zspert

Is this an original blue car? What color interior?

I was taught at the Datsun factory service schools I attended in the 70s to refer to Datsun products by the production date found on the door jamb ID plate. The series 1, series 2 stuff thrown around today is an invention of the internet, NOT Datsun. However, speaking in general terms the model year for Datsuns changed in the 9th month of production. The exception is the 73 240. That model year started in the 7th month of 72. However, as my customers have pointed out to me over the years, there are anomalies (I love them, they help make the Z car hobby so interesting) that occurred mostly in 6/72. Some 72 parts/some 73 parts. Cheers

BAT is about to get some competition as Hemming's is starting an on line auction site. I hope they're going to be practicing the due diligence absent fro BAT (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

Ok soggyfishtaco, I spent a lot of time going through Paul's invoices when I should have been working on customer's cars but here it is. Beginning in 9/93 I replaced a lot of parts and fasteners that were worn or incorrect. Remember, back then most of this stuff could still be had from Nissan. This is not meant to be a complete list, just some of the high lights Battery cables (2), radiator fasteners, distributor fasteners ( I still have a few factory screw sets), valve cover loom stands, oil pressure switch and voltage reg cover. I also did some routine maintenance. Someone had lifted the car without padding the lift arms so I also repaired some related damage/scuffs 5/94 saw the replacement of his dash, carpets, trans tunnel vinyl, heater control valve, horn relay, etc, etc, etc Several visits where I replaced things like headlamp assys which just didn't meet Paul's requirements, installed the correct radio brackets, etc Did a lot of intake/exhaust manifold detailing and other stuff which lead to the Gold Medallion at Atlanta Given that a restoration is never really finished the next several years up to 8/17 saw maintenance, left door hinges, a starter, left window reg, carb rebuild (Z Therapy did the throttle shafts and I did the rest) 8/17, final visit. He brought me an NOS air injection manifold and fuel rail which I installed with fresh factory gaskets and fasteners, etc Cheers

soggtfishtaco - whenever I make the mistake of taking a day off it can take me a few days to catch up. Please give me some time and I'll get back to your question.

Very cool. Note the lack of an OK decal that did appear on the model. Wonder what happened? I had the pleasure of attending the annual White Rose Z Car Club car show this past Sat. It was held at the city park in the quiet central Pa town of Mt. Carmel. The weather couldn't have been better at about 72 degrees, bright sun and a slight breeze. Got to renew friendships with the club members I knew when they annually held what is recognized as the gold standard as it applies to Z car shows. Of course the subject of the BAT sale of the late Paul Taylor's 240 was talked about. A lot of chat about the many times Paul competed in their event and how tough his competition often was. Some pretty strong opinions, almost universally negative, about the silly and disrespectful nicknames being thrown about for the car. For instance, not one of us could remember Paul ever referring to his Z as "Goldie". Anyway, we all agreed that our respectful reference would always be "Paul's Car". The new owner would be wise to use that reference as it has significantly more provenance in the Z world then the Franklin Mint Car, or any silly nickname being considered, as the Franklin Mint was but a chapter in the history of the most honored Z car to date. Cheers

Thank you Kats. You are very kind

jason240z, excellent observation!

This is the late, and very missed, Paul Taylor's car. It was my shop that brought it up to 295 points and serviced it for many years. Very fond memories of convoying to Z car shows with Paul and lovely wife Sandy. Seeing all the crap going down on that site depresses me to no end

Sand, very risky. I only use plastic media

There are 2 primary sources for reproduction Z car rubber and they are Vintage Rubber and Banzai Motorworks. Vintage rubber door seals are head and shoulders above the Pacific rim stuff that requires a heavy hand to close doors and deck lid.

Hoover, Your left motor mount bracket should be engine blue while your right bracket should be satin black.

These link boxes and a significant pile of 240/260/280 NOS parts will either be used in the shop or sold sometime in the future to deserving Z car owners as part of my retirement.

From the vault this time

More from the trenches. What's left of a 12/74-7/77 + battery cable fuse link on the right

The correct spelling is Banzai

Using a picture of hacked up wiring as an example is hardly good evidence. Just one greasy low IQ mechanic's opinion.

Banzai Motorworks has reproduced the 12/74-7/77 + battery cable fuse link. It's listed in the on line catalog under Latest & Greatest.

I also have diagrams I made of the fuse link arrangement from earlier original low mile, unmodified , original owner 280s. I'll post them on Mon as I'm away from the shop for the weekend.

Here's the truth from the trenches.

Banzai Motorworks has reproduced both

The first 280s and the last 260s were both built simultaneously during the last 3 months of 1974. This makes a 12/74 260 2+2 automatic the rarest, and one might argue the least desirable, of the first generation, 1970-1978, Z cars!

Hi Joseph, Like you Banzai Motorworks catalogs fuse link info which we have gathered from one owner, original, unmodified, low mileage 280s which come through the shop with a bit of regularity. Therefore, I can say with confidence that the thick red links, surely manufactured by Yazaki, are original. Also, I've been buying those links from my local Nissan dealer for more than 30 years. Original colors are Red, Green and Black. I feel comfortable with the super-sessions, such as thick Red to thin Brown, through the years, never had a problem.

Banzai Motorworks, www.zzxdatsun.com, has reproduced the luggage stoppers to a high standard. Every stock 240 gold medallion car for the past several years has one.