What would be standard in 1971

Zep

Zep

Club Member
Started to read my new book 'Fairlady to 280ZX' last night and l started to scratch the surface of all different domestic models Albrecht often refers to. Fascinating stuff - will take a few iterations before l can remember it though. Anyway, the book has prompted many questions, but for starters, for the the UK market in 1971 what would have been standard and/or options for the following

1. Door mirrors. Would there have been any, if so, one side or both sides and would they have been the skinny ones seen on the US cars, or like the ones l have at the moment.
2. Number plate light. Would there have been an extra chrome rear number plate light mounted on the bumper. I have a couple in my parts stock, but nothing fitted at the moment.
3. Steering wheel. Would the wood effect steering wheel have holes in the black spokes or be solid.
4. Radio. Would the radio be AM or AM/FM. Would l have had the 8-track option in 1971 or was that later.

Thanks, Dean,
 
Don't be surprised or disheartened that you will tend not to get too many responses to questions like these. It is par for the course.

The early UK market cars had a bit of a rubbery spec, so it can be hard to be completely definitive about how they left the Factory in Japan. When they arrived in the UK they went through the hands of the concessonaire and then out to the dealer network. Additions and modifications ( mirrors, headlamps - that kind of stuff ) were sometimes made between the Factory and the end user.

We could get into a whole long conversation about dealers 'jazzing' cars up a little to help justify the relatively high UK-market price ( the root cause of which was the high import taxes that were levied on the cars ). Nissan's parts lists and other data can be contradictory when it comes to early ( and late! ) UK market model spec too.

But I'll stick my head above the parapet ( probably will get it shot off ) and attempt to answer your queries:

*Either no mirrors at all - or the chunky door-mounted mirrors as seen on the later UK-market cars. Probably would NOT have had the type seen on US-market cars of the same period.

*Probably should NOT have had the bumper-mounted 'extra' number plate lamp unit from the Factory in that period, but having said that my late 1971-build UK market car was fitted with one. There are a number of stories about these items.

*Solid or punched spokes on the steering wheel would depend on the exact build date ( not just the year ). Have you managed to ascertain the build month of your car through component manufacturing labels and stamps?

*Radio fitment would depend on many things, but the most common UK-market fitment from the factory that I personally have observed is the Hitachi AM/FM unit. But your car - being a relatively early UK import - could have had something else.

I'd have thought the previous owner might have been a good source of data on the car?

Be careful about applying data relevant only to the USA / Canada market cars to your UK market car. There are lots of differences, and all this talk of "Series 1" and "Series 2" etc is purely an American observation of detail changes to the USA / Canada market models, and does not come from Nissan Japan itself.
 
I know this type of subject is not of interest to the masses so thanks for your answer. Given the lack of a 'model year', l'm finding it very difficult to get a clear picture over what changed and when.

I prefer the current mirrors to the US ones. Before l stock up on a couple of spares, l just wanted to check.

Currently l don't have the 'extra' number plate light fitted. l've got a couple of new ones but l prefer the clean lines without it.

The log book is stamped Sept'71. I've looked around the car and not found any reference to the manufacturing date, although l've not unscrewed anything yet. Nothing on the seat belts, in the fuse box, etc.

I've been after a radio for a while, but not had any joy on eBay so far. There was a mint AM/FM one my max bid was $220, a tatty AM/FM one for $140 and l didn't bid on a AM one up for $375.
 
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Sep 71 Z

Zep, I have owned such an animal mine was built late September of 71, build number HS30-001638 and L24-O61698, it was auto pale yellow/green with black interior and a working hand throttle. the combo was great for high speed cruising. Option level on this z was base level not even demister fitted. What is the build data on yours is it earlier or later, what options?

cheers

Steve:)
 
Registed Sept'71, so H1'71 build - haven't took it to pieces to find a closer manufacturing date. Chassis number is HS30-000917 with L24-042048 (would need to check, might be 048042).

