240Z - Year of manufacture?

[Mr Camouflage]

As to pre 70 zeds in Australia, I'm know that over the years that this has been debated (many times in ClassicZcar) that it was agreed that 004 was the earliest and possibly didn't arrive here until the 1st Quarter of 1970. The actual month has never been established, only presumed. There is little doubt that it certainly had been built in '69, as to it's actual location in '69(Japan or Australia) is unknown.

 

Little doubt? There is just no way of knowing when HS30-00004 was built unless someone like Katz can uncover the production info with chassis numbers for the rest of 1969 (September to December), or whoever owns #4 does the component date checking thing, or compares engine numbers with US cars.

 

Nissan state that HS30-00003 was built in October 1969, but that doesn't mean they completed #4 in 1969 either.

 

It's possible, there's just no proof to say either way.

 

Likewise there is no way to tell when the car arrived in Australia, unless records can be unearthed from somewhere.

 

If indeed car #4 was the car that was lent out to magazines for articles, and used in the press release kit then it was in the hands of Australian Modern Motor magazine in October 1970. They drove it to the 1970 Hardie-Ferodo 500 at Bathurst.

 

Press release kit was released in September, so the only thing we know for sure is that the car arrived in Australia before September 1970. How long before is anyone's guess. Zhome say it arrived in March, though they provide no supporting evidence.

 

 

 

[zedrally]

Sigh..... :-\

This has been discussed ad infinitum on ClassicZCar. (see the link I posted prior).

Unfortunately, it all gets lost in the passage of time, this occurance happened approximately 13  years ago and no doubt will be raised in another 13 years by another reader who tries to unravel the facts!

The previous owner of 004 (who I knew personally), had all the details that supported the claim, he was very proud of being able to display them when the car was on display in the occaisional "Show & Shine"

 

This is the same car that is reported in Zhome by Carl Beck the US Z Car guru, who had been in contact with the owner.

Before anyone ask's, I do not know who brought the car and where it went to. (There has been speculation that it's in Japan, draw you're own conclusion's)

Now as to the actual build date, it's easy to presume that it was '69, as it followed 003. Logically, why would you halt the build in October and recommence the next year?

I wouldn't, wouldn't you?

In the end, I really don't care. Like 004's past owners, I'll shut up and let everyone else draw their own conclusions....

[bluerat]

Sorry Adrian that was a miss print, eliminate 'Pre' from the above, my stuff up. I am a big 1600 fan, and I know the problems the boys in Nc etc are having with the 5 speeds but I did mean the 240Z. I have a 68 1600 in stock if you want to upset any pompus HRC boy's! It's a fine line over the date debate and in the overall scheme of thing's doesn't really matter, unless you own an early car and want it dated with-in a month or two? The car itself and the enjoyment it brings you is the important thing.

[Mr Camouflage]

Sigh..... :-\

This has been discussed ad infinitum on ClassicZCar. (see the link I posted prior).

Unfortunately, it all gets lost in the passage of time, this occurance happened approximately 13  years ago and no doubt will be raised in another 13 years by another reader who tries to unravel the facts!

 

Yes it has, I was there at the time on classic z cars, and all comments on #00004 on classic z cars seem to think rightly or wrongly that it was built in 1970. Carl believes the car was made in 1970. Alan also agreed that the car may have been built in 1970. I even read on Classic Z cars that the cars owner believed the car was built in 1970. In fact after all these years and all those discussions, Mike, this is the first time I've ever seen you say it was built in 1969.

 

The previous owner of 004 (who I knew personally), had all the details that supported the claim, he was very proud of being able to display them when the car was on display in the occaisional "Show & Shine"

 

What claim is that exactly? That the car arrived here in 1970. With that I don't disagree, but whether it was made in 1969, Who knows? maybe, maybe not. Are you saying it is a 1969 car? You said earlier that there are no 1969 HS30's.

 

It's entirely possible that some low number HS30's were made in 1969, I'm not disagreeing with you there, but there's no documented evidence of the kind katz has been able to uncover that proves either way the build date, that i'm aware of.

