Reddog

Stumbled upon this website of a photographer called Shaun Maluga and his very nice photo gallery featuring a stunning red (110) 1974 260Z 2 Seater restored back to absolute stock as original (as can be) condition. The owner Paul Mitrega took 5 years to fully restore the car himself apart from outsourcing the paint job. Looks like it has just come out of the showroom. I personally think the workmanship is top notch. This is the link to the page: Paul's Immaculate 260z « Shaun Maluga Shaun the photographer has links to a lot of photographs he has shot of the Queensland Z Club's cars and their outings. Cheers, Rod.

Just a heads up for those of you who live in WA and may be interested in 240Z 'classic car' feature article. A very nice new classic car magazine was launched in Perth about a month or so ago titled "THE GARAGE JOURNAL" by two young local lads. It's a very high quality publication with beautiful photography and articles written by real classic car enthusiasts and printed on very heavy weight quality paper. Issue 001 was around 128 pages. It is written with a very informed, but different style to most motoring mags and makes each car a story in itself about it's history, renovation and owner's passion for that vehicle. RE: 240Z If you go to the www: thegaragejournal.com.au website there is a link to featured cars and one of them (I am guessing it is destined for issue 002?) is of a lovely red (I don't think it's 110) Perth owned 240Z and you can preview the article online (possibly it's in an edited form?) - nice article with good photography. The other cars featured in issue 001 are: Fiat 124, BMW 528i, MG TC, Piaggio P501, Dodge Charger, Lancia Delta Integrale HF, Alfa Romeo GTA Junior, Aston Martin DB6, Land Rover Series 1, BMW M5 (older model), Porsche 911(1966), BSA Three-Wheeler, Toyota Celica 1600. There's also an entertaining 'Lifestyle' section at the end. At this stage they have only printed 2000 issues and that's it for issue 001. They are only available at selected News agencies. Hopefully they make enough bucks to print the next edition and keep this mag going, it really is a very well done first effort! Cheers, Rod.

Hi there, Just wondering if someone can tell me please if these body shell's are pretty much one and the same (apart from the L28 with fuel injection and U.S. spec large bumpers and L/H drive aspects) parts wise? Are there any areas/pitfall's parts wise you need to be aware of if there are differences when ordering from the U.S. if you are matching their '77/'78 parts for our Oz cars in general terms? Regards and thanks, Rod.

Have patience when looking and these folks have given some really good 'real world' advice. I had a '77 2+2 when they were still new, sold it in my twenties (usual regrets with 'wisdom, age and hindsight!'). I could never get rid of the bug so I started looking a couple of years ago and picked up my 'keeper' car. It's a '77 manual coupe (Red 110 colour like my first Zed) which I shipped over from from Victoria which had previously only two careful 'mature' lady owners, the last lady had her for 26 years, so it's a good one and I feel quite lucky and happy after a lengthy search to own the car. Getting a 'good one' right from the start if possible can save a lot of frustration sometimes. Cheers, Rod (in Perth).

Hi Adrian, Appreciate you taking the time and effort to reply - I would be very interested. Out of interest, have you still got the Zed it belonged to? Regards and thanks once again, Rod.

Thanks Dave, I managed to have a look at Tom's car this am and have a good chat to both Will and Tom. His car is going to be a beautiful restoration when finished. As you said "Will has old school skills and a commitment to a quality outcome"...it restores your faith to see there are still a few folks around like Will. I learnt a lot from just listening to both of them as well as seeing a fully stripped down Zed. Will was also kind enough to cast his 'experienced eye' over my old car as well. Cheers, Rod.

Hi Tom, Firstly thanks for the prompt reply and information and your kind offer. Your car is coming along very nicely and looking really good - great colour choice with that different hue of blue. Will's work certainly looks very impressive. My car is also a '77 2 seater, however I am looking at going down a slightly different road (and slower beast!!!) as my car is still totally original, but very tired mechanically and I am looking at overhauling the car to as good as condition as possible with a view to long term 'preservation' of the car and the usual suspension and milder engine upgrades hopefully. I would certainly like to have a look at you car and meet Will if that is still possible on Saturday morning Tom. Regards, Rod.

Hi there Guys - I know it's only a remote possibility, but does anyone have a spare (2nd hand or new) Gear Shift Knob for a 77/78 260 - these are the 'synthetic' leather look 3 piece black knobs with the Red 5 speed disc (Part no. 32865-U4100/U4200) that they do not need anymore? Regards and thanks, Rod.

Hello there, Just wondering if anybody in the Perth area can personally recommend a really good shop/tradespersons that has done quality (takes pride) work on Zeds before and knows there way around the S30's? I am looking at having the body shell stripped and blasted to bare metal, then seam sealed on all lap joints for rust protection etc; Looking for someone who does this the proper way regarding metal work repairs/metal finishing/preparation and priming... Any help or advice from past experience would be much appreciated, Thanks, Rod.

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.

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.

Hi Bounce, Try Shannon's again - I live in Perth and have my 260Z under a semi enclosed car port with very secure gates (plus 2 dogs!) and not a problem. I too, like Ray got my 260 from Victoria. Good luck. Cheers, Rod.

Just wondering if someone can tell me the best way to get hold of a set of Upper and Lower Door Hinges R/H side for a '77 260, someone mentioned to me that they thought some small company/shop was selling repaired/overhauled hinges in the USA I think? I have had no joy in tracking any down on the 'net. Any help or advice appreciated, Regards, Rod.

Hello there - I am new to this forum and was just wondering about obtaining new Tie Rod Ends for my '77 Zed as they are pretty worn. Do the Aussie '74 to '78 260's all use the same part numbers? Looking on the net there are a number of aftermarket parts (CTR, Moog, Beck Amley etc;) from the US which cover the 280Z for that model year - would that part be any different from our 260's? Any help or advice would be much appreciated by a newcomer regards brands/availability and quality! Cheers, Rod.