BAT Auction - 1971 240Z

atomman

Club Member
I've been watching this car to, a very similar car to to my current 240z build,

Daves car is a bit of an inspiration for my build to and i keep re-watching the Petrolicious video over and over again

I do wonder why he has kept it 4 speed though ? and i have no idea what "compition meatballs" are:rofl:
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
...someone is going to pick up a very tastefully modified bit of kit.

It's all a matter of personal taste of course, but I don't see anything about that particular car which would mark it out as anything out of the ordinary in the 'taste' department. In fact, I'd say it's very much of the sliced white loaf variety...

You car - for example - looks miles better than that one.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
To add, combining 'Fairlady Z' emblems with the original '240Z' quarter panel emblems and 'Datsun' bonnet emblem just makes it look like he didn't know the early Japanese market models had 'Z' quarter panel emblems and 'Z' bonnet emblem...

'Tasteful' would be getting them all 'right', either one way or the other.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
I think nowadays the photography can help in presenting ANY car as desirable ...

Late in the day, a decent bit of shadow, pin sharp pics, a video (esp one involving a drone) ... and I could even be tempted by a hearing-aid beige Montego if the price was right.

I like this car - the mods are for me, NOT overdone. These slammed to the ground things with carbon pieces leave me cold!
 

Woody928

Events Officer
Staff member
Club Member
I've been watching this car to, a very similar car to to my current 240z build,

Daves car is a bit of an inspiration for my build to and i keep re-watching the Petrolicious video over and over again

I do wonder why he has kept it 4 speed though ? and i have no idea what "compition meatballs" are:rofl:

Have you got a project thread? That video is why I bought my 240Z :D I love the premises of that car. Seems strange keeping the 4 speed you would have thought a 5 speed and diff change would have finished it off.

It's all a matter of personal taste of course, but I don't see anything about that particular car which would mark it out as anything out of the ordinary in the 'taste' department. In fact, I'd say it's very much of the sliced white loaf variety...

You car - for example - looks miles better than that one.

To add, combining 'Fairlady Z' emblems with the original '240Z' quarter panel emblems and 'Datsun' bonnet emblem just makes it look like he didn't know the early Japanese market models had 'Z' quarter panel emblems and 'Z' bonnet emblem...

'Tasteful' would be getting them all 'right', either one way or the other.

Good point well made. My comments were more sweeping with regard to the early car with later engine, suspension changes and bigger wheels with stickier rubber etc. I would like to think its a nice 'drivers car'. From the photos I've seen throughout it looks like its all been done to a very high standard.

I couldn't agree more on the Fairlady badges, I don't understand the need to try and make it look like a JDM car when its clearly not.

Thanks for the positive comments about my car though :)
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Good point : what IS the car trying to be ?

It would look a whole lot better losing that front spoiler.

Badges aside (why not ?), I detest the 'oh, my rear bumper just fell off 5 miles back officer look' - it is SO unfinished and undignified for an S30 and where is the centre console ?

And the rest seems to have been a shopping trolly at MSA - and c'mon, who of you would fit triples with a standard exhaust manifold ?

With some more imagination, this could have been something with more class, that said, it will be driving somewhere so another Z back on the road - bravo for that.
 

Woody928

Events Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Good point : what IS the car trying to be ?

It would look a whole lot better losing that front spoiler.

Badges aside (why not ?), I detest the 'oh, my rear bumper just fell off 5 miles back officer look' - it is SO unfinished and undignified for an S30 and where is the centre console ?

And the rest seems to have been a shopping trolly at MSA - and c'mon, who of you would fit triples with a standard exhaust manifold ?

With some more imagination, this could have been something with more class, that said, it will be driving somewhere so another Z back on the road - bravo for that.

Some kind of racer I believe Sean, there's some slightly conflicting details however its clearly to the current owners taste. I think the issue is that it has feet in both camps and isn't quite sure with some items stripped down for a racer look while trying to hold onto certain road car features.

I agree you would think they would have put at least a decent exhaust setup with the triples given the engines relatively stock nature. I'm sure they're fitted for soundtrack and posing more than anything else.

Even so there's several relatively easy changes that can be made to turn it into something quite nice whether that being more racy or road car orientated using some imagination. The bidding certainly suggests some people approve of it though, I'll watch with interest to see what this ends up going for.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Even so there's several relatively easy changes that can be made to turn it into something quite nice whether that being more racy or road car orientated using some imagination.

Agreed but a lot of expensive ones to make even a half-decent fast-road car....with complete taste.
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Been watching this too since it first popped up on BAT.

Very strong money so early in the game.

Will be just as interesting to see where the car lands as what the final price will be.

My guess: $36,000 and back to the Netherlands.

UK66FB- Mike????
 

johnymd

Club Member
I like this car but then I am biased as I like nearly all s30's. There's a few things I'd change but it would still be nice to add it to the collection. The car was built by someone to his own taste. There is no right or wrong, just his personal preference. What I have always liked about zeds is that you are allowed to do whatever you like to your own car. I'm assuming this is still the case?

PS. I love my 4 speed as it requires less playing around with the clutch and gear stick.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
What I have always liked about zeds is that you are allowed to do whatever you like to your own car. I'm assuming this is still the case?

PS. I love my 4 speed as it requires less playing around with the clutch and gear stick.

It is and we've always passed comments, still do and yours mirror the majority - "there's a few things I'd change" !:)

I prefer 5 for two reasons : distance driving and 1x extra to play with before the long top ratio.

