Z-Car

Datsun 240Z show in PA – 5/25/1998

By Jimmy February 2, 2015 No Comments

In May 1998, my daughter and I attended a Datsun Z convention in Pennsylvania. What was interesting about this car show is that Mr. Yutaka Katayama (President of Nissan USA), also known as Mr. K was in attendance. Mr K headed up the original Datsun 240Z design project, and is often credited for the success of the Z car in America. All of these pictures were taken with my first digital camera, which was still a fairly new item in 1998. Standard resolution was 1 Mega-pixel.

We drove my 1972 Datsun 240Z to the show, and even got Mr K to sign the ashtray cover on my car. It was quite the focal piece for that car, yet another car I wish did not get away from me…

The Remains of a Wrecked Datsun 260Z

By Jimmy August 29, 2010 Cars, Datsun, DIY No Comments

This page shows the dismantling of a 260Z. There are a lot of pictures on this page, so it will take a couple minutes to load them all.

 

What remains of the 260Z on jackstands.
Looking in through what used to be the windshield
The interior with some of the left over parts.
It is amazing how little the empty shell weighs whenstripped. I could easily lift the front and rear of thecar.
The L28 engine that we pulled sits in the background.
The roof was the first to go. With Sawzall in hand,Steve chops the top.
I think Steve is starting to like this.
Well, we now have a 260Z roadster. That was quick.
Ever wonder what is protecting your head. Asurprising amount of steel.
Front fenders gone.
Stef was lucky, as his frame rails were slowlyrustling away. Both sides had significant loss of metal.
Again, a fair amount of steel holding the roof up.
Notice how the front frame rails are bent to theright. This was the result of running into the corner ofa median strip. The rusted frame rails did not help much

in this case.
It is kinda hard to see, but this is the damage onthe drivers side frame rail.
The Dodge pickup waiting to be loaded with Z. I fitthe whole car into the pickup, and took it to the localdump where the steel was recycled.
Steve is starting in on the left front. I havealready removed the right side.
Cutaway of the frame rail.
Whoops, there goes the rear end. This is fun!
Not much left now, just the cab.
Of all the pieces that we cut off, this was theheaviest.
Hey, now we can easily fix those rusted floor panels!
Steve sure looks proud, huh? The complete chop jobtook less then two hours. While we hate to see a Z bedestroyed, we sure had a good time doing it. Miller time.

Pretty White Z

By Jimmy November 15, 2008 Cars, Datsun 1 Comment

I found these pictures in my email yesterday. A fellow named Christian M. Gates sent them. I think I got them by mistake, but it is a good looking car, so I thought I would share. I wonder how long it will take for Christian to find them?

Pretty White 240Z 1sm
Pretty White 240Z 3sm Pretty White 240Z 4sm Pretty White 240Z 2sm

Where I have been – cars that I have owned over the years

By Jimmy January 2, 2008 Cars, Lotus, Past, Toyota SDK8 No Comments

lotus in a field

These are some of the cars I have owned in the past, starting with the first car I ever owned.

1976 Datsun 710
1970 Datsun 240Z
1987 Toyota MR2
1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac
1972 Datsun 240Z
1991 Eagle Talon
1992 Mazda Miata
1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo
1994 Mazda RX-7
1968 Datsun Roadster
1970 Datsun 240Z
1976 Datsun 260Z
1998 BMW M3
1997 Mazda Miata
1993 Mazda RX-7 CYM
2003 Mazda Miata
1987 Toyota SDK8
2005 Lotus Elise
2006 Infiniti G35x
1997 Ford F150
2011 Infiniti M37x
1994 Mazda Miata

I have also owned a couple Tundra’s, T100, and Troopers mixed in there as well.  What was my favorite car?  I love my current Lotus Elise, however my 1993 RX-7 CYM was probably my all time favorite.  The Talon was most reliable, it went over 150K miles, very few of them were what you would call “easy” miles.  My 2006 Infiniti cleared 170K miles before finally giving up one of its cylinders.