26th-Z

Ha! I didn't realize that! Send me to my photographs! Sure enough, here is a picture of an S30 with round emblems and hatch vents. The PS30 shows the same, but my pictures of an S30-S do not include hatch vents. Of course that makes sense. The home market cars would not have 240Z on the pillar, would they? You must be insinuating that the North American imports were left-strokers and the home market cars were right-strokers?

Ed, As you know, I am not a pillar vent kind of guy. I am a hatch venter. But I understand from my most respected gurus that the hole is supposed to be black. I was standing around some time ago listening to a guy go on and on about how his car was original paint and the snide comment was made based on the fact that his vent holes were not black. Beandip is also correct about the right and left hand applications of the emblem. I know its picky, but I wanted to share it with you guys.

I don't recall ever seeing a 200GT, Bob. Nifty cars to say the least, and a fascinating story of Japanese autombilia. I'm not surprised that someone in Florida collects them. Nothing surprises me down here any more. It used to be that on a sunny Sunday like the ones we have been enjoying lately (hurricane season ended yesterday - whew!) one would see a lot of Harleys out for a ride. Lately, I take delight in driving around on Sundays to see the collector cars out.

Flow-thru ventilation was one of Datsun's big selling points at the time. Considering the 240Z was one of the first automobiles equipped with such a feature, it is not unreasonable to understand that it didn't work as well as ventilation systems work today. The early cars with the hatch vents established ventilation through an elaborate system of ducts and louvers incorporating a rubber flap as a backdraft preventer. By comparison, the pillar vents are much more sophisticated. Still, it is unfair to compair their performance to anything contemporary.

Thanks daddz!

The best girl-catching investment you can make, Bill, is to join a gym and work out. Girls love muscles.

It can pretty much be said that all cars with the round pillar emblems have vent holes as ya'll are discussing. The exception applies to 432s and prototype models. The hole is for venting purposes and was originally back painted black.

Try this place. I have been using this stuff to make molds and repros. I can buy it in Orlando in smaller quantities. http://www.rubbermoldcompounds.com/

It took me forever to get this part off the car and clean the undercoating off to see if there was anything remaining of the original. Here you go, Kats! Original 1969 direct from Her Majesty the 26th.

As promised, inspection lid clip pictures. This is 63209-E4101, the plastic clip and the inspection lid (thank you Princess 27 for lifting your lid). The original clips were painted along with the body. Notice the slotted bracket welded to the lid and how the clip slips on. The parts book lists these up to July '73, but I think they were replaced earlier.

Speaking of not having a car to show....I could enter Princess 27 in the "gross-out pig" category. Perhaps someone could loan me their car hauler boxed trailer so that everyone would know how serious I am when I unload the babe. Maybe I better not. The poor thing just drips rust flakes and would make a big mess.

Thanks! Now with 27 to look after, I have a bunch of cracks to fix on the interior panels. Always looking for the help and advice. Many thanks

Yes!!!! !!!! !!!! Pm

I paid $175 for a pristine AM radio well over a year ago. I had to be "introduced" to the seller and the deal took a couple of months while I was "qualified" to buy such a treasure. I moaned about paying that much for a radio I had no intention of ever turning on, but it is original and correctest for Her Majesty. The bottom line here Unkle is that if you are going the show quality original route, its going to be pricey. There are several people in this group who take great pride with their accomplishments of correctness and originality. I know I will. Tough crowd to keep up with, frankly. I did notice at the national convention last June how many people gathered around the original cars. There is serious pride to be had for all the effort and money. See you this weekend, Vicky? Bring rum!

I am caught in a real dilemma. Should I change my screen name, or do you all know what I am talking about?

Thanks! I have been looking for that site for quite some time. Allan, you are welcome to use any of the pictures I post. I know we have discussed this in the past. Great collection. Keep adding to it.

Thanks, I have been using "Superglue" for the harder plastics like interior panels, ash trays, face plates. They don't seem to be styrene and I have yet to find anything that will soften the material. I'm going to try this.

Thanks for the Plas-T-Pair reference. What is your experience with it, John? Does it bond to the hard plastics like an ash tray or radio face plate?

I'll probably be there. Swap meet? Cool! I have a ton of stuff.

Unkle, Got a bit of sticker shock? An 'A' quality Hitachi AM radio with the face plate and antenna switch is worth far more than $128. I was surprised to see the owner's manual go so high, but I know who bought it and there were three other guys moaning about loosing that auction. That was a 1969 published manual - seriously rare. I'll bet I have talked to four or five people who were interested in the clips. Those headlight assemblies came with brand new cans, wiring, and the gaskets. Try to find just the gasket!!! There seems to be quite the demand for the very early stuff in 'A' condition. Prices are beginning to approach what it would cost to restore an old original piece. As I write this, I just got out sniped by a fellow member on an item I haven't seen in a long time and need. (Congratulations, you dog!!! :classic: ) The demand is out there and as much as I hate to say it, parts just aren't appearing like they used to.

The going rate for new OEM headlight covers from a private sale was around $500 a year ago. I have seen them recently for $600. They seem to be still available in Japan for 55,000 yen plus shipping. If you really want them, put out you feelers, ask around, and have your check book ready.

Whoa...! Guys... The steering wheel is compsite resin. Matsuo (actually Chiba) wanted a wooden wheel, but because of crash safety standards they were made of the composite resin. The wood graining is a stain. Check Humbles; "How to Restore...". All of your suggestions are great and I see no reason why any of them wouldn't work. Mine are lightly sanded and coated in polyurethane. 27's wheel is quite bad and I will probably use the stain - prefering the light mahogany (yellow) to the dark auburn colored ones. EDIT: In your pictures, Carl, notice how the "wood" is not splintering. What the photos show is the graining in the composite. Notice how the "wood" is molded around the metal spoke. Not cut and fit as a piece of wood.

I was told by Chloe many moons ago that everyone is selling the TABCO panels. They are all the same. I have TABCO panels to replace and they seem first rate to me.

I avoid the fumes by not driving the cars! But seriously, the back end has to be sealed. If you are smelling fumes, its not sealed. Fuel line vents, tail light gaskets, deck vents and deck lid gaskets are all suspect. This is a common problem and takes quite the effort to resolve.