NZeder's Datsun 260z Build Thread

[nzeder]

I don't disagree that it looks smart but the front bumper and valance panels on that car are also all fiberglass so what's the difference.

Earl's red 240z no one appears to have issues with and it is a single piece ZG nose made from fiberglass which technical is not T&C compliant as the original ZG nose is 5 pieces with 4 parts made from FRP and a urethane bumper so not made from the material as standard series production but like Ray has pointed out why would you risk the rare factory parts worth over $6000 when a replica fiberglass single piece is only $1000 and you can get them unlike the originals that once damaged are gone for good.

As you know Ricky the 3 lower panels are non longer available and if you can find second hand ones they are usually in bad condition as most have been bent via parking incidents or nose to tails (the zed have a long bonnet and take sometime getting used to that)

Front bumpers are also hens teeth unless you have deep pockets and get some new stainless steel items so again fiberglass is the only option after those.

Then your car is getting singled out as non compliance yet as discussed here any Escort with bubble arches that does not have a schedule k cod is also non T&C compliant. So why are they not told not to run. If someone is going to play the your car is not compliant card then they better play fair and do that to everyone in the field that is non compliant not pick and choice cars as someone feels fit.

It is for these reason I have decided to ensure my is compliant so if my car is denied a grid entry there has to be a valid reason (apart from poor drive standards which should be a give for classic racing). Well until any damage happens then the NLA parts issue is going to kick in like has done for Ricky.

[ERC]

Attachment 24571

That registration plate is for a 1966 car (ends in D) and the Pierpoint Rover first appeared in 1970. I do have an April 1970 photograph of the original car at Mallory Park.

Mike, you are 100% correct. Bonnet lifting and finger pointing are all well and good but the reality is that this can cause more angst and upset than being more relaxed about and that in itself can destroy the very thing we have tried to build up over the last 18 years by being a bit more pragmatic.

What do most drivers want? A smallish field of supposedly pure cars with every driver trying to catch out the opposition in the paddock and a big grey cloud of suspicion pervading the atmosphere? Or a more relaxed atmosphere, great camaraderie and cars that BROADLY fit the spirit of what we are all about?

[nzeder]

While researching more tonight what do I found - check this out from the 1977 Movie "Herbie goes to Monte Carlo"


So that got me digging for more info about this particular car. The car used in the movie started life as one of the 50 official 240z pace cars build by Datsun Competition Department. The car was sold $1.00 to Joel Anderson once its official duties were complete. The 50 were sold to the Californian Datsun Dealers and the car in the movie and sold to Joel was one of the pace cars used as a pace car so had suspension modification and performance modifications to support its track duties - some of the other cars did not receive the engine performance modification as that would have altered the Californian smog spec making them illegal for road use/ie promotion work.

Anderson later converted the car to GTU spec as show/raced in this pic


This car in question had an interesting life. From Pace car

to Movie star

to GTU race car

[nzeder]

While talking about period race cars and front spoilers check out these items that were used on zeds in period all around the world.

First up the Macau 240z - delivered in 1970


Next up from the USA the Kearney Z at Palm Beach International

Same car different front again


The IMSA zed image I posted earlier was restored from this - "A photo by Paul Woodbury and what he said about it. "This is the Camel GT pace car in 1986 at Road Atlanta. I was attending the SCCA Runoffs and walked around the back of a maintenance building and there it was. It was sitting in the red clay without any wheels. A sad sight to see for sure." It was restored and painted in BSR colors for vintage racing and recently restored to the pace car livery and is now owned by Adam Carolla."


Enough for now.

[nzeder]

Here is more on the camel pace car.

http://www.ebaymotorsblog.com/bob-sh...l-gt-pace-car/

[nzeder]

Found a blog on the web this morning while waiting for a job to run on the PC. It was a small little page showing pictures of 1976 ProdSport race from Calder Park in Australia.

Here is a link to the blog
http://wwwbollyblog.blogspot.co.nz/2...ts-in-70s.html

Some might enjoy the other cars in the pictures - but for me it shows a full Group 4 FIA spec 240z running in this part of the world in period which is just great.

