+ years of storage, is in very good condition. This sign was removed upon the name conversion from DATSUN to NISSAN in 1984. Fortunately, it has gone to one of the best homes it could have.

I need to go out to the shop and get the lamps. I'll measure them and post some answers. I have two lamps = one set. I believe they were 280Z vintage Datsun options and I don't know if they are fog or driving lamps. They come with the Datsun covers. Yes, fog lamps are made for a different lighting pattern than driving lamps. Driving lamps illuminate distance and cannot pierce the fog. Fog lamps illuminate the ground in front of the car and although they do not pierce the fog either, they are great for a wide range of illumination directly in front of the car.

Jump back into the conversation, I really thought Steele would have something, and I realize it specializes in American stuff, but if you aren't satisfied then I will go along with it. I'm just not at the stage of needing special rubber parts that I don't already have. I have a shift boot as well as a couple of the lace types. I was planning to have new boots made from my pattern and such, HOWEVER there seems to be a ground swell gaining here and I would happily jump on the support bandwagon to buy at least two shift boot replicas. Let me know. Chris

As usual, Kats, you make me jealous.:knockedou

I was (and still am) looking for these when I bought the ones I would sell. Chloe (remember her?) e-mailed me with a zcar.com ad and I bought them sight unseen. I think they are for the 280Z as a Datsun option. They are in pretty good shape but I do not know if the bulbs work. Metal and plastic housings. Glass lens. Plastic slip-on caps. I recall one of the caps has a scratch.

I have these - $100 - PM me.

That's pretty cool. A four page thread over all of this! Well congrats! Welcome to the low VIN club and best of luck with the restoration. Her Majesty awards you two atta-boys!

I would talk to Carl Beck about your car before I did anything. Find out which is correct, the body or the hatch. Have you taken off the interior to look at the inside of the body?

Yes, the part is NLA and strip caulk is the way to go. Installed, nothing shows. The packing just keeps the fender and scoop from rattling.

The engine bay ID tag is screwed on. Don't worry about the high engine serial number. 26th's engine number (2338) is higher that 27th's. Regardless of the emission hardware fitted to the early cars, the intake manifold balance tube in the photograph is an emission balance tube and not something mistakenly identified as a "european balance tube". There is no such thing as a european balance tube. The cars are Japanese. It may or may not have a fuel recovery system. 26th and 27th do not. In this game, when you find something you want, don't dabble around thinking about it. Someone will beat you to the purchase. And whoever said 27th was pretty rough; thank you for the compliment. She is much worse.

From looking at the photos, that is NOT a european balance tube. Whatever a "european" balance tube is.

What are you talking about Zhead? I bought a car from you! In boxes, yea, that made it convenient! Hi. My name is Chris. I'm a recovering spare parts collecting addict.

I disagree. Carlos rescued Nissan from near death and there is no reason to criticize a profit orientation. Nissan is about to introduce a limited production world class sports car. The new Z has increased horse power. Nissan owns current JGTC champoinships in a Z. Their styling studios are producing cutting edge stuff. I think they are spending plenty of money. We are looking at a healthy company and hurray for that.

Gnosez, I was there for the "retrun-on-investment" speach. That guy is no longer with Nissan BTW. What surprised me most was that the ZCCA took it lying down and didn't tar-n-feather the guy and throw him out on the street. As you pointed out, the parking lot was packed with ROI. I thought the guy had a lot of gall. He also made a comment about how "race on Sunday - sell on Monday" didn't work. Excuse me? What I thought was too bad was that no one from the ZCCA challenged the guy.

Thanks! I registered under the mysterious name of 26th-Z I wonder if they will enjoy the fantasies of Her Majesty the 26th - garage queen and all around great looking babe?

The little Datsun emblems are embossed in acrylic. I'm certain the acrylic was white when new. It is quite yellowed. The original sign was double sided - probably in a metal frame. Both sides were on eBay abour four years ago in two seperate auctions. The first auction went to the moon and I got the second almost unnoticed. I built a teak frame for it and put a lamp in it. The baby hangs in my shop.

This was nothing more than the lens when I bought it and I built a new frame for it.

I know a few of the Zs were sold to private collections. I documented another couple of Vintage Zs when the deal came down. New owners will mean that the cars are cared for. With luck, they will appear at various shows around the country. I know guys with multiple car collections and one can imagine how difficult it would be to transport the "collection" around. A lot of these cars are in the South and with luck, we will get to see a bunch of them at the national convention in Daytona.

Nice wheels! wrong size tire!