I do, however, feel that since the Zs were available stock with 5spds in some countries (especially ours here) and the preceeding car was 5pd, there is a snob or perhaps 'non-conformist' reaction to those 4spd imported.
Unfair when comparing to contempory concurrence which were mostly 4spd including the Porsches.;)
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
I do, however, feel that since the Zs were available stock with 5spds in some countries (especially ours here) and the preceeding car was 5pd, there is a snob or perhaps 'non-conformist' reaction to those 4spd imported.
Unfair when comparing to contempory concurrence which were mostly 4spd including the Porsches.;)

More Porsche nonsense. What Porsches (contemporary to the car in question) were fitted with 4-speed transmissions as standard equipment? The answer is the softened-up and dumbed-down versions, just like the HLS30-U in question.

Meanwhile, properly sporting models of Porsches were fitted with 5-speed transmissions - just like properly sporting versions of the S30-series Z were.
 
More Porsche nonsense. What Porsches (contemporary to the car in question) were fitted with 4-speed transmissions as standard equipment? The answer is the softened-up and dumbed-down versions, just like the HLS30-U in question.

Meanwhile, properly sporting models of Porsches were fitted with 5-speed transmissions - just like properly sporting versions of the S30-series Z were.

Again, you can't argue with facts can you.

https://www.philosophersmag.com/essays/26-the-fact-opinion-distinction
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
The car was built by someone to his own taste. There is no right or wrong, just his personal preference. What I have always liked about zeds is that you are allowed to do whatever you like to your own car. I'm assuming this is still the case?

Up to a point (Lord Copper), but if - for example - he put his emblems on upside down (because that was 'his personal preference'...) he'd have to expect people to tell him it was 'wrong'.

So, in the case of the emblems on this car (to illustrate the wider point) I don't feel confident that he had all the facts at hand, and that therefore his personal preference was not fully informed. I'd bet he had actually had no idea that the emblems were a mismatch.

Once you put a car on the open market, you have to expect - and accept - that people will pass comment on it. If you gratefully accept the positive comments, you have an obligation to accept the negatives too.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
More Porsche nonsense. What Porsches (contemporary to the car in question) were fitted with 4-speed transmissions as standard equipment? The answer is the softened-up and dumbed-down versions, just like the HLS30-U in question.

Meanwhile, properly sporting models of Porsches were fitted with 5-speed transmissions - just like properly sporting versions of the S30-series Z were.

https://www.total911.com/manual-gearbox-a-porsche-911-history/

"Until the arrival of the Porsche 911T in 1968, the 911 exclusively used a five-speed gearbox. However, the entry level ‘T’ used a four-speed 901/03 shifter, while the 911L and 911S shared the five-speed 901/50 gearbox."

By properly sporting models, do you mean the 4spd Carrerra 2.7 (1974-77) and the 4spd 911 turbo (1975-77) ?

What Porsches (contemporary to the car in question) were fitted with 4-speed transmissions as standard equipment? The answer is the softened-up and dumbed-down versions, just like the HLS30-U in question.

You answered your own question Alan and yes, I'm comparing Porsches to the USA market car highlighted.

I'll go further.....imho Porsche consumer engine size increased as a reaction to Nissans' North American sportscar's engine cc !

The A and B series used a 2.0 engine and were outperformed by the Fairlady SRL311.

The C (1969) and D (1970/71) had a 2.2 engine which the 240Z improved upon.

The E series came out in 1972/3 with a 2.3ltr engine (known as the 2.4 which I find coincidential) along with a 5spd (915 type) gearbox and then increased to 2.7 in 1974.

Following the release of the 280Z in 1975, Porsche, in 1976, uprated again to 3.0.

The dates and figures are facts - how anyone wishes to interpret them is their right and perhaps 'opinion' (thankyou Franky).

.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
You wrote:

SeanDezart said:
Unfair when comparing to contempory concurrence which were mostly 4spd including the Porsches.

And then quoted:

"Until the arrival of the Porsche 911T in 1968, the 911 exclusively used a five-speed gearbox. However, the entry level ‘T’ used a four-speed 901/03 shifter, while the 911L and 911S shared the five-speed 901/50 gearbox."

It's like dealing with the Flat Earth Society. You even bash your own arguments with quoted facts.

SeanDezart said:
You answered your own question Alan and yes, I'm comparing Porsches to the USA market car highlighted.

I'll go further.....imho Porsche consumer engine size increased as a reaction to Nissans' North American sportscar's engine cc !

Utter nonsense. For example:

SeadDezart said:
Following the release of the 280Z in 1975, Porsche, in 1976, uprated again to 3.0.

2.7 Carrera RS (early 1972), 2.8 RSR (late 1972), 3.0 RS (mid 1973), RSR 3.0 Carrera (early 1974). Each a response to homologation needs focused on racing, framed by increased capacity allowances in international GT racing. All 5-speed equipped.

You honestly think they were responding (early...!) to the '260Z' and the oh-so-sporting '280Z'...? I think you've been mining USA-centric sources again.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
I'd bet he had actually had no idea that the emblems were a mismatch.

Once you put a car on the open market, you have to expect - and accept - that people will pass comment on it. If you gratefully accept the positive comments, you have an obligation to accept the negatives too.

I bet he did but liked the association with the Japanese roots of the car !

100% agreed with your last statement which is also applicable for forum and youtube presentations - some will and some won't like it - that's what the thumbs up and down is for !:thumbs:
 
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