26th-Z

Cleveland in 2008

The first cars were sold in Japan, moonpup, not exported. America probably got the first exports, and do keep in mind there was guy here named Katayama who was somewhat influencial, because America was a sales target - no doubt. I think it is pretty well documented that Matsuo san took this into account and dimensioned the chassis to accomodate tall people. But with the issue surrounding clear hatch glass; there seems no doubt that it was a cost consideration that configured the first American exports with the glass that came standard in the S30-S. Of course, the PS30-SB didn't have defrosters. I guess we could consider clear glass a performance part? Nope, no nich for defrosters.

What I have learned over the past three years or so is that the original HLS30 was a specific model of the S30 family and we Americans didn't really miss much of the amenities at first. But as you know, the Z became more loaded as time went on. There are two distinct models of the Japanese Fairlady Z that can be compared to the HLS30 Datsun 240Z, but it was really an individual on its own. I suspect cost had a lot to do with what came to America at first, and I believe this because I believe the Japanese had no idea how popular the car would become. Certainly Nissan intended to export their cars to increase their sales and certainly they viewed the American market with high anticipation, but I do not believe they were all that confident and thus I do not believe the marque was designed specifically for the American market. If you bought a fully loaded Fairlady ZL in Japan at the time, you got headlight covers, an 8-track tape deck, passenger foot rest, and all sorts of things we never even saw as options. The bone stock Fairlady Z S30-S came with a blanking plate for the radio, clear hatch glass, rubber floor mats and so on. The export HLS30 was sort of a mixture between the S30-S and the ZL. Of course, it was a Datsun 240Z instead of a Nissan. 'D' hubcaps came to America. Wheel covers in Japan are different. So you see, the American export HLS30 was quite different at first, and as Nissan began to see the increadible demand, they responded with more amenities as well as improvements. I'll brag about my early examples by saying that they are the lightest and fastest of the Zs until the 280ZX turbo. However, they leaked exhaust gas back into the cabin the worst, little parts originally made of plastic broke and lets not even talk about the geometry of the rear axels! When I rebuilt the engine for 26th last fall, the machinest laughed and said he couldn't understand how my "vibrator" stayed together as long as it did. Its fun for me to talk about the low vin cars. I hope you guys with your "new" low vin toys enjoy them. They are distinct, quite different, and a lot of fun to talk about. Chris

Ah, the lovely nuances of the early Zs! If the car came with clear glass, the interior headliner molding for the overhead light did not have a little nich for the defroster wire. The blanking plug in the console for the switch is identical, although smaller, to the blanking plug for the parking lights. I don't know what you are describing, Arne. Picture? The very first switches for the defroster glass were black and not lighted. Clear glass is not all that difficult to find in Japan because only the ZL model came with defroster glass. Its all a fun game, yea?

Unless you come across someone making them (and I will eventually) they are unobtanium. You are going to have to really dig to find them and the last set I saw for sale went to Carl Beck for $200 - fact. I would write to Beck and tell him you are looking for them. Welcome to the low vin club!

Welcome to the low vin club! I am looking for one of those console plugs.

Dashboard Restorations did a dash for me and I am very satisfied. I think they are a sponsor of this site. We did a group deal a couple of years ago. I don't think I heard any complaints. Have them fit the gauges and vents for you. The cost of shipping is in the size of the box, not the weight.

Why is it so important to paint the car "the way the factory did it"? Yes, the engines and transmissions were installed as a sub frame unit including the suspension from underneath the car.

Junk yards, eBay, or a "parts wanted" message here will be your best results. Try http://zbarn.com/ http://www.datsunzparts.com/start.htm http://www.cybersanford.net/default.asp

I'm going to have to go out to the shop and check on the metal caps for the dampers. I seem to recall plastic, but I do know of metal caps for this type of carburetor, whether SU or Hitachi. Old, old, old SUs had brass caps with knurled edges. I'm up to four sets of carbs now. I'll take a survey.

A nod of correctness to this conversation from Her Majesty and the Princess. "We ain't got no drain plugs"!

