77/78 260Z questions about some minor details? UK 1978 260Z Brochure...

[Reddog]

Hi there -

 

Just wondering if any of you guys that own original condition 77/78 coupe models could help me out on some minor details:

 

Was it standard on the hatch to have a '260Z' badge just under the 'Datsun' badge (slightly to the right)? I suspect they may have left  mine off when the car was resprayed...

 

Regarding the left hand bonnet louvre - some cars appear to have an internal 'blanking plate' that runs/covers up most of the length of the louvre - mine does not have this feature, along with a few other late Zeds I have seen?

 

On a different note, I got hold of a Datsun UK June 1978 brochure covering the coupe and 2+2 in v.g.c. and printed in England on good quality paper stock. The colour has not faded at all. No bonnet louvres on the late UK models. I used to think that all late 260/280Z's had these.

 

Regards,

 

Rod.

[NZeder]

The bonnet vent/louvres were market driven. Ie hot locations had the louvres aka Australia, my later 260z coupe 76 manufacture but 77 sold (yes its the last shell version) did not have the vented/louvred bonnet (but it does now) when new. Mine is also a non emissions version with no carbon canister, no fuel evaporator tank very different to the oz imports I have seen.

 

Re the badge yes mine had the 260z on the hatch as you state.

[gilltech]

Yes the hatch should display a 260Z badge.

Ditto NZeder, generally cars delivered to the 'cold countries' didn't get bonnet louvres, judging from all the literature I've collected over the years.

There were a surprising number of detail differences between same year Z cars destined for different markets.

[260Coupe]

260z badge was standard under the datsun badge ....see pic

 

A long time NDSOC club member was a Nissan Dealer Mechanic in the 70's and confirmed that Bonnet louvres were driven by the emmision control system fitted, Australia delivered 260's sold after Aug 76 had full (Californian spec) emmission system fitted (flat top carbs with no mixture adjustment, air pump to dilute exhaust and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to reburn exhaust gases) the fuel mixtures were leaner ........this added more heat to the engine bay which then caused vapour locking..........hence the lagging on the fuel rails and the bonnet vents.........which should have a backing plate fitted to prevent water ingress.

Rumour has it that the L26 engines destined to be fitted to US cars were fitted to Aust delivered cars when the US went to the injected L28 powered 280z in 1976.(Nissan Japan had a pile of engines originally destined to be fitted to US cars...........why waste them........stick them in the Aust 260z to comply with our new emmision laws)

From memory all the 260's I saw when living in the UK had the '74 model flat top carbs but did not have the air pumps and EGR

 

Alan

 

 

 

[Lynton]

Yes agree with Alan LHS Louvre definetly has a backing plate to prevent water ingress.

Example of rear badging see pic.

Lynton

[Stivva]

Any chance you can scan this brochure for us to take a look at?

[260DET]

Yes, a scan of the brochure would be appropriate.

[Reddog]

Thanks Guys,

 

Some really helpful information there. Guess I will be tracking down a Blanking plate then and should be able to get hold of a rear deck badge (hopefully NOS).

 

Yes I will try to get my ancient scanner to do the 'right thing' and post some shots of the UK brochure.

 

Just one of those silly things you do - 'somehow' I had kept the original Gear Shift Knob form my old '77 model from 25+ years ago (the black one with the red center disc)...anyhow, a couple of years ago, I thought to myself I will probably never get a Zed again so what's the point of keeping this for old times sake...oh well live and learn, everything goes in cycles!

 

Regards,

 

Rod.

 

 

[zedrally]

^^^

It's actually not as clear cut as it seems.

 

Apart from the 260 logo, there also was "2+2" and "auto" (may have been nissanmatic or words to that effect, but the memory is getting foggy and the bit's are in the garage...somewhere...), nested with the Datsun badge. (where appropriate).

I've never seen all 4 on one hatch, but it was possible. (Datsun, 260, 2+2, Auto).

[jc260]

My '77 2+2 has 'Datsun' on a slant on the driver's side of the hatch and '2+2' under it (slightly to the right) parallel to the edge of the hatch. Mine's a manual so no 'nissanmatic' badge, but i have seen them on the original auto's. they are on the passenger's side. The 2-seater coupe's replaced the '2+2' badge with the '260z' badge. Also mine has no backing plates on either of the bonnet vents, guess one of the previous owners decided they weren't needed