London Classic Car show 240ZG

S

Sam_C

Club Member
SeanDezart said:
Thanks Sam - there was a sarky smiley present - I must have watched and listened to that entry scene dozens of times - even set it to a youtube video of my Z on a track once.....

Nice anorak facts though - keep 'em coming - love 'em !:bow:

Btw, who was the cupid stunt who wrote off the 'crash' version (with no engine inside) ?
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Certainly! When the film crew went to clear up the wreckage down the cliff the next day it had completely vanished - never to reappear. Some future mysterious barn find, no doubt..
 
datsfun

datsfun

Club Member
Sam_C said:
I can see cars like that ZG - driven classics - every weekend at shows throughout the country. This was a national show, and I paid a lot of money and drove a long way to see the best of the best. Like the Muira mentioned above, or the McLaren F1 that I would never normally see.

Like it or not, the Z was representing the marque, and this show is all about beautiful cars. They didn't send the Quattro down the runway covered in mud, even though it was a rally car!

I'm sure the ZG in question is a fine machine to own and drive, but this wasn't the right stage for it. IMO of course;)
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Well it seems we see things from polar opposite ends in that case which is perfectly acceptable.

For me the attraction was the opportunity to see a variety of rare cars and not attend a show and shine concours exhibition. So I was not looking out at the finer points like quality of paintwork, swirl marks in paintwork etc...and the ZG wasnt representing the Z's per se; otherwise there are plenty of cheque book minty fresh overly restored examples that would fit the bill. Instead it was representing the "exotic" factor hence the ZG. ..one of 2 in country I believe.

IMHO it was vfm.
 
richiep

richiep

Club Member
datsfun said:
looks like I need to play catch up...

Anyone care to fill in details of 3rd? :)
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Alan has it in one of his garages. ;) There was a thread about it years ago when it surfaced for sale as a project car and our Count confirmed its authenticity at the same time as snaffling it up! :D
 
Albrecht

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
richiep said:
Alan has it in one of his garages. ;) There was a thread about it years ago when it surfaced for sale as a project car and our Count confirmed its authenticity at the same time as snaffling it up! :D
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I've been researching its history, and it's quite interesting. It was imported to the UK in late 1973 - on a Japanese temporary-import carnet no less - as the personal transport of Japanese race driver Masami Kuwashima. He came over to take part in British and European F3 and F2, and based himself in Wembley, believe it or not. When he went back to Japan he sold the car here...

Kuwashima san has gone down in Formula One history as one of the drivers with the shortest of F1 careers (just one practice session for the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway), but he was pretty good in F3 and F2 and simply ran out of funds. His Japanese racing career before coming to Europe included several outings in his own privateer 432-R - nicknamed 'Black Beauty' (it was painted black with gold pinstriping) - in 1970 and 1971, and he had good connections within Nissan.

I've been in contact with him regarding the car, and might meet him in Japan this year if all goes to plan.
 
SeanDezart

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Ok, so this 'pin-striped' one was Jane's ?

What about that project (reddish) car that was sold a year back and was up on ebay ?
 
Albrecht

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
SeanDezart said:
Ok, so this 'pin-striped' one was Jane's ?
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Yes, as I pointed out further back in the thread.

SeanDezart said:
What about that project (reddish) car that was sold a year back and was up on ebay ?
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Not a ZG. Not even close.

I'm constantly surprised that so many Z enthusiasts don't understand the factory specs and designations of these cars. It's really not that difficult is it?
 
SeanDezart

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Albrecht said:
I'm constantly surprised that so many Z enthusiasts don't understand the factory specs and designations of these cars. It's really not that difficult is it?
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Where is the info Alan in plain (and precise) Anglo-Saxon ?

Must we rely upon Brian Long ?
 
Albrecht

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
SeanDezart said:
Where is the info Alan in plain (and precise) Anglo-Saxon ?
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These are Japanese cars. You'll have to tip your hat towards the east a little if you really want to understand them...

But I've written plenty about them over the years myself. I suspect a lot of it goes in one ear and out the other? How can a car displaying all the post-1973 production detail changes - let alone one that so clearly was built in 1975 - be mistaken for a genuine 'HS30-H' model Fairlady 240ZG?

It's not rocket science, is it?

SeanDezart said:
Must we rely upon Brian Long ?
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Well, it's a start..... At least he acknowledged their existence and gave some details about them. That's better than most English language books - including the ones written by Z Club members - seem to have managed.

But how about looking at the cars themselves? Surely its fairly easy to work out whether a car has been modified/customised or not?
 
richiep

richiep

Club Member
Albrecht said:
I've been researching its history, and it's quite interesting. It was imported to the UK in late 1973 - on a Japanese temporary-import carnet no less - as the personal transport of Japanese race driver Masami Kuwashima. He came over to take part in British and European F3 and F2, and based himself in Wembley, believe it or not. When he went back to Japan he sold the car here...

Kuwashima san has gone down in Formula One history as one of the drivers with the shortest of F1 careers (just one practice session for the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway), but he was pretty good in F3 and F2 and simply ran out of funds. His Japanese racing career before coming to Europe included several outings in his own privateer 432-R - nicknamed 'Black Beauty' (it was painted black with gold pinstriping) - in 1970 and 1971, and he had good connections within Nissan.

I've been in contact with him regarding the car, and might meet him in Japan this year if all goes to plan.
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Superb story - that car was a great find then! :bow:

Have you made any progress with it, or is it still in the queue so to speak?

Franky - yes, the pinky-red (originally white) one with the one-piece ****** G-nose stuck on it was a late S30 Fairlady Z-L (before the switch to the S31 designation and spec). I'm still kicking myself over that one as I really should've gone for it but dithered as I was set on an earlier car. I'll probably end up with a US import for project #2 but I would really, really prefer another JDM car - that's where my heart lies with these cars. I hope the owner of the red one is making good progress with the restoration (he posted a bit about it on here after buying it). If not, I'd happily take over! :D
 
SeanDezart

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Albrecht said:
These are Japanese cars. You'll have to tip your hat towards the east a little if you really want to understand them...

But I've written plenty about them over the years myself.

But how about looking at the cars themselves? Surely its fairly easy to work out whether a car has been modified/customised or not?
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Yep, just off down the road now to go study one !:rolleyes:

I know you have and it's scattered all over the place.....shame that it can't be collated as a thickies guide to genuine ZGs.:eek:
 
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