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Len, the wold needs more people like you!!! What is the name of your site for me to add to my favourites? Cheers Adam

Ditto that zzzzzed ... Don't be too disparaged by rust Dysal ... have a look at the Brown Hornet link if you start to lose your mojo .. At the end of the day, if you do a good job and get it all out, your car will be a good'un and will escalate in money... There are so few of these things now on the roads and the good ones will be always sought after.

yes I know ... could be forgiven for thinking this 2000gt was a 2/3rds replica ... There are not many cars that make a series 1 MX5 look massive, but to me the 2000gt does just that...

Given its a 'project' page, thought i'd stick up the photos of the car I want to replicate. This is what it will look like on completion ... but I think i'll limit the black to the bonnet only. Will also have the chrome rimmed light surrounds, and thinking of getting the Watanabes machined on the outer. Thinking of filling the arial hole also, as I'm not sure the car will need a radio when finished. Might consider a roof mounted one anyway later on. Added a 2000GT in a colour scheme that I also really like. I like the way the wheels / off-white and red bonnet blend in together. Will be sticking with the narrow body, so there will be no guards. Let me know your thoughts?? I want to be sure this is going to look good, so happy to have your feedback as to good / bad / ugly etc. Happy to have any suggestions on this project. Cheers Adam

Thanks Mike Ducked back after lunch to drop off some books to Nat and he said not to worry too much about the beaver panel as he could repair it ... its just time and money right !! As Mossy rightfully said though, its not until we get into it with the bead blaster that we'll be able to properly eyeball the true extent of the tin worm. At this stage, i'd expect to be buying new floors and chassis rails (about $400 all up from Warren). On another note ... while we've got the suspension out I think I'll get some new bushes to replace all the old stuff. I don't want that rock hard Nolathane, nor OEM but there is a product that is an intermediate solution that some on here have used .. Can't remember what its called, or where to buy it (or price), but if you have done this, let me know. cheers

Ok ... Went to the beater thismorning after week one (lets call him Nat) and here is the work they have done thus far. I started with the notion that they remove the motor after I stripped the interior. I had left the dash in place, but on consultation they decided to remove the dash, and headlining, albeit that remains in place. Seems there is lots of little bits of rust in different areas, including; under the front qtr panels (but not in the frame), foot wells and floors, and in the fire wall (albeit this is mostly just surface), in the rear wheel wells, the beaver panel (see photos), frame rails both sides, and bottom of passenger doors. So in a word, there is LOTS of small patches of rust, that if left for another 3 years would have just about seen this old girl out. The rust is only really cosmetic and not in the structural parts of the body. Once repaired, they'll be able to fully rustproof it, so the money (read fortune) is not spent in vain. Nat is a master craftsman and has recently finished an aston martin, e-type and is in the midst of completing a Austin Healey 100. Other cars in the shed are an original Shelby Mustang, GTS monaro, Holden 'Sandman', and Triumph Stag ... Suffice to say this guy is not your average accident repair man, but is a full time restoration specialist. He will not cut corners and only does something 'right' (again read $$$). Today we decided to be sure to strip all the tar sound insulation, headlining and suspension so the body can be properly bead blasted. This should happen after the Monaro, so I'll need to get a second job just about to amass the money to have it completed in the coming lets say two months. On the colours ... have had considerable discussion on this and the shortlist includes; metallic grey (tough modern look), dark green (like an e-type), or the two tone scheme used in computer rendered model called 'Jan's S30Z' (old school). Nat prefers the two tone colour, albeit prefers keeping the body all one colour (the bottom olivey / putty) but with the satin black bonnet. He has a few ideas we'll work with during the process, but suffice to say he reckons the old school look is the way to go, as do I. I am going to buy wata's Rtypes and will likely go 16" 8+ and 8.5" to fit under the standard arches. Colour to be black, but i'll opt for the machined lips, to tie in the chrome bars, light covers, handles, etc etc. Thinking we might delete the arial hole and potentially put a roof mounted bullet style arial.... I've bought the jap mirrors and restored them to satin black, Datsun Compe Handle, and new everything. Will chase up light covers and other little cosmetic bits to get it all correct. I need a new beaver panel as the photo shows ... if you have one, please write to me. Will give another update in the coming weeks and time (and $$) permit. Cheers Adam

Lurch, if I could make one... I'd never ever ever leave the shed !!!!! seriously tho ... I do need one ..

As the headline says, I need a new beaver panel for my 71Z. Bought a new panel that sits on top of the beaver panel, however on removing the old top panel, I noticed the existing beaver panel is pretty badly rusted in the corners. Does anybody have a good used item from a wreck, or know if I can buy a new replacement. Called Warren and he said he does not make new ones ... yet! Cheers guys Adam.

Guys (and Jane), Took out the rear qtrs and cannot remove the screws (that hold the frames together .. and yes, they've been drinking wd40 for 2 weeks) ... and the little metal tabs that hold them to the frame are heavily rusted (with one falling off), with the screws that hold them in place well and truly past their used by date. Any idea of replacement brackets and screws ?? or is the best bet to try to replace the whole units? Also if you've used non OEM rubbers to reinstall ... does it actually work (ie seal) and look good??? Last thing I want after all this is to have the repaired units leaking with the rubbers looking like a torn water bag ! Cheers

I just LOVE those 2000GT's ... In choosing a colour to paint my 240Z project, the best inspiration I can find is the GT's off-white, with black wheels (wata's) and a satin black bonnet. The GT looks so svelte in this scheme and I think it will give the S30Z an underated old school sporty look. Must say, looking at the two together gives one a real idea as to just how tiny (read LOW and narrow) is the GT ... My last 240Z in 98 was off white and the colour was really good.

