Are Zs valued classics or .............. ?

[SeanDezart]

The 'Zclub' loves all zeds, fairlady ,240z, 260z, 280z, 280zx ,300zx ,350z ,370z etc good,bad,lhd or rhd,rusty or rust free,bad paint work or mint paint work etc !!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes..........I'm not preaching to the converted, I want The Z Club to convince the rest of the classic car world over there and the 240Z is the one to start with - it's a simple concept !

What have YOU all done during its' 40th birthday - how has the club capitalised on this fact, also winning the Monte Carlo rallye, doing rather well in last years' safari rallye, Zs and Datsuns in generale well featured in this years' and all the other events.......besides that are club events 'featuring' the car....anything that can get you some good publicity.

If not then attack 2010 as the 40th anniversary that Zs actually made it to your shores.

 

[SeanDezart]

Esp with them shut gaps on that ol shonky shell

ps, don't forget to add a few windows to keep the snow out

It's a lightweight Z.......but at least she'll brake well Wyn with those fronts and rear discs !

Take a look at her nice, smooth bottom and rear wings.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

It looks really nice Sean

 

[Martin W]

now that is looking good Sean im sure iv seen something similar some place before

nice work mate

 

[Martin W]

blimey this thread is a good read.
now im not much good with the meaningful stuff but here goes

can i say, im a Z lover of all the range but i have my faves like most ppl, as a club the Z is a valued classic because its our club and car, there are from time to time ppl that do seam to rip some of the models a bit (lot) tho and on reading some threads an outsider would think twice maybe about joining the club or buying certain models,this may have something to do with there limited no,s.. but as a member i think its hard to keep everybody happy because we need freedom to speak on here and this will always cause prob,s as we all have our own opinions and not every one will agree. the thing is with our cars they are a rare car now some more so than others this means most ppl in the uk don't even know what the early cars are or that the 350/370 is linked to anything else, most of our 240s 260s don't see the light of day much but when they do ppl ask about them so as a car they stand out, but is it cuss ppl don't know what it is?????

im sure i should try and say something cleaver here but i cant

 

[SKiddell]

adjective 1.of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized: exotic foods; exotic plants. 2.strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance: an exotic hairstyle.

Flawed logic there.
Yep it was made in a strange land far far away (in the 1970's) but so were my slippers, if an "exotic" car has to be of foreign origin..... doesnt that preculde the destination country from making one. (eg according to your logic if I lived in Holland then no Dutch cars could be Exotic....anyone for a Spyker)





Then lets look forward a few years....If the 240Z were being built today it probably would be being produced in Sunderland....thats hardly foreign or exotic, yet it would be the same vehicle, and as for "unusual or strange in appearance" there were several European cars (and possibly some others) of the time that had similar lines.

No matter how hard you try Sean, you can't MAKE definitions fit.

The 240z was a volume production sports cars that became stunningly popular, particularly in the US, and attaining a cult status in several countries, it fitted a paticulary need generated by the economics and styles of the time....end of, yes it was good nea great compared with what was available, yes the styling team behind it were brilliant and visionary but there was some degree of fate in there.

 

[Ian Patmore]

Some good points, and some dross.

My bug bear Sean, in nearly every post you have put, its about the 240z. It should be the S30. Yes, the 240z came here (UK) first, but endorse the whole S30 as this would educate others to other great models in the range. What about the 240ZG's and the Fairlady Z's that made it to this shore? On another website the has been ignorance that the S31 model exists, now they have seen the light.

Also, the club should be helping to right a wrong by making sure the motoring press gets its facts right, like who is the designer and team. For me its not just about the merits of say, throttle bodies and what is happening now. Relevant, yes, if you want to extoll the merits of the 240z historically (and the 260z) you can't just cut off its history there...tell a more whole picture to the outside world and Z club members...Sometimes you have to look back to move forward. Want to spread the 240z gospel now, 40 years down the line....as the S30's in the UK are getting rarer, there is a bit more focus on the marque, use the spotlight wisely.

 

[Saz]

.


What's beneath us , MGS, Triumphs, Alfas, any major coproations' coupé - Capri, Celica, Opel GT....

With all resprect that is just your opinion and not fact. In fact I reckon the owners clubs for those might disagree with you there.

We should enough faith in the marque to advertise it on its merits and not by putting other marques down.

 

[SeanDezart]

Good points......I deliberately chose 'just' the 240Z because in ordr to do this, one must get the journalists on board and where I agree in an ideal world that the whole picture should be told including designer, different models, trim levels etc........journalists have a notoriously short and limited attention span.

To begin with therefore, I'd hit short and sharp but (as a concession and later investment) enforce that certain details be included is other S30 cars, specific market models and differences.

I am speaking courtesy of hindsight because over here we've been doing exactly that all year with several articles in various magazines of differing size, depth and quality. And I've more planned for 2010. The whole range benefits from this exposure AND our club too !
Small fact that makes it easier for us here is that the common perception of the Z is that of a worthy sports-car, equal to most others although the 911 etc range is THE definitive car for most car fans and the 240Z is seen more as a rallye car than otherwise. But this also will change next year but that's another subject.

Skiddy.........Skiddy.......the made Dafs over there and the Spyker is 'merely' a kit car built around an Audi..........but hand on, wasn't our 240Z built upon the basis of a (several) saloon cars.....weren't Jaguars too ?

Fate ? I don't follow you but if YOUR perception of the car is not elevated, you can NEVER expect the press and public opnion to even be of an equal height.

