26th-Z

I did the Dashboard Restorations thing several years ago. If you do a search through the archives, there is a thread about the group buy with EricB and we all shipped our dashes to Australia. I didn't send my gauges and fit them myself with a hot-air gun when the dash came back. I am very satisfied. At the time there was a business in your part of the country, Mike, that was dealing through Dashboard Restorations that may have been Dash Specialties. They were actually shipping their Z-car work to Australia I think because Dashboard Restorations had the mold. Then I heard Dashboard Restorations set up a shop in America or Dash Specialties bought molds? something like that. We chose Dashboard Restorations because of price and the finish grain. We felt that Dashboard Restorations had a finish pattern / grain that was the closest to original. I think it was called "hair cell" or something. But your'e going to be satisfied with any of the choices you mentioned. Just Dashes did the upholstry work for the Vintage Z program. Ask to look at grain patterns for the finish. The other major issue facing you, Terry, is shipping the dash. You will find that the size of the box is going to determine shipping cost. I forget what it cost me but it was a huge amount. My restoration came with new foam and skin on the original frame. The new skin material is much thicker than the original. Easily twice the thickness. This makes fitting the gauges difficult and tight. Also, you will notice that the creases in the shape of the dash are not as clearly defined. Bescause the skin material is thicker, styling lines, creases, and edges are just a little softer. I recall one of my 'expert' friends remarking that the difference in a restored dash was easily noticable, however I never challenged him to it and I think he could only tell if a new and my restored dash sat side-by-side.

Very nice pictures, Gary! That's the piece. With the tail bend still intact! I went out and looked at mine. It's too grungy looking to photograph, but 26th had a similar set-up.

Mike, those are great books! I have the USA and Canada parts catalog, 4th overall revised master binder December 1973 and I couldn't find the N3000. The numbers revise as; E4100 to E8700 to N3399 and N3300. It was my copy of the Japanese parts book that listed the N3000. And yes it does supersede E4100 there also. Hey Kats! Make plans to come to the convention in San Antonio!

26th has a glasspack too. The whole tube back from the downpipe was made for me in 1991.

Guys! Get out the spec books! Bless your mother's heart, a7dz, but your pipe is about as unstockafied as I have ever seen! Your great photo has me awash in "stump-the-guru" games and I love it! :kiss: This diagram is from the service manual 11/1/69 clearly showing the Y-collector that is stamped metal with a seam welded tab. It is welded in place. Not a cast piece, geezer. Mike's picture of 20010-N3000 with the pipe connection style is clearly the later / replacement version. And the Japanese version to boot!

Also this period advertisement

Might you be refering to the ZZzap edition; special package 280Z sold in North America? Very similar in scope to the Black Pearl edition and sold at the same time. I'll bet Zhome has a write-up.

26th has the Arne / Kats type and 27th has headers. Also noted; Mike's new system is 20010-N3000. My NA parts book lists N3300 from 10/72 to 7/73... ah! Here it is ... Fairlady Z parts book 1972, 20010-N3000 from 10/72, models ZS and ZL, L20-L24. There are separate listings in both parts books for the automatic transmission.

Welcome. Sounds like a nice ride. Pictures yes please!

Great info! Thanks Mike

I recall back in the early eighties when I took possession of Her Majesty a conversation in which my thoughts of her future value were scoffed at. Recently, we had a conversation here about currently published values in which the case was made that modified cars such as #248 would not be worth as much as an all original restoration. I thought both of these cars made a perfect example (if not on the high end of the scale) of escalating prices in the market - both restored original and restored modified. The '72 at 20K is noted as a current market adjustment price down from 24K. All very interesing and an indication of what we have been reading about for some time; that the Z car is gaining value as a collector car.

Check out these two Zs advertised in the duPont Registry. http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSearchResults.aspx?makeid=24&makename=Datsun&modelname=Other%20Model&modelid=99&catid=4

Carl, Would you mind naming your professional source? Obviously if this person is in the business of translation they would appreciate the reference, no? I have many things I would like translated for instance.