Might seem a but unnecessary, but does anybody have a pattern / measurement for the correct factory location of the factory JDM fender mirrors? Need to be sure before I get the drill out :-\ Cheers Adam

Alan, And for the latest 'copy' of the 'copy' of a 250GTO.... if you get my drift !! Now study the profile and tell me its not a 'bit' like a 240Z!!! (albeit an A$3m one). Cheers. Adam

Alan, Mike and others, thanks so much for your insightful comments on this topic. I knew I would open a can of worms and am glad to read your responses. I hope not to have insinuated that the S30Z is a 'copy' but rather heavily infleunced by the 250GTO, for I only wish it was !!! Of course I get all that stuff about copying and influence, and if you study the whitehouse, yes you DO see the Parthenon, and if you study an I-MAC computer you DO see B&O and if you study a Chanel diving watch you see a Rolex Submariner ... etc etc etc etc ... so yes Alan, the Aryans are also responsible for this kind of reprehensible behaviour too. By the way ... Google Aston Martin One 77 and looking at a side shot... can someone try to convince me they did not 'copy' it from the magnifique 240Z !!!!!! I dead serious on this point ... look at the 1/4 windows, they look to be straight from a Nissans part catalogue! Thanks for your contributions ... hugely interesting .. and yes Jane ..a history section would be good!

thanks galderdi ... per chance, do you know what the wheel bases are of each car?

I can feel a bulk order coming on .. I need some serious HP to justify my rebuild.. Who's with me?

I've really wanted to pick a few of the more learned types on this subject for some time, and this appears to be the best forum to do so. Pardon me for not spending two weeks looking for this info on other global sites, if it does already exist in detail. Thus far i've read about how Goetz may have (or not) designed the 240Z and the bits about 'Mr K' at Nissan and i'm pretty clear on this. Have also read notes to the effect that the design was largely based on the e-type and the 911. Also understand that Japanese manufacturers wanted their own genuine sports car at a time where Euro and America was having a field day at the races. I have heard from several sources over the years that the 240Z was based on Ferrari's 250GTO (don't laugh!!). I have a few older friends who own 240's and one of which tells me its so very underrated as a collectors car as it was very much based on this actual car (this guy is in his 60's and was there at the time, so i'm wondering if there is any truth to it). The Ferrari was front engined, 3.0L, 5 speed manual, and correct me if I'm out of line but someone at Nissan must have broken into the Maranello plant to 'take' a set of the headlight covers to use on their own car ... they've virtually identical (which might go some way to describe what the Z designers were thinking at the time). Other point to remember at this point is, the GTO was a world beater and was Italian ... The Yanks has the AC Cobra at this time, and poor old Japan was out of the loop. So presumably they looked at the 'world best' cars, ie GTO to get some inspiration. Aside from the cursory.."it looks a bit like a lovechild from an e-type and 911" does anyone know if there was infact any GTO to its geaneology? I want to believe there was, and looking at the two cars from the front, and from the side, there is more than an obvious resemblance. Cheers Adam.

Adam .. I just bought one about 3 weeks ago and had the same requirement. In the process of looking I found a very nice un-advertised auto 240Z in blue. The car has had a minor (albeit very fixable) bingle and is in very original good condition and is complete. Drop me a PM if you're interested as I know the vendor. rgds Adam

Porsche's 930 is one of the better interpretation of a 'fat bum' car ever, I think. Might be worth having a look at how they did it so successfully.

Lurch, I def saw some 260Z ones for sale the other day ,,, can't remember where, but I did see them new. Give Trev at Brighton Nissan a call ,, he's extremely helpful. I called two dealers in NSW and both laughed out loud and said no way ... called up Trev and he just asked me for my CC number and Voilla... arrived last night!

Received my new OEM door trims from Nissan last night by courier. They are absolutely superb. 100% genuine factory items in the Nissan boxes (individually) and all wrapped up in protective plastic and cardboard. Complete with all the necessary hardware for attaching to the door .. Has the nice chrome strip and what I describe as buffalo skin patterned Vinyl in the middle with a smoother texture on the edges. Has Nissan stamped all over it and is ordered ex-japan. If you have a spare A$475 (delivered) and want the interior to look 100% ... its the best investment you can make (aside for the Datsun Compe Handle

Hey Pauly .. just called the Cedray blokes and told them I am coming down with a bucket of bolts (no not a rusty old Datsun) but the real thing.. They said.. yep... bring them down and we can replace new for old for almost everything. They're open on Saturdays from 7.00am until 11.00am. They can do re-plating of anything as well .. Just what I need at the moment !! Just try finding those screws that hold in the 1/4 windows in or the ones that hold the thingamyjigs to the whatchacallits!!!!!!!

Thanks Pauly ,,, sure it wasn't the header that dragged you in?? So I guess you go down there on a Saturday morning with a ice-cream bucket of bolts and say; "I need three of these, four of these, and seven of these"?? Sounds just what the Doctor ordered mate ... Thanks again. Just so you know, the Brown Hornet will be shipped off to the doctor this weekend for likely very very long surgery... Still deciding on colours!.

thanks guys .. much appreciated. Wonder what others have done when restoring these things??

Hi all .. pulling the old girl apart at the weekend I realised that almost every screw and nut and bolt needs replacing .. Aside from salvaging some and replating.. most are just too old and worn. Has anyone found this, and if so where are you getting replacements? I tried Warren for one or two, but mostly even that stuff is 35+ yrs old ... So where to from here Hopefully not Bunnings !!! Is there a screw / bolt / nut seller associated with the panel shop industry that can get anything? In most cases the replacements need not be OEM, but must be the right style with cadmium or yellow zinc coating. Keen to hear where to go for this stuff. Cheers

Um.... Ben where do I send my cheque ?