26th-Z

Very Nice! Learn something new every day! Thanks, Alan. That's cool.

I have a copy of the Pess Release package for the Dream Garage ad campaign. Some of it is Mr. K autographed. The kit includes a VHS of all the TV spots for the campaign. Here is a little history about it. “Nissan’s Rich Heritage and Innovation Renders New Brand Marketing Campaign” announced a $200 million national advertising campaign designed to rekindle consumer brand identity and loyalty in August 1996. The TBWA Chiat/Day North America ad agency conceived strategy was known as the Dream Garage Campaign. The television commercial milestone “Dream Garage” appeared during the closing ceremonies of the Atlanta Olympic Games August 4, 1996. By November, Nissan U.S.A. was initiating the Z-Store program including the Vintage Z. Three 30 second television spots introduced the campaign and featured no voice-overs, no tagline, and no new Nissan cars! Wholly unlike traditional car advertising. The dreamlike commercials were prepared from a driver’s perspective featuring a mystical Japanese man who makes magical things happen and then reminds us to “Smile”, “Have Fun,” and “Drive Happy”. The culmination “Dream Garage” commercial features the symbolic Mr. Katayama wearing a Datsun cap and with a small dog reminding us, “Life is a Journey. Enjoy the Ride”. The commercial was scored by Danny Elfmann, music composer for Batman and Edward Scissorhands, and directed by Kinka Usher of Smillie films. The commercial intended to embrace the magical spirit of Mr. Katayama and his keen understanding of the emotional appeal and personal expression that the automobile represents in America. He represented the temporal embodiment of the car company’s heritage, joyful spirit and love of cars.

Nice, interesting thread. Thanks. I'm listening. Have we an example of re-possesed / re-stamped car?

As long as we are on the foot rest tangent, I'll post a picture of the specimen I have to work with. To the best of my knowledge, the original finsh was gloss or semi-gloss black with at ridged rubber sleeve on the foor bar. AMCO accessories sold a chrome version years ago. The "rest" bolts through the floor and the reinforcements Alan described. My example arrived with the indication that the carpeting placed over the mounting plate, but I need to verify that.

No, I wasn't certain what I was going to do to strengthen the floor, Alan. Probably a large diameter flat washer. Please keep my name on the foot rest. There is talk of a Euro visit in June and I may get the chance to visit you and Len. Thanks for thinking of me. Chris

Well put, Alan. So that's the car, Mont? Thanks for trying. Yes, I am looking for a foot rest. I actually have one, but it is more of a foot rust than usable.

Yo! Congrats!

I'm afraid Mike left the relationship she was in with the Z guy she was dating and is no longer on Mckrack's arse.

I confirm what Carl Beck and Zulaytr posted. Actually, I'm crushed that I didn't get one of the cars!

A little sarcastic! How dare you insult me! ROFL

Sorry I missed this but I don't have any money anyhow. Who scored? Were the brake rotors vented hats?

Here are a few from my screen-saver file

My Watanabes 14x6

Picture CDavid took at Florida Z-Fest 2006

Yes, that's the grommet. I'm kind of surprised and a little pissed at myself for not mentioning this earlier. Call Steele Rubber Products - Quality Restoration Rubber Parts and order their catalog. 888-409-4647 steelerubber.com The catalog is about an inch thick and has everything you will ever need. You can't just go to the 240Z page. You have to do some searching homework. Try that before you go to all the trouble of making a mold and such.

Wassa matter, "Krack"? Can't read my user name? CDavid jumped on you pretty hard, didn't he? So, what kind of paint job did you buy that would come off from the glue-on type? The only word for you to remember when it comes to paint and body work, Mcrack, is PREPERATIONH!!! Ohhh, you crack me up! Don't put side moldings on your car. Your'e stock, remember? Make up your mind, and go one way or the other. Where are you going to drive the car that it would get dings? Your'e better off with a bra. So put up some pictures of your blue-on-blue-baby. I know a photographer if you need some help. How did the carpeting turn out? Your'e done, right? Congrats on a 3-page thread. This has been pretty entertaining. Enrique, you crack me up! And the Her Majesty thing refers to the garage queen.

