26th-Z

Zowwie, it took me a long time to find the reference. After reading the chapter, I am at a loss for an easy explanation. Read "Z-Car, Revival of A Legend" by Yutaka Katayama and Seiichi Takarabe, 2005, Diasuke Koujiya, Publisher. In the prologue, under the chapter "Nissan's Taboo", Takarabe discusses the 20 year struggle between Ishihara and Shioji - management and union - when the success of the Z became the taboo of Nissan. The convoluted explanation is not something I think a capitalist Westerner would understand completely but there was a time at Nissan that the Z was seen as a disgrace and memory of it was literally wiped clean from the record books. The tooling was destroyed, the dies, everything. Takarabe makes a case that the Datsun name was eliminated as part of this "corporate climate". It has only been recently, under new corporate direction, that the Z has become the revived automobile that it is. The warehouse burned down? Bill, stop smoking dope and get a job!

For that antagonistic remark, Bill, Her Majesty has fined you 1000 posting points. You are no longer top poster. She suggests you quit smoking dope and go out and get a job. Try McDonalds. They will teach you how to count and act pleasantly. 25

It is my understanding the Nissan's production records were destroyed. I do not know of any way to trace production information.

Me too! You say matching numbers but I don't see anywhere WHAT numbers. It must be something in the three digits? Register that baby on IZCC and welcome to the early Z group. I'm anxious to see more of that short nosed air cleaner and you mention vertical lines in the hatch glass. See if a wiring adaptor kit was put on the car for the demister glass. There is a service bulletin about that and I wonder if your car was one of them. Check your front brakes. Ducts in the backing plates? Vented rotor castings? How about the inspection lids on the hood? Plastic clips? Are the alignment tabs welded on or riveted on? Are the hood bumpers little rubber cups? What are the seat belt dates? Hanger clips on the seats? Do the seat cusions have plastic guards on the bottom? Ho boy! You could have a lot of fun with this lovely!

That's pretty cool. Any more pictures? What were its performance stats?

Don't bother if its crumbling. If its that bad, its gone. Go shopping for new plastic. Its around. SEM makes really nice products to refinish them.

Thanks Pat! Have been looking for one of those.

Hey there, Alan! I was wondering where you had been off to. Good to hear from you! Katayama politics? Yeaaaa...maybe. I don't know exactly what he meant but I do know he was not pleased with the name change, or for that matter, the name deletion! My impression is from Katayama's writing "Z-Car, Revival of a Legend", Katayama and Takarabe, 2005, by Daisuke Koujiya, Publisher. Katayama's commentary in chapter four, "Disappearance of the Datsun Brand" reveals many of his thoughts about the Datsun to Nissan name change. "The fact that the name Datsun came from the initials of the three founders only served to make it all the more important and precious". And a few sentences later; "It was Nissan that erased the trust and history of the car and company that was built over 80 years, destroying it like a tornado takes a tree from its roots". What would you gather from that? I think the whole chapter is rather scathing. The purity term comes from the Long translated, Taylor edited, ZCCA published, "Mr. K", but I'll be darned if I can find the reference right now. After reading both books, it seems the manuscript from Katayama and Takarabe is what was used for writing the "Mr. K" book. I don't know that for a fact, but the two books run in parallel all too frequently for coincidence. Would I argue with you about the issue being Katayama politics? No. But what I read from "Z-Car" is a passion for the Datsun name and disdain for Nissan. Just got the winter issue of Zclub magazine. Nice write-up! Chris

I loved the Fairlane script on the fenders! Too funny! You guys are really having fun with this thread, aren't you all? Haven't you ever heard the expression "F-em if they can't take a joke", Tom? That one was clearly directed at the car show judges, not you! Check out this radio antenna on a 1930 something Packard.

Haven't had much of a chance to pipe in on this interesting conversation. I have had good luck finding new connector fittings here: http://store.yahoo.com/eagleday/blco.html

Yea. A post or two got deleted. Evidently, one of our more welcome, warm, friendly, in the spirit of ride enjoyment posts! WELCOME JANI !

As Enrique said, Tom, I doubt the modifications would affect a judging. The other thing that comes to mind is the idea that judging is simply something to do at a car show. Not all shows are judged. Judging, really, adds to a car show but is not necessarily the reason for the show. You would never think of it as "Hey let's spend the day judging! Now go out and get a bunch of cars for us to look at while we are judging". In that, I would encourage everyone to worry less about judging and more about showing off your pride and joy. Chris