 

The first load of 240Z's were sold in 1970 as 1970 models, regardless of whether they were built in 1969.

 

It discussions like this that help to bring out evidence and dispel the myths associated with these cars. I'm interested in hearing more about #4 Mike, so please don't shut up, tell us what you know.

[denpal]

Re HS30 00016.

 

I owned this car from 1990-1994 in NZ. The history is that the car originally came from Norfolk Island. It probably wouldn't be that hard to trace the date of first registration there.

 

Original colour was red and the seatbelts were non-retracting. The engine number was 6777 or something close to that. It had the welded throttle shaft not curved, hand throttle, no tool lockers.

 

The car number was also stamped into the firewall as well as the ID plate.

[gav240z]

Re HS30 00016.

 

I owned this car from 1990-1994 in NZ. The history is that the car originally came from Norfolk Island. It probably wouldn't be that hard to trace the date of first registration there.

 

Original colour was red and the seatbelts were non-retracting. The engine number was 6777 or something close to that. It had the welded throttle shaft not curved, hand throttle, no tool lockers.

 

The car number was also stamped into the firewall as well as the ID plate.

 

I don't suppose you have any photos from when you previously owned it?

[denpal]

Yes somewhere I have quite a few and will look them out and scan them if there is any interest.

[PB260Z]

Yes somewhere I have quite a few and will look them out and scan them if there is any interest.

 

Yes there is interest 

[mossy]

I don't suppose you have any photos from when you previously owned it?

 

Didn't NZeder own that 240z at one stage too?

[NZeder]

Re HS30 00016.

 

I owned this car from 1990-1994 in NZ. The history is that the car originally came from Norfolk Island. It probably wouldn't be that hard to trace the date of first registration there.

 

Original colour was red and the seatbelts were non-retracting. The engine number was 6777 or something close to that. It had the welded throttle shaft not curved, hand throttle, no tool lockers.

 

The car number was also stamped into the firewall as well as the ID plate.

And you were living in Waitamata when I purchased it from you correct? That engine number sounds about right - when I got it was fitted with a L26 but I did track down a L24 that was in that 6900-7200 range for the car before selling it one to Pete who now live in Sydney which is where the car is now located. Pete purchase HS30-00013 who's body was in worse shape also. This car gave up its roof so HS30-00016 could have one without a subroof.

 

If I recall the car came into NZ in 1988 from Norfolk Island.

[denpal]

And you were living in Waitamata when I purchased it from you correct? That engine number sounds about right - when I got it was fitted with a L26 but I did track down a L24 that was in that 6900-7200 range for the car before selling it one to Pete who now live in Sydney which is where the car is now located. Pete purchase HS30-00013 who's body was in worse shape also. This car gave up its roof so HS30-00016 could have one without a subroof.

 

If I recall the car came into NZ in 1988 from Norfolk Island.

 

 

That's right, I lived in Titirangi, and yes the period sunroof I'd forgotten about that. I also owned #266 which was completely original NZ new, unusual dark green colour, but had been sitting in a Takapuna carport for 20 years before I got it and had a bit of rust.

 

[gav240z]

On 8/4/2009 at 6:50 AM, Zedhead UK said:

Hi You all from down-under. I'm a member of the UK Classic Z Register and am trying to establish the date of manufacture of my 240z which I bought from a UK specialist earlier this year. The car was originally registered in New Zealand on 10.01.1972, but I have been told that Z cars destined for NZ would have come from Japan to Australia. Our Club expert can only give a manufacture date of between Jan.'71 and Aug.71. The Chassis No. is HS 30 01401 and was originally Yellow. It was imported into the UK in 2001 and refurbished in 2004 to an excellent standard - there was apparently no sign of any 'tin-worm' in the shell at all. This would be a miracle in the UK, but you guys down-under are luckier than us! If anybody could get a bit nearer to its actual birthdate I'd be very interested.

