Doehring

Here in Germany in the early 70s there was - as Alan said for GB - a big anti-japanese cars prejudice. The big advantage of japanese cars in these days was their low price for a fully equipped car. End of the 60s I bought an Honda S 800 Coupe, a great car compared to Fiats, BMW 700, Midgets or Spitfires or even Alfas and I did a lot of races with the car, but people always looked at me like a fool driving a japanese car. There was only one japanese car that had a better image, the 240 Z! Why, because of it's Safari Rally success. When they changed the name to Nissan the management here had to spend a lot of money for the new image and that became worse and not better. Nissan is for tedious "bread and butter" cars and not even the ZX could change that - too expensive here in the country of BMW, Mercedes ,Porsche and - nowadays - Audi. When I take my 240Z to an event a lot of people, especially people in the 50s or 60s, come to me and say "That was a great car, it's a pity that Datsun died". You see, they still don't bring Datsun and Nissan in a line whereas the young people don't know Datsun and Nissan isn't of great interest to them - exept the little Micra ("March" in the US, I think), a ladies favorite. Why did Nissan never care for it's history ? I hope the french influence will change that! By the way Fred, I think the Renault share is 44.5% of Nissan. Greetings from Germany Rolf

Classic (Historique) Monte Carlo Rallye 2003 will take place Jan.31st - Febr. 5th. 341 (!) participants will enter the parcours, among them 5 240Z. One will be driven by Tony Fall, ex Datsun works car driver. For more information look at www.acm.mc Enjoy Rolf

Hi Alan, I read you are in Japan or are you already back? I wish you - and everybody on the list - the sort of year that great memories are made of ! Interesting what you write about the "non-tag" on RHD cars. I didn't know that. What you say about the Datsun/Nissan philosophy on production years is what I learned from a Nissan manager here, too. On my Z's right door jamb I have my personal tag. It has the same dimension like the original one on the left side, but I hammered into it the car's "personal" dates like day of delivery to the first owner, importation date from the US to Germany, the day I bought it, and day of my first drive after restauration.Foolish, isn't it, but I like the symmetry to have a tag at each jamb. Rolf

Hi all, www.zhome.com has a register where many of us have registered their VINs. They are in an order and it seems that the VINs are linked to a time order. By the way, isn't the production date of your car on that little label that is fixed to the B-pillar at the driver's side? Rolf

Thank you for the flowers, Fred! Did you try Santa's mixture? It's really good against a cold, esp. as prevention. Happy Holidays! Rolf

Steve, thank you, that's good news. Here in Germany we had only very few 240Zs. Datsun stopped sales within one year and since then they sell only 2+2 versions here (260 Z 2+2 - 300ZX Twin Turbo 2+2). My 240Z 2seater is an US import. Rolf

I got an OEM windshield weatherstrip from a friend who sold his 260Z 2+2. Does this also suit my '72 240Z ? I'm confused because MSA has 2 different parts# for the 2seater and the 2+2. Where is the difference?

Sorry, it should be Zledge to make the story Z related.

One particular Christmas season a long, long time ago, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip but there were problems everywhere, as every year. The elves were in a hurry to produce toys, they became unconcentrated. The trainnee elves were sick or tired and Mrs. Claus' Mom was mobbing everyone, everywhere and at any time, as every year. All this stressed Santa. Outside the snow was so high that the reindeer had problems to pull the sledge. So Santa looked for more reindeer. That took a lot of time and when he got them they didn't want to be harnessed and produced more problems than solutions. Santa was behind schedule. More stress! He went back to the elves to look at the production of toys so far.That was behind schedule, too. Santa became unpatient and looked out for other presents. When he looked around he saw a lot of apples,peaches, oranges, stawberries, chocolade balls and bells and more to motivate the elves and to make them resistent against the cold winds blowing outside. Santa put all this into a big bag and threw that over his shoulder. When he passed the cupboard he remembered that he had hidden a bottle of Drumbuie and a bottle of 12 years old Scotch under the board where the elves couldn't find it. He mixed 50 -50 into a big cup and enjoyed that enormous "Rusty Nail". He mixed another one because his Grandmom always told that this is the best medicine against a cold (I fully agree!) Than he stood up, threw the sack over his shoulder and curved through the room heading to the door. He stumbled. The fruit bag flew through the air towards the Christmas tree. The Angel on the top was shocked! The bag "exploded" and scattered the fruits all over the tree. Thus began the tradition of those balls in the Christmas tree.

Thank you for that beautiful story Rolf

Datsun-sports, that's a nice garage! What you said about the handling I agree.For the map, did you try www.nuerburgring.de/service/2_map3.gif ? Fred, now we are already three!

