New '74 260Z Owner

diksta

Club Member
Hello all,

Have finally, after a long chase and a lot of waiting, got my hands on an August ’74 UK registered 260Z. My first classic (unless you count the ’77 mark II escort I had as my first car 30 years ago!).

In the Milton Keynes area, so I’ve just booked myself on to the Silverstone Classic in July and I’m considering the Bicester Petrolicious thing in May.

I’m a novice when it comes to Z cars and not much of a mechanic, so no idea what I’ve bought if I’m honest!

Fingers crossed that I hopefully I have a car that I can learn on without too much needing doing from the off. It’s already paying back it’s price tag in smiles :)

Engine rebuild is currently `running in`, although I got little to no guidance on this. Going to take it easy for a few hundred and then do an oil and filter change.

Job number one, I think, is to sort out the front splitter/spoiler and indicators that are looking very sorry for themselves. Would be nice to keep the originals but I'm not sure if it's even viable. Both the splitter and indicators are currently off the car and all the screws have had it on both.

Anybody have any advice on reconditioning the rubber spoiler? I’ve been googling and come up with this: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=109898, leatherique and plasti-dip, sound like it’s got potential? Or perhaps there’s a specialist out there that would do a much better job than me? Or, of course, you could just tell me a fibreglass replica is going to save me a lot of pain and suffering!

On the indicator front, I'm expecting I'll have to source some modern substitutes as the current ones look beyond repair. Would rather try to stick close to original rather than cut in corner ones.

Thx, and look forward to being part of the club and meeting some of you at Silverstone in July, if not before!
 

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jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Looks good.
Those indicators are UK (or was it Europe?) only, so I don't know about replacements. Certainly not as easy as all the parts common with the US variants.
I'm sure I read something recently about restoring or replacing that front spoiler, either here or on classiczcars.com. I might remember later [emoji53]
Those clear front side repeaters are the wrong way around by the looks of things. Should be fat end forward.
 
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diksta

Club Member
Looks good.
Those indicators are UK (or was it Europe?) only so I don't know about replacements. Certainly not as easy as all the parts common with the US variants.
I'm sure I read something recently about restoring or replacing that front spoiler, either here or on classiczcars.com. I might remember later [emoji53]
Those clear front side repeaters are the wrong way around by the looks of things. Should be fat end forward.

Ha ha, thx jonbills. That's my new first job then and something I can tackle with a degree of confidence ;)
 

Blaqkaudio

Club Member
That looks absolutely lovely.

New to fold myself but I'm curious...are those front side markers fitted the wrong way round?

I only ask as I replaced my bulbs recently and the 'protruding part' is nearest the front of the car on mine?
 

Woody928

Events Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Welcome to the club and congratulations on the purchase, it looks like a great car! :thumbs:

If you can make it then it would be great to see you at Bicester on the 12th May, there should be a few of us there at the rate numbers are increasing. I'd love to see the car in person! There's also a few fairly aztive Z members in your area.

Have you done much with the engine or is it largely stock?

With regards to the rubber spoiler, if you do decide to go down the route of a fibreglass then I'd be keen to get my hands on your oem one and see if anythhing can be done with it, I've wanted an one for a long time.
 

diksta

Club Member
Welcome to the club and congratulations on the purchase, it looks like a great car! :thumbs:

If you can make it then it would be great to see you at Bicester on the 12th May, there should be a few of us there at the rate numbers are increasing. I'd love to see the car in person! There's also a few fairly aztive Z members in your area.

Have you done much with the engine or is it largely stock?

With regards to the rubber spoiler, if you do decide to go down the route of a fibreglass then I'd be keen to get my hands on your oem one and see if anythhing can be done with it, I've wanted an one for a long time.

Thx Woody928,

Engine is, for the most part and as far as I know, stock and recently reconditioned. The 'difficult' flat-top carbs have been replaced with some round-tops off a 240, along with some fancy chrome filters. They just couldn't get the flat tops running nicely. I have them in a box I can use as a door stop ;-)

You have first dibs on the spoiler if I don't need it. Seems they are a bit of a rarity, hence why I'm thinking it would be good to try to bring it back to life!
 

Woody928

Events Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Thx Woody928,

Engine is, for the most part and as far as I know, stock and recently reconditioned. The 'difficult' flat-top carbs have been replaced with some round-tops off a 240, along with some fancy chrome filters. They just couldn't get the flat tops running nicely. I have them in a box I can use as a door stop ;-)

You have first dibs on the spoiler if I don't need it. Seems they are a bit of a rarity, hence why I'm thinking it would be good to try to bring it back to life!

Sounds like it sound be running very nicely, hopefully you can make Bicester and I'll see it then.

Much appreciated, there's certainly not many around that I've seen...
 
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