Her Majesty phoned me this morning with the very same question! What a coincidence! So I contacted the wardrobe department right away and spoke to Alsace Gesechtnik, in charge of accessories. He is actually a really talented man! I think he lives on the other side of the river, though. If you know what I mean. Anyhow, Alsace suggested white side molding with the metal caps on each end - in gold. With matching gold screws. He said the glue-on type was just out these days and that screwing with your car showed so much commitment. He also suggested you match the molding with gold hubcaps. You know, the kind that keep spinning at the stop light? Seventeen inch would be nice, but nineteen is much better. Then he made some snide remark about size. Sounded like a Corvette slur to me. So there you have it. Straight from the guy who consulted with Her Majesty and Princess. We talked about it a few years back and decided to dress in a traditional Japanese retro style. I went out on eBay and bought all the parts before everyone realized how chic the style was. If word gets out about side moldings, who knows where the price will go!

Arne, You continually offer good, solid advice. Pat on the back from Her Majesty! I have owned the concave lights we are talking about. Very nice. Good pattern. Nice lighting quality. But as Arne has pointed out, old technology.

Katsuhiko Endo http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/

There really aren't any concous standards, Bob, depending on what you mean by concours. The ZCCA has judging standards that are very liberal. As I have said in the past, cleanliness is probably the most important criteria. When it comes to nit-picking about parts and applications, there is very little documentation. Lots of discussion, though! The ZCCA gold medallion and gold cup, along with best-of-show at the MSA are probably the three most prestigeous awards to the Z community, but any award is nothing to sneer at. You sound like I did four years ago. My advice would be that you have a good starting book to read and that the more cars you look at the more you will understand what it is going to take. Have fun. Chris

If I may be so humble to chime in on this subject... I generally agree with what Carl Beck has said above and, sorry cbudvet, do not agree with the later reference to Shipways. I'm a designer. I have two degrees in design and I have worked in various deign settings from studio to private. I have a very strong opinion of how the design process of the S30 "Z" evolved based upon my own research, photographs, and conversations with the people involved. I never met Mr. Goertz, but I have spoken to Mr. Matsuo several times. On one occasion, I had the opportunity to speak to Matsuo-san about some of my most important research material and heard his opinion of it which allowed me to place the information in context. From what I can gather, Goertz worked for Nissan as a designer and was instrumental in the development of “A” prototype (not “the” prototype) that was powered by a Yamaha engine and later sold to Toyota. I understand that Goertz worked in contemporary techniques of clay modeling and introduced the media to Nissan. My understanding is that “the 240Z” was not revived after Mr. Goertz left Nissan. It wasn’t a 240Z to begin with. “It” was a sports car concept and very similar to sports car concepts being developed around the world at the time. The revival was Nissan setting up an independent studio in 1965 / 1966 to investigate a sports car design. I wouldn’t even say it was a revival; rather an extension of an ongoing corporate direction. In other words, Nissan wanted to market a sports car. Matsuo-san was put in charge of the new studio and his initial designs were roadsters. His process is well documented. There is quite a bit of information available about the concept models and sketches that eventually became the S30 / 240Z. Another remarkable similarity occurred in 1967 with the Maserati Mistral. What we seem to be doing is grasping at straws for similarities to one specific design and forcing it into a story of evolution that simply doesn’t exist. Designers talk to each other, share ideas, and travel to shows and exhibitions to see what other designers have to present. Designers do not work in a vacuum. Of course we are going to see similarities. What we do not see from Goertz is his process that leads to the car we are driving. We do see the process from the studio of Matsuo-san. Goertz influence is anybody’s guess, but to give him credit is too obviously incorrect. No more than to give me credit for inventing roller-blades in a think-tank class in 1972. Or, for that matter, let’s give my ex-wife credit for inventing plastic squeeze bottles for ketchup! Carl and Carl, I don’t think there is a “truth”. I think what I just described is the truth and that we are misted by one guy’s egotistical pursuit about how he should be getting all the credit. I’m a designer. I know how that goes.

Ok you guys...You got me started on U-Tube. Thanks a lot! This has nothing to do with a 240ZG, but it IS Japanese and it is just too funny not to share. Thanks Enrique! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5MBpnt80V0

Don, You came to the right place to find information about your car. I do not agree that a specialized mechanic would be needed - necessarily - but there are many unique differences. Within our ranks, you will find people with whom a great deal of knowledge about the RHD models is available. Buyers as well! We love pictures and we love discussing our cars. I encourage you to join us with your unique example and play Z with us. Chris

I believe the orange 432 in post #18 is a Fairlady 432R. Check out the seats.

The Zs for those badges came painted only in white. Your red ones have been modified. There are several different types of the "240Z" badge you have. Early badges had chromed Zs without any indentation (to hold the paint) and they came solid cast and hollow cast metal. White Zs in hollow cast metal followed. The latest variation is made of plastic and the Z is painted white. Fairlady badges came in hollow cast metal and I have one without the Z as well as one with the Z.