The 12e RALLYE MONTE-CARLO HISTORIQUE 2009

Albrecht said:
The '75 & '76 Le Mans car was most definitely an HS30-prefixed 'Fairlady 240ZR'.

It's undeniable.
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'HS30' meaning export market Datsun 240Z ? 2.4 litre ? Or Nissan Fairlady 240ZR ?

I'm believing that it was a full works racer.....:confused:

I'm confused !

Albrecht said:
I'm curious to understand how and why this was done.

In the grand scheme of things - given that car & crew's finishing position - it does not really matter, but I can't help thinking that if such a car had won the event it might give good grounds for a protest by the cars that finished close behind........
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We jnow how my Count and the why is purely financial, surely ! Cheaper not to use a Japanese registered 240Z...........

Personally, I'm thrilled that a Datsun won and that so many participated and without wishing to remove any of the merit earned by the teams competing and their pre-rallye preperation.....it is after all just a regularity rallye and not a true test of performance and durability....and so it doesn't really matter whether a 911 is from that era or two years later, whether a Mini Cooper is a genuine one or whether a Z is a pre-'45 S30 or later.
 
SeanDezart said:
'HS30' meaning export market Datsun 240Z ? 2.4 litre ? Or Nissan Fairlady 240ZR ?

I'm believing that it was a full works racer.....:confused:

I'm confused !
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'HS30' as in export-market RHD 'Datsun 240Z' and domestic market Nissan 'Fairlady 240Z', 'Fairlady 240Z-L' and 'Fairlady 240ZG'............. as well as some of factory works race cars that were given a 'Shatai bango' ( chassis / body number ) at time of production.

Factory '240ZR' nomenclature was essentially notional, and created for use internally - within the company and its race-connected divisions - rather than for outsiders like us to use or understand. It was also a moving target; meaning different specs and modifications as time went on..........

Main reason I mentioned it was to make it clear that it was not an 'S30', 'RS30' or indeed 'HLS30' / 'RLS30'......... Lots of people are still calling that car a "260Z".

Sean Dezart said:
We jnow how my Count and the why is purely financial, surely ! Cheaper not to use a Japanese registered 240Z...........
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Can we clarify that? I believe Ikeuchi san's Monte car was ( still is ) Japanese registered. The 'Carnet' plate is simply a 'translation' of it's normal Japanese road registration number........

So the registration is beside the point here. I'm talking about the true type of its bodyshell, and the production date of that bodyshell.

I believe the car was built up on an export market LHD car that is actually several years younger than the HLS30 prefixed '240Z' identity that the car is wearing. I was initially interested to know whether this was something that Ikeuchi san was fully aware of ( as if he was not, then I'm sure he would want to know...... ), but looking beyond that - in general terms - I like to know exactly what I'm looking at. I also prefer to be served Champagne when I'm being charged Champagne prices, rather than sipping 'sparking wine' and keeping quiet. There's nothing wrong with sparkling wine, but serving it up in a bottle marked 'Champagne' is asking for trouble........

Sean Dezart said:
Personally, I'm thrilled that a Datsun won and that so many participated and without wishing to remove any of the merit earned by the teams competing and their pre-rallye preperation.....it is after all just a regularity rallye and not a true test of performance and durability....and so it doesn't really matter whether a 911 is from that era or two years later, whether a Mini Cooper is a genuine one or whether a Z is a pre-'45 S30 or later.
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Well, it matters to me! You could say that it's none of my business, but I believe this Laissez Faire attitude is the thin end of the wedge. The biggest test of peoples' opinions is when it affects them directly - like when they buy something believing it is 'X', but then realise that it is 'Y'..................
 
Albrecht said:
Well, it matters to me! You could say that it's none of my business, but I believe this Laissez Faire attitude is the thin end of the wedge. The biggest test of peoples' opinions is when it affects them directly - like when they buy something believing it is 'X', but then realise that it is 'Y'..................
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Bit like a 'boob' job really ;).

Alan is your concern that it's a 280 shell in 240 clothing, i'e' not what it is pretending to be, or it is a newer shell, i.e. produced after that type of car (240) was made (like a Heritage shell for the MGB).

Would you consider a Z rally car based on a 280 shell to be more competetive than a 240 based car?

As an interested observer I don't think the actual origin of the shell would have made any difference to the result, however I agree that if it beat me to a podium place my opinion might change.

As I said earlier it's nice to see Zs rallying.
 
Rob Gaskin said:
Would you consider a Z rally car based on a 280 shell to be more competitive than a 240 based car?
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More durable for sure, but heavier as a consequence.
However - if it's entered as a 240Z then I assume 240Z weight is declared. Extra weight could easily be lost elsewhere.
 
a 280z chassi is a lot stronger than a 240z chassi.some how heavier but much stronger.and easyer to find in the US for almost no money at all.
 
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