The car is said to belong to Fernando D'Alberto?

Does anyone else have info on this car in question?

[RacerT]

Cool shots Mike.
Even the Corvette's running the homologated big flares and is that a Bolwell in front of the Datsun in the third picture?

[Paul Wilkinson]

Cool shots Mike.
Even the Corvette's running the homologated big flares and is that a Bolwell in front of the Datsun in the third picture?

I think that Corvette is the Bolwell again. Similar flying buttress rear...

[nzeder]

Cool shots Mike.
Even the Corvette's running the homologated big flares and is that a Bolwell in front of the Datsun in the third picture?

I believe it might be an MG let me see if I can find more pics - blue #5 Bolwell Nagari Hardtop is Ranald McLurkin. The white Bolwell convertible is Alan Edwards

Also Ferdie is the Uncle to Tony D'Alberto of V8 SC fame. In 2011 Ferdie still had ownership of the Datsun too. Might have to look into that more - I was thinking of selling the road 260z once that is complete - however now I am thinking - one T&C standard body based car and one Schedule K FIA Group 4 replica like the Ferdie car now where is my winning lotto ticket.....

[nzeder]

Could not find more pics but there was info about the points and runners here - so yes there was a Corvette in the series but not in the pics that I could find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Au...r_Championship (This was the first Australian Sports Car Championship to be restricted to production based cars.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Au...r_Championship

[nzeder]

Found some images on the "oldracephotos.com" web site of a Corvette for you Tony - however respecting the images are copyrighted and for sale I will only post links to the images

Here is the link to the Corvette
http://www.oldracephotos.com/shop/pr...5816_N_Corv_77

Here is another 240z that also raced in this Production based Sport Car Championship - again a link to the oldracephotos site
http://www.oldracephotos.com/shop/pr...5875_N_240Z_76

[nzeder]

Long time no update. Well work had me working hard on a major upgrade for the last few months as the CIO was pushing hard to get the project completed before the end of our FY of 31st July. Now I find out why...due to a restructure I now find my position is redundant. ..great work me like a dog to get it done only to give me notice once I do the project. Well such is life/business. So I will have time to work on the zed something I have been short on of late. So just one more week of work after almost 16 years in the same company. Friday will be a sad day but as one door closes others will open and between interviews I will be in the shed working on my 2 x Datsun 260z 2 seaters. Racecar first so I can get it ready for ice breaker.

Sorry to any ozzies but good on them for restructuring the NZ business which is making more money than Australia with only 10% of the work force that oz has and decide to shutdown our manufacturing plant and move it to Australia. ...why we are making money and oz is not..

[Oldfart]

Bad news Mike, and something a lot of us are familiar with. I hope "another door opens" for you when you wish.

[nzeder]

Update:

As stated about I am at a turning point on the career front. With time to think (sometimes never a good idea) and looking at one 260z I have here at home (while putting parts on it to clear floor space to get the full caged car home from the parents garage) I made a decision.

Before I go into to much details some background on this car.

If you have read my whole thread you might habe worked out that I love the Datsun s30z aka 240z/260z as many know them as (the s30 chassis was marketed as a number of different models with different configurations globally) having owned and raced a few over the past 22 years.

This thread was started to cover my build of my latest zed project they full caged early 260z but I also own a later 260z again a 2 seater. This later 260z is the first Datsun zed I purchased. It has been off the road for over 17 years getting a rebuild. This project has taken me on a journey and has been a big part of my life. Plans changed a number of time during this cars rebuild process. The plan was to have this later 260z as my road car however given my current employment status and spending time in the shed plans have changed again.

So first some pics of this later 260z. (Click on small image to see larger)
As puchased - Rust repairs - Steel flares getting built - test fit of road rubber this might take a few post as only 6 images per post.

[nzeder]

[nzeder]

Painting time.

[nzeder]

*

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Painted

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1/2 cage installed.

[nzeder]