Ron, I thought when you mentioned the tribute scheme that you might be talking about this Interpart package. I don't know if one was available for the Z, but these cosmetic accessories would constitute a "tribute" car. In the scheme of things, I might comment that your car is far more than a tribute. More like a recreation - far more an "original". Thanks for explaining the tribute documentation from Peter Brock and the BRE trademark.

But my show favorite was this Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta. The last picture would have been really cool if not for the dust on car. I could spend hours cleaning the dust off that photo.

Race cars included this Lola T70 MkIII. The Ferrari F1 was at the festival last year. I don't know much about it - signed by some guy. It was parked next to this stunning white Ferrari with white leather interior - just stunning. I also had my first chance to see one of the GT40 replicars. This one is a "Backdraft BDR GT". I don't care for the Ford GT remake and was very impressed with the quality of the Backdraft. This example has a Roush 5.0 liter supercharged engine.

Hey Carl, we missed you. That is Frank's 280 ZX. Roger showed up with his bevy (three now) of V8 powered Zs. This is Briggs Cunningham's 1963 Maserati Birdcage Tipo 63/64 serial #63-002. Next to it was a 1959 Ferrari Grand Prix racer restored to the Nth degree. Both cars V-12s

That's a great picture link, Mike. Thanks. Just returned from the Festival of Speed in St. Petersburg. Not as good a turnout as I have seen in the past. Carl, where were you? I thought you'd be high-fiven the field today! Some very nice cars showed up this year, though. Briggs Cunningham's Maserati Birdcage Tipo 63/64 was there. Chassis 63-002. And a '59 Ferrari 275. So...did you guys have as much fun at Amelia as I found trouble at Fest-O-Speed?

Ron, Would you please explain a "licensed tribute car"? I think the thread warrants an understanding of this. Chris

Footnote: Link to the Corporate Class winners. These were trophys given by corporate sponsors and participants of the event. http://www.sportscardigest.com/archives/3414 I also recommend you susbscribe to this e-mail magazine. Free And it comes every week in your e-mail.

To the best of my knowledge original stripe kits are no longer available from Nissan / Datsun. I know about the stripe kit that is on eBay at the moment. As described, I can loosly confirm that several years ago the Black Pearl stripe kit was reproduced in a group buy effort. The kit on eBay is most probably one of them.

Johnny'O took first in class last night.

You can get a 240Z dash recovered / restored for about $700, I think. I did one a couple of years ago and it was $600. Search the archives. Parts for the Z are just going to get harder to find as time goes on. It has become a point to restore the part you have rather than replace it.

Dan, I can't answer that question and IMO John's comments are a perfect illustration of what has happened to the rules. In a recent conversation, it was suggested that a non-stock item in the stock class get an automatic five point deduction. Of course, that isn't in the rules - just a suggestion. Another conversation questioned the reasoning behind allowing A/C as an "option" but didn't recognize the full compliment of Datsun options available to the various model years. On that issue rode a first-in-class win with obvious dealer ad-ons two years ago. Point being that the rules are out of date. It is my sincere hope that revisions will be presented to the board at San Antonio. Chris

Furthermore, if you have a non "as shipped from the factory" part, it will cost you points. Same goes for "options"...at the moment. Series One Zs did not have fan shrouds or splash pans. In addition, tire originality is specifically mentioned in the current rules, meaning if you don't have original tires, you get dinged. No offense, John, but the problem with the rules is that several different people are making several different interpretations. Here is exactly what they say at the moment. Vehicles exhibited must be configured exactly as shipped from factory (NOT DEALER). Cars with Dealer add-ons such, as wheels, other than stock tires, side moldings, etc. can enter this class with deductions for same. Radios, paint color, tires, etc. must be as shipped. A/C must be factory installed except 240Z which may have same A/C as installed by dealer, i.e. ARA or Frigid King, with basic York compressor. Daily Drivers can enter this class if desired. (This section will be reviewed at a future date.) That "future date" will hopefully be on the agenda in San Antonio.