                    Hopefully

                        ZedheadUK   

I have HS30 01415 so only 14 cars away from you.

The warranty card shows a delivery date of 3rd November 1971. It was potentially built up to 3 months prior to that though. I will need to double-check the compliance plate, but I believe it's October 1971 stamped. So likely the car was built in September or perhaps August 1971. We can't know for sure, since HS30's didn't have a door jamb plate like North American HLS30's did.

[sjcurtis]

Looking at these last posts around the HS30-001401 and HS30-001415 11/71 compliance. I was intrigued by the width of time line offered in the UK for a production date. Understanding they did not have delivery cards and information for a similar HS30 in the sequence of build and delivery. I also looked at HS30-001408 11/71 compliance  when comparing  the engine numbers of the two HS30U Aust deliveries L24-0552** and L24-0554** and  the two of them against the Z home HLS30 info the month should be 09/71 for all three. A compliance plate and an engine number are the only other items that could helped identify a factory hold back. From the information supplied with the delivery loop through AUS to NZ it probably arrived in AUS with the other two prior to shipment out. 

Cheers

Steve

 

[HS30-H]

1 hour ago, sjcurtis said:

Looking at these last posts around the HS30-001401 and HS30-001415 11/71 compliance. I was intrigued by the width of time line offered in the UK for a production date.

But isn't that just because the person/club being asked clearly didn't refer to the evidence that the cars themselves can provide?

No personal disrespect intended to the people concerned, but if they had 'asked' the cars then the cars themselves would have given them a pretty good answer. As we have discussed so many times, component manufacturing and quality control 'Kensa' dates are all over the cars. The more references you put together, the clearer the jigsaw puzzle picture becomes. It's not rocket science, is it?

You don't even need to look at the chassis number or engine number to get a pretty good idea of the production window. I reckon you could get to within a few weeks if you just looked at the dates on a few key components (wiring harness section labels, major instrument QC stamp inkans, mirror base inkan, fuel tank inkan etc).

I think the plain truth is that much of this is still witchcraft to some. It really shouldn't be. And if a "Club Expert" really can't date a car better than "between January '71 and August '71" then the club in question really ought to try harder.  

[gilltech]

Quote

I think the plain truth is that much of this is still witchcraft to some. It really shouldn't be. And if a "Club Expert" really can't date a car better than "between January '71 and August '71" then the club in question really ought to try harder.  

Hear hear.

[nat0_240_chevZ]

I have the plates/id from hs30 1400.

Was the goldy yellow/orange poo colour. It was a write off bought from z wreckers, had some Weird bits and jap chalk marks under the dash etc. 

Needless to say it was chopped up as it was put into a pole/tree heavilly. 

When i picked it up it had:-

F54/p90 engine combo/head combo. 

Auto transmission 

Fibreglass headight buckets and blanked fender mirrors. 

Old skool jap looking sports wheel. Other than that not alot more i can remember but can advise for reference sake the aus compliance i still have along with body sections. 

Nat0

Edited August 11, 2018 by nat0_240_chevZ
Spelling

[gav240z]

So it was 920 Gold, can I get the engine number and compliance plate date? I'll add it to my database and record it as deceased.

Auto and safari gold, now that's quite a rare combo. I believe @dalee has a car like that also. 

[nat0_240_chevZ]

Auto on an l28 but... 

Eng # on build plate 054993

Comp. Date 10/71.

[gav240z]

On 8/12/2018 at 9:53 AM, gav240z said:

So it was 920 Gold, can I get the engine number and compliance plate date? I'll add it to my database and record it as deceased.

Auto and safari gold, now that's quite a rare combo. I believe @dalee has a car like that also. 

 

On 8/18/2018 at 3:35 PM, nat0_240_chevZ said:

Auto on an l28 but... 

Eng # on build plate 054993

Comp. Date 10/71.

Funny enough I found out that Dale's car is actually the sister car to this 1...

His car is HS30 01399 and is currently listed for sale on Gumtree. Auto, Safari Gold, Black interior.