Well, you're a bit late, Alfadog. The auction closed January 31. It says $195,000, but that was the reserve - viewed as ridiculously high by the buzz that went around a week or so ago. The attached image is a scan from an article in "Old Cars" magazine about two weeks ago. The general concensus from the gallery of Datsun (Datson) collector gurus is that the car is worth $25,000. The car is well known and has been watched for the last year. The other picture is a 1935 Datsun roadster and should give you an idea of wht the car would look like. Now, if you all are interested in some of the very early pre-war history of Datsun, described by Mr. K as "a name with purity", let me copy a letter from Dan Banks to the IZCC: Hi everyone and Happy Holidays! During Nissan's earliest decades of the 1930s and 1940s, significant influence into design and engineering came from an American fellow named William Reagan Gorham. He is credited by David Halberstam, writing in his epic historical work on Ford and Nissan "The Reckoning," as the Technological Founder of Nissan and also responsible for leading the engineering on the very first Datsun automobiles circa 1932. William Gorham moved to Japan in 1918 with his wife and two sons and spent the rest of his life there. He took Japanese citizenship, changed his name to Katsundo Goahamu, and was reverentially buried in Japan upon his death in 1949. In 1950 a group of his closest associates wrote a book detailing his history in Japan. This book includes significant insights into the early automobile industry of Japan and also how Datsun and Nissan got their start. Only a limited number of Japanese language copies were ever produced, unfortunately making this important work inaccessible. Now, Gorham's surviving son, Don Cyril Gorham (who has his own amazing biography!) has completed a full translation of this book, entitled "William R. Gorham; An American Engineer in Japan." For those who would be interested in learning a bit more about Datsun and Nissan, the early Japanese automobile industry and this man's contribution to it, please go to www.lulu.com, a self-publishing website. Put "Gorham" in the search and you can use PAYPAL or your other chosen form of payment to obtain your 178-page copy to your door for about $15. The situation with self publishing websites, being closely watched by the mainstream publishing houses, is that it allows self-publishing to a vast majority of people with stories to tell but who lack the means to interest a traditional book publisher. The traditional publisher will print out a volume run of copies and then sell them as best they can. That is fine if you are Carlos Ghosn telling the amazing story of how he turned Nissan around in his finely written "Shift: Inside Nissan's Historic Renewal." This kind of story sells itself and Random House, Inc.'s Doubleday publishers surely had no trouble committing to a significant first edition run in January 2005. The trick with these online publishers is that they hold the text in digital format and only print a copy after you order and pay for it. Kind of like Dell Computer, as I understand their market model. I met with the 88 year old Don Gorham two weekends ago after his reunion trip to Japan. During that trip he met with an old colleague of his father's, Mr. K. and of course they talked about the book. There is considerable excitement now over this work finally becoming available to an English speaking audience and, again, all are encouraged to order a copy, which includes neat old pictures of early Datsun cars, engines, and engineering of the times. Best regards all, Dan Banks Historian, ZCCA

Greg, I was probably out of line to even bring it up. I seriously don't mean to offend. I think there is some residue left over from Tampa's cigar history, or something's getting smoked! Somehow, the Tampa guys all think its funny to play pranks on each other and if you have a look at eBay, you might notice that it is "that time of the month", if you know what I mean. Have a good drive in a Z car and come to our club events. The FZA is talking seriously about an autocross in Gainesville April 22nd. The Suncoast club is preparing for our spring picnic at Ft. Desoto April 8th.

I forwarded this thread, Grog. You may want to come clean with your real name. Don't mean to offend, but the Tampa guys are having trouble with another guy looking for a car in the Tampa area. Do you know Mike Hunt? You are more than welcome to join our club. http://www.suncoastzcarclub.homestead.com/ Then there are several other clubs around the State. http://www.centralfloridazclub.com/phpBB2/portal.php http://www.flzclub.com/forum/index.php? http://www.sfzcc.com/default.asp http://www.350zclubofflorida.com/

Be my guest.

I did exactly that when I worked on logos for my club. Working from photos of the emblems on the cars in the CAD graphics program I use, I traced and developed these. Searching through the archive, I noticed differences between various Zs. Thus two different ones posted here. I also worked up what I call the Z-Store logo. These images are exported from my CAD program which is why they are background reversed.

Thought I would take this thread to mention my experience with re-building my engine L24-2338. This is an early engine - E31 head - the one that comes with the reinforcing plate on the oil pan because the crankshaft harmonics are out of whack. Later crankshafts have an added counterweight to rectify the problem, but the early engines are peculiar in that they have three head bolt lengths. I didn't notice the different lengths when I took the engine apart, but when I put it back together, I was forced to refer to the engine manual, page EM-30 which states; "Three different types of bolts are used. (So be careful when installing)". Everyone had been telling me to assemble the engine with new "turbo style" head bolts (I didn't want to do that) and after some research I was able to order new bolts in the various lengths from Datsun. I measured the block to determine which long bolts to use in which location. New turbo bolts would have bottomed out. Another one of those peculiar things about the early cars. Chris

That was darned nice of you, Ken. I called Barry and told him about your thread. zpartsman@aol.com and he's in Chesapeak, VA. He ships UPS and he does have over 300 Zs. He used to have serial numbers 00001, 00002, and 00003, but I just bought them for $35. Now he has mostly '72 and later. I was just pulling your chain about the serial numbers. Gotcha!

A little more fuel to the fire...this article from the new issue of Classic Motorsports magazine March 2006, issue 119, page 38. Seems like everyone is talking about the Z!

Hope this helps the conversation. I may post this over on the thread about Z values from the Hagarty article. This article appears in the new issue of Classic Motorsports magazine, March 2006 issue 119 page 38

Hey Kurt, Looks like an interesting project. Let's see more pictures when you get it. Chris

Pete, http://supergt.net/en/ Unfortunately, we don't get to see much of that sponsorship. Very successful series.

Try Datsun Freeway http://www.datsun-freeway.com/index.html