All black interior - panel's recovered with black velvet by previous owner. Does have a demister with vertical lines. It has a modern radio fitted at present. Has clock, rev counter, adjustable seats, hazard lights, rear mirror dip, 5 gears, heater, locking glove box, spare wheel, luggage straps, tool kit, chocks, etc, etc.... not sure what would be an interior option.

Body is 905 Red with std steel wheels and D hub caps (l run it day to day on wolface alloys). Rear spoiler fitted, rubber on bumpers F&R, F indicators on top of bumper, door mirrors on both sides. No 2nd rear number plate light.

There are a few pics in my gallary.

Cheers, Dean,
 
all 1971 72 cars came with no radio or mirrors and no headlights latter fitted by dealer as sidelight was in hlight early z did not have chrome lights on bumper cannot remenber swheel had d on hubcaps two slots onchoke
 
Albrecht said:
Don't be surprised or disheartened that you will tend not to get too many responses to questions like these. It is par for the course.


Dear Count i have found that get a answer wrong and you will get a good kicking on line but at the end of the day your knowledge on the Datsun Z range is suberb keep it up mate. Whens the Book coming out ?
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The radio should have been playing the following for 1971:

1. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
2. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
3. Imagine - John Lennon
4. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
5. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
6. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
7. American Pie - Don McLean
8. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
9. Family Affair - Sly and the Family Stone
10. Just My Imagination - The Temptations
:)
 
Interior Options

Zep on your last reply. I have a few things for you. I think the options on your interior pack is the demister and the Hazard lights most of the rest of the interior sounds standard. From information I have here I would say your engine sequence should be L24-O42048 the other number should be another 100 bodies or so later in the production line if it went into a HS30. Also at a guess I would say your Z was built mid April to mid May of 1971. The info I use for reference is only RH drive Z so its not perfect.

If you do manage to get any confirmed build info of your Z please let me know.



Cheers

Steve
 
Zep,
I have a magazine article from 1985 that uses your car to illustrate the '240Z'.

In the pictures, the rear bumper has the 'extra' number plate lamp, as does not have the rubber bumper-end wedges.

Perhaps the current rear bumper is the result of replacement after that rear-end shunt the car had a few years ago?
 
Rear panel was also replaced - l think at the same time, however, l'd need to check the history records which l have at home. The history makes an interesting read with pages and pages of work done over the years. l lost count of the number of bonnets, rear arches, wings that were replaced - especially in the later years, which l assume ties into when Lynne rallied the car.
 
Zep said:
lost count of the number of bonnets, rear arches, wings that were replaced - especially in the later years, which l assume ties into when Lynne rallied the car.
Click to expand...
women drivers.......?:unsure:
 
datsun dave said:
Did she also drive it into her new garage (as drive it into the wall)
Click to expand...

She sure did - even mentioned that one in the Superprofile book.

Probably best that l've got it now :rolleyes:
It's in safe hands :devil:
 
Look at it now

After reading the level of the destruction repeatedly levelled at this poor Z. I find it very hard to relate this information to the fine finish achieved in your gallery, hats off to the repair efforts.
cheers
Steve
 
sjcurtis said:
hats off to the repair efforts.
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:confused:

On another note, how many (reasonably) standard looking 240Zs are there in the UK ?

This one, Steve Bicknells' ?, Jon (can't remember his surname form the register), Kevin Kays'............more ?
 

On another note, how many (reasonably) standard looking 240Zs are there in the UK ?

Steve Bicknells' John Foreman Kevin Kays'
​
 
SeanDezart said:
:confused:

On another note, how many (reasonably) standard looking 240Zs are there in the UK ?

This one, Steve Bicknells' ?, Jon (can't remember his surname form the register), Kevin Kays'............more ?
Click to expand...

l think you mean Jon Newlyn's MBP, but that depends what you mean by standard. His is an Australian spec car diverted to the UK as the Road test car.
 
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