Hi Datsun-Sports, let me know in time when you come. I will try to arrange a meeting with some of us here in that region. Did you have a map of the Ring before you started and how did you manage "Hatzenbach" and "Adenauer Forest". Both places nearly killed me in the past. Rolf

Sean, what year is your Z? New ones are at MSA Rolf

I like that look. Similar rear lights were at the Ferrari 308. I heared that they were also used by Fiat at their 850 Coupe and other models - not that expensive! Rolf

Sean, try www.hella.de. I have Hellas in my Z. The exchange from the american closed bulps was quite difficult while using the original front light housing and the chrome ring. I heared that the VW Golf 1 front lights also suit. Try to get them from a scrapyard. By the way, Motorsports has the Hellas in their catalog. You can ask them via e-mail for technical advise/help. Rolf

Hi Sean, I have them in both my 240Zs. At first I lay on my back under the right fender and pressed the right aluminium mudguard with my feet and leading them with my hands in the correct position and the right shape. With a liner I marked the position for the 2 90° angels on the mud guard on the a level mid to the front frame rail. After that I took the mudguard out and fixed the 2 angels to the mudguard at the marked positions with 2x2 screws. I then pressed the mudguard as descibed in again and marked the position for the 2x2 screws that fix the angel to the frame. There I drilled 4 small holes, put hot (liquid) candle wax on the back of the angel (as rust /water protection) and fixed it with 2x2 screws at the frame, at the same time melting the wax with a hair dryer for better adaption to the shape of frame and rail. This took me about half an hour by each mud guard. repeating the procedure at the other side. To take them out and in again you need about 10-15 minutes, including the lift of the car and the change of the wheel. The mudguard itself, once in shape, takes 5 minutes max. It's very easy, 4 screws only. I prefer to loosen the 4 screws that fix the mudguard to the angels. So the wax-rust protection to the frame doesn't get hurt. My Z is lowered, the tires are 195-70/14 and I had never a problem yet. Good luck Rolf

Are you shure they are not already castrated anywhere? Nevertheless let everybody the freedom to do what he likes - exept castrating a Z. Rolf

Hi Sean and all anti-rust warriors, I told you about the inner fender protections for our 240Zs. I got them from the german importer who has a webside with an english part. Look at www.Lokari.de and get your informations and ideas. BTW, he is looking for sales agents in USA, Canada and France. Someone interested, at least for the Z's ? Rolf

Great !!!

Thanks Rainer, if the first 2 digits are MS the car is in Muenster, if it is HS the car is registered in Heinsberg. In my understanding it is a 2+2, the front spoiler is aftermarket and the airbrush on the hood is "selfmade". So I would argue that there might have happened something to the front. Also the surrounding seems suspect to me. I would never picture a well maintained car in that way. Nevertheless, what counts are frames without rust and the technical parts like engine,tranny, diff and so on. In the end you must see and drive the car to judge the price, but to me at the first glimpse it looks suspect and not worth 800 €. A 240Z - 260Z two seater is rare here in Germany and , 260Z, I can't imagine that you will find a driveable one for less than 2500€. Rolf

260z, in my understanding and looking at the picture the car should be not more than 499,- € or US$. I think the car is in Muenster. Rolf

Alan, you did a great job! Rolf

Mike (Admin.) and all, sometimes I'm out and when I'm back some days later I always look into "last 100 posts" to be informed. I also love to look into the gallery for new pictures of our Zs , not at least to collect new ideas. Unfortunately I can only see the last 8 entries or I have to surf through the gallery's forums. Wouldn't it be nice to have something like "last 50 pictures" ? Rolf

Friends, I looked into my files on sunday and collected a lot of adresses. I don't know if they all still exist and I'm shure I have not all informations. Here's my list for Ivan, Sean, Fred and all of you: http://zhome.com/Oct2000/CalZ.htm www.thunderranch.com/gto1.htm www.hybridz.org/Review/0002/Ferrari_GTO.htm www.hybridz.org/Review/0005/Terry%20Oxandale www.gtorr.com www.zdriver.com/Carofthemonth/003/ www.zparts.com/history/articles/kit_history/articles/3calGTOs2.html www.zkarkits.com/general.html www.reactionsresearch.com/automotive.html www.reactionsresearch.com/vrgallery.html www.newtier.com/graber/z-car/kitcarvr.html www.intronixtech.com/garage/sub-F.html www.zcar.com/month/2002/04 www.fonebooth.com/convtstory.html www.jasonjarvis.com www.calspyder.com www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity/1147 www.gotumph.com Enjoy! Rolf