Former Pinner-Northwood Resident 1989-1991 - 1980 Nissan Fairlady Z

70FairladyZ

Forum User
I saw my first Nissan S130 Fairlady 280Z during my first duty station with the U.S. Navy at Clark Air Force Base in Angeles City, Philippines from 1985-1986. Following the Philippines, I was at Misawa Air Force Base in Misawa, Japan from 1987-1989 and purchased a 1980 Nissan Fairlady Z. I shipped the car from Japan to England in 1989 and it was lost in transit and ended up in Iceland. England was my first exposure to a group of Zed enthusiasts, now known as the Z Club of Great Britain. I met some of the members in 1992 while going to visit an Aunt's longtime friend in Ipswich. The man I met had a big barn and property loaded with Z cars. I am not sure if that was Clive Standish or Mike Feeney. Maybe some of the older members recognize my car. I shipped the car from London, England to Cape Canaveral, FL in 1991. The car spent 30 years with me from East to West Coast to include Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I met Len Welch in 2003 at ZCON in Nashua New Hampshire, he put together a story in the Z Club Magazine and my cars were included. It was a sad day in 2016 when my 1980 Nissan Fairlady Z burned up in a shop fire. A car that had a head-on with a deer decided to catch on fire after two weeks while at Jim’s Body Shop in Pasadena, Maryland. Jim’s Body Shop failed to disconnect the battery on the source of the fire that took out my Nissan Fairlady Z and four other cars. The police thought they heard gunshots as they drove up to the shop. Turns out the loud bangs were the car tires popping from the heat! The Nissan Fairlady Z was a total loss. I bought the car back for $70.00 and parted out what was salvageable. My 1970 Nissan S30 Fairlady Z was for sale on ClassicZCars.com. In February 2017, I contacted the second owner Eric Jolly and arranged a trip to Utica, Pennsylvania to look over the car. I was the only person to take the time to make the trip. Similar to Eric, I loved this car and he could tell. We shared dinner and a few brews the night before I saw the car. Eric brought all the original paperwork from 1970 and a limited edition framed Z Car poster signed by Mr. K. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. K at ZCON 2003 held in Nashua, New Hampshire. Eric and I hit it off and made a handshake deal as he handed me the keys with no deposit. I borrowed a car hauler from my good friend Dan Banks and picked the car up a couple of months later. I engage regularly with the original owner Don Davis who resides in Alexandria, Virginia. Don provided me with some pictures of the car over the years and two Japanese License Plates (export and transport). The Japanese License Plates were hanging in Don’s garage for 33 years. Don Davis purchased the car new from Aomori Nissan near Misawa, Japan. Don owned the car for 30 years. Second owner Eric Jolly worked for Don at Misawa Air Force Base. Eric eventually purchased the car and owned it for 17 years. Eric and his brother Jason restored the car and tucked it away in a rural Pennsylvania barn. Eric lost interest due to the unexpected death of his brother in a four-wheeler accident. History of the 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z: Misawa, Japan 1970-1975, Seoul, South Korea 1975-1978, Misawa, Japan 1978-1980, Omaha, Nebraska 1980-1983, San Francisco, California 1983-1984, Alexandria, Virginia 1984-2001, Utica, Pennsylvania 2001-2017, Lake Shore, Maryland 2017-present. The car raced at the following speedways: Sears Raceway Sonoma, California, Bonneville Speedway Wendover, Utah, and Summit Point Raceway, West Virginia. In 1997, the White Rose Z Car Club in York, Pennsylvania hosted the ZCCA International Z-Car Convention. Mr. K was present and signed the rearview mirror, another inconspicuous place in case of theft and on the owner’s manual. Mr. K also wrote “69 model year” on the original purchase documents. I was able to get some rare parts from a contact in Japan via Yahoo Auctions. Examples: Nissan 2000 OHC valve cover and mesh grille. I smile when I walk into my garage and think to myself, I own a 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z. "Love Cars, Love People, Love Life" Mr. K

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SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
We might have bumped into each other Kirk. It would have been Ken Chelton's barn I think (Z-Zxtra), who lived not far from Mike Feeney.
 

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70FairladyZ

Forum User
Yes that makes sense! I met them at a local establishment on a weekend. There was no mention of the Z Club from them.
 

Bazzateer

Club Member
Hi Kirk, not Z related but I was based at Northwood with the Metropolitan Police from 94-98 so I know where you were working. After your time though.
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
Hi Kirk it’s quite possible it could’ve been Mikes as he had lots of storage space for Zeds and he always had someone’s Z there for work to be done
Ken Shelton had a place in Basildon not far from the establishment you mentioned which was the halfway house to which we don’t meet there anymore,Ken also moved to another place not too far from the halfway house on the same stretch of road but on the other side
Both sadly not with us anymore
As for my old mate Len he is still alive and kicking,in his Eighties now and looks good,met up with him a short while ago
 

70FairladyZ

Forum User
Hi Well-known Forum User LOL, Whoever it was let me gut a Z for the interior on my car, may they both rest in peace! There was also an S130 there with a factory electric sunroof! Please give my regards to Len! Cheers, Kirk
 

70FairladyZ

Forum User
We might have bumped into each other Kirk. It would have been Ken Chelton's barn I think (Z-Zxtra), who lived not far from Mike Feeney.
There were four or five cars that...I regret not getting more involved while I lived in London, could've been the distance!
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
You quite posibly met met me and if it was yoou I took you for a blast in my 260Z
It was still is Maroon
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Hi Kirk it’s quite possible it could’ve been Mikes as he had lots of storage space for Zeds and he always had someone’s Z there for work to be done

At that time, Mike was still living in Lainton it a 70s house on an estate...no barn !
 

STEVE BURNS

Club Member
Seans photo is I believe when Ken had a place that was on the opposite carriageway of the A127 to the Halfway House and used to go there a far few times when Ken was running it and had really good memories of him
One time he came over to my house in Greenford from Laindon with Shelbie to sort my old 280ZX out as was not running offering me a no fix no fee offer
When he arrived all he had was a screwdriver with him and was shorting out various thing and all off a sudden it was up and running again
when I asked him how much he wanted He said give him 20 Quid I said to him eff off ( it was 96 mile round trip for him)and he said oh if its to dear give us a tenner then
Luverly luverly man and used to remind of Jack Nicholson
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
Not a Z widow dear boy she buggered off with another Z person according to Mike,She was also a Teacher like Mike was a cool bird I always got on ok
Blimey I joined the club in about 84/85 ish
 

70FairladyZ

Forum User
Oh the Queen's English brings me back to my London days!!! Thanks for all the comments, yeah it sounds like Ken was the guy! None of you recall seeing the blue 1980 Nissan Fairlady Z running around the English Countryside? Even put her on the ferry to Calais, France to drive up the coast to Bruges, Belgium with U.S. Navy friends that were visiting from Turkey. Took a trip to Wales with my parents when they visited. I wrecked the car on a solo trip headed for Calais, rear tires weren't the best and slid on a curve into a big pole impacting at the gas tank fill point. New right rear quarter and she was back on the road. I owned that car for 30 years, drove it in Japan, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and across the USA. Lost her in a shop fire. A car that had a head-on with a deer decided to catch on fire after two weeks while at Jim’s Body Shop in Pasadena, Maryland. Jim’s Body Shop failed to disconnect the battery on the source of the fire that took out my Nissan Fairlady Z and four other cars. The police thought they heard gunshots as they drove up to the shop. Turns out the loud bangs were the car tires popping from the heat! The Nissan Fairlady Z was a total loss. I bought the car back for $70.00 and parted out what was salvageable.
 

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