The awareness of 'old Datsuns' needs to change to protect the cars and the club - my opinion and your choice guys - I'm doing my bit for us and our cars over here and would like to see things happening your side..........and now I've paid my membership fee, apparently I'm entitled to ask, suggest and also to request of our club what's been happeneing and what is planned in the future.

Until now, I haven't heard one official word.

 

[SeanDezart]

With all resprect that is just your opinion and not fact. In fact I reckon the owners clubs for those might disagree with you there.

We should enough faith in the marque to advertise it on its merits and not by putting other marques down.

I heartily agree and was using these examples of cars sold alongside the Z (therefore current competition for clients/owners/racers) at the time. The idea being to compare their public perception today alongside our cars.

Yes, it is my opinion - it IS a forum !

 

[Saz]

So what could the club do differently?

How could the club and its members increase awareness about the cars. I would be interested to know, so that we could do it.

 

[SeanDezart]

Questions : what has the club done so far this year ? What is planned for next year ?

 

[Saz]

Has had articles in magazines, held club events, attended many other events to promote the marque, forged relationships with other clubs are a few I can think of.

This club does a lot more than a lot of car clubs and I have been a member of a few.

I have met some great people through Zclub but it could be said some members need to losen up and not be so eaily offended. If you want to make the marque or club appeal to people give them a reason to get on board.

 

[spottdog]

I am not sure if it will be released in English language form, but there is/will be a Wangan Midnight live action film released in Japan. If it is released on these shores ( even in DVD form ) the status of the S30Z will rise massively, and I anticipate at that point we will be looking back fondly on the days when this board was quiet and filled with the old guard

If there is a sniff of a release then there will be a huge opportunity to raise the profile of the marque.

Also, the appearance of the 240Zs at things like the Goodwood festival of speed really help, as it looks like a true thoroughbred compared to a lot of the safety compromised modern sportscars.

How many S30Zs are left on the road in this country? in europe? given the numbers can the marque make a big splash now?

spot

 

[SeanDezart]

Has had articles in magazines, held club events, attended many other events to promote the marque, forged relationships with other clubs are a few I can think of.

This club does a lot more than a lot of car clubs and I have been a member of a few.

I have met some great people through Zclub but it could be said some members need to losen up and not be so eaily offended. If you want to make the marque or club appeal to people give them a reason to get on board.

I'm not knocking - I merely want to know the details (no use giving ideas that have already been done - wastes my time and yours) :

which magazines ? Target those that are more sympathetic but also target those with what you perceive to have the right audience (s)

what articles ? Comparisons ? Spontaneous ones due to someone knowing someone with an S30 ? Detailed analysis ? New and old 240Z/370Z ? Others ?

"attended many other events to promote the marque" - do you mean regular outdoor car shows like Tatton, Billing, Japfest etc ? What about the NEC and other prestigeous shows where the media attention is ?

If you (the club) want to seriously raise the profile of the club and it's cars, it's a serious business and ongoing and one has to exploit every possibility.

There was a calender for 2009 non ? Did it get sent with a friendly letter to all the classic car press and some selected modern sports-car mags.....connection with the launch of the 370Z, 40th birthday 240Z, 35 years of the 260Z, 30 of the 280ZX, 25years the Z31 etc, etc ?

 

[AndyMinto]

Well I had to use my other car this weekend (frontera) as a rear wheel drive 280zx did not cut the mustard with the snow but it will be used all the time and do about 5000 miles each year. Is that classed as usinig a Zed?

 

[SeanDezart]

I am not sure if it will be released in English language form, but there is/will be a Wangan Midnight live action film released in Japan. If it is released on these shores ( even in DVD form ) the status of the S30Z will rise massively, and I anticipate at that point we will be looking back fondly on the days when this board was quiet and filled with the old guard

If there is a sniff of a release then there will be a huge opportunity to raise the profile of the marque.

Also, the appearance of the 240Zs at things like the Goodwood festival of speed really help, as it looks like a true thoroughbred compared to a lot of the safety compromised modern sportscars.

How many S30Zs are left on the road in this country? in europe? given the numbers can the marque make a big splash now?

spot

You are SO right ! The Devil Z will bump up the profile AND bring in a lot of younger fans.......and demand for cars ! These are people who've never heard of the term 'jap-crap' - they never know British Leyland slogging it out with 120Ys - they see a product, thay want one and they've been brought up to expect what they want if they pay for it !

And events like Goodwood are perfect for the Zs ! Why shouldn't they be there ?

Skiddy - going back to exotics........each country has its' own perception of cars despite most cars being seen everywhere. I don't follow the theory that a car must be expensive to be exotic and I don't agree that a rare car should be expensive.

The 240Z on our shores is exotic, in the States, it has a different, mass following.

You simply can't compare it fairly to a mass-produced Abingdon car ! Or if you do, then accept that an MG is exotic in Tokyo !

 

[Quagmire]

I'm using my turbo Z31 every day, even in the snow and it never misses a beat. Mind you I have done a lot of work to it and I'll continue to do so as I can't get enough of the Z31s style and Zs in general.

 

[tel240z]

You say younger fans of these cars what age bracket are you thinking Sean, speaking from experience 95% of 18- 30 year olds only seem to want bolt on stick on goodies, and ready made products to boost there egos, hard work and using there brains probably goes no further than a shiny magazine with wheel n tyre packages, flip screen tv's and lexus lights, now i did say 95% , i wonder how many 20 year olds own mgb gt's and the like ,i suspect not many

 

[SeanDezart]

I think if the film arrives on your shores, you'll be one of the surprised ones !

A young guy here (28) has already found and bought a 240Z (£9500) and is discussing with me how to convert it.
We've already ordered the spoiler and arches and I've just had the estimate for the paint job.

Don't ask me where they find the money !