Ohh, the poor Princess! Little Miss Rustbucket! As you know, I took 26th to a place and had her dipped in an electrolysis rust removal process. She came out with many more holes than I thought - holes where "surface rust" used to be. I was really taken aback at first, but I bought a couple of welding and sheet metal restoration tapes from Eastwood and gathered up my courage. I hired a welder and bought sheet metal. Working together, and months later, Her Majesty is all welded up and in pretty good shape. I learned a lot from the experience. I figure that now that I know what I'm doing, Princess 27th should not be all that bad. Just more months of welding and grinding. If I was paying myself for all the hard work, this would cost me a small fortune. However, my suggestion is hire experts to do the stuff that requires skill and do all the grunt work yourself. Having said that, please enjoy some more pictures of this diamond in the rough.

No, no, no, my dear. MINE'S completely rusted out! :knockedou

I agree with Alan. If this is what it is and the pictures are from where they appear, this baby will be restored to a very high standard. Certainly it is rough. So?

Hi Kats! Great information and most relevant to the conversation about S30-00002. I think it would be best to describe the factory prototype cars as those constructed to test the production process and the primary production cars as those intended to display and road test. Just think of this first family of the Z car! The very first generation!

Stock L24 exhaust manifold without emission ports. Passenger foot rest. Headlight covers.

I guess 'D' wheel covers are the diamond belly-button pierce of Z cars. I have sets for my babes, but they need to be restored. Fortunately, all the plastic 'D' centercaps are in great shape. Personally, I think the wheels and hubcaps are way underperformance for what a stock Z has to offer and I bought a set of 6" Watanabes. I also have a set of 6" slots. I don't think the $1,300 is all that much for a really nice set. It's going to cost me that to have mine restored.

There are several diferent castings under this part number. What you are looking at seems to be latest variant. I bought one of these from Nissan two years ago for about $45. Here are some other versions of the same part number.

First post - looking for parts. How appropriate! I thought my first post was looking for an intake manifold balance tube, but I see it was two days later. What a great idea for a thread, Mike! I have to say that this club has brought me a significant number of smiles over the past few years. I have met quite a few friends, here. Chris

In Mike's picture, the top cap is correct for an 8/70. The one without the metal tab - thumb tab. The cap with the tab is much later - 4/72. The cap without the tab came in two varieties; without a chain and with a chain. 17251-E4101 and E4102 The cap Zhead is refering to is E8800 or E8801 with a chain.

Hey there 333. I just shot off an e-maill to 332. Welcome to the low VIN club. Although it is true your car was registered and titled as a 1970 model year, your car was built in 1969 - November? Check the ID plate on your door jamb. This is a great site for pictures of peculiarities concerning the early cars. http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/ A search through the archives here (search "date stamp") will lead you to a number of threads concerning dates of manufacture and various other idiosyncracies concerning the early cars. Yes, you have a unique car. No, you don't have a fuel vapor recovery system. Take good care of that gas tank. You are not going to find another one like it very easily. Best of luck with your restoration. Let me know if you need parts. Chris

Hey there Orlando! You might want to join the Central Florida Z Car Club and meet all the Z owner's near you. http://www.centralfloridazclub.com/phpBB2/portal.php There is a hurricane of exciting Z things brewing in Florida. An early Z like a '72 is a great beginer's sports car because it is so simple and easy to work on. Rust is the biggest frustration and parts availability probably the next. It all depends on what you want out of the car, but for an inexpensive sports car, your budding new driver can't go wrong. Zs are fast and they do not crash very well, but they still have lots of style and there is a great crowd of Z owners in Florida to hang with. Get a copy of "How to Restore Your 240Z" by Humble and read what he has to say about rust. Cruise the archives here and make your evaluation of your potential car. Have fun!

May your spirit soar, Carl. I will miss you.

Radiator hoses were crazy when I started playing this game of Z restoration. Although I had made up my mind not to buy braided hoses, I just broke down and bought a set for about $300. The funny thing about it was that within a week of buying the expensive ones, I found a lower hose and bought it for $66. The most I have ever paid for an ashtray is $25.

this may help?