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Bought the 1973 240Z in Port Moresby in 1982, the previous owner having to leave the country unexpectedly. The car was in good nick, but signs of rust in the lower doors and front mudguards. I had this repaired and undertook to respray the car (in the original silver colour) and generally restore it to pristine condition. The car had mirrors mounted on the mudguards and I decided to remove them as pedestrians loved to knock them about and put shallow dents in the car body. I removed all badges (I still have them) and filled the badge mounting holes as I saw these as potential future rust spots. I returned to Australia in 1993 and brought the car with me. In Cairns I had the car resprayed (by a professional), modified the seat belts (the originals were non retractable) and had the car certified by the QLD dept of Transport. The car was (is) fitted with a blue plate that bears my name. I drove the car until I moved to Adelaide, and during transportation it was damaged, front and rear bumpers, bonnet, guards and one door. I had the repairs done, the car resprayed, new windscreen and new rubbers (including door and boot seals) all round. During this restoration I have misplaced the bonnet latch (the part on the bonnet itself) and as I'm getting old (73 yrs old) am finding it difficult to finish my project. Both front and rear bumpers need repair, the under body engine/gearbox shield needs replacing and probably a lot more needs doing to pass roadworthy in South Australia. The suspension has been lowered all round and there are no external rear view mirrors. By the way, it's a 5 speed manual with about 43,000 miles genuine on the clock and has been garaged under cover since I've owned it. In Port Moresby I also had a 240Z auto, and being maroon and silver in colour, used the same rego for both cars (naught naughty but only if you get caught). I salvaged a few bits of other Z cars up there and have items such as console, door with stainless steel window frame, drive train half shafts, etc. The Z auto ended its life at the Port Moresby. I wouldn't mind hearing from others regarding their experience in getting a vehicle back on the road after nearly 20 years in storage.

And now for some more car porn to get you all through the weekend! Drive line is in...Locky is a machine! (although I think he really enjoys this part of the build)

From the FroZen North to the SiZZling South The Datsun/Nissan online car show co-hosted by the Ontario Z Car Owners Association in Canada and the Z Car Club of Queensland in Australia. FotoZed is open to all current members of OZC or ZCCQ with any make & model of Datsun/Nissan. There are 7 judged categories that members can enter, and an overall people’s choice award. The prizes are simply bragging rights. The benefit is enjoyment of so many amazing photographs! https://ontariozcar.com/fotozed-2021-spring/ At the Z Proto Zoom unveil back in September a few of from the Z Car Club Queensland and the Ontario Z Car Owners Association were chatting before and after the unveil and having a bit of a joke around as only Aussie's and Canucks can. The short of it is we have now have had a few club members zoom meet ups and had a great time, and we are all talking about a group of them coming over here and us doing a tour of Canada. The last Zoom meet up was 4 1/2 hours long and they are a great fun bunch of Zed owners and our clubs and memberships are very similar. At the last meeting we had a guest speaker Chis Karl, Executive Director of the Z Car Club Association of North America, ZCCA, who showed us his personal up close photos of the Z Proto, when it was in New York and talked about his involvement with the Z Proto, ZCON and the ZCCA. The ZCCQ has just become the first Z Car club in the southern hemisphere to become affiliated with the ZCCA. With the Covid lock down especially for them, as they are just getting some slight relaxations out of lockdown in over a year (imagine that, lockdown for over a year) We are so dam lucky here in Oz and the freedoms we have had. We have decided to co-host and online car show open to current club members only and in just 4 days we have had over 110 entries into the 7 different categories. Its all about having a bit of fun and showing off your Zed, and there have been some amazing photos posted. You can see all the info about the different categories and see the entries which are increasing daily here https://ontariozcar.com/fotozed-2021-spring/ Any of you can vote for the People’s Choice categories OPEN – between April 6th 7:00am – April 14th 11:59pm EDT (April 6th 9:00pm – April 15th 1:59pm AEST) to vote for your favourite photo overall – voting open to the general public. There will be a link button added to the above webpage link on the 6th so you can't vote yet but in the mean time check out the entries. The whole car show is about having fun.

Not pretty or light, but functional. Two bolts through wheel arch holding it in place. M14 bolt to master cylinder for adjusting up, with locknut.

I feel like I'm stuck in the first half of the wizard of Oz.