On an ordinary day, I don't expect to see a lot of exciting cars around Danville, at least not ones that appear to be daily drivers. This customized Datsun pops up here and there on occasion, and I happened to catch it sitting still one day. It's a near twin of
the white one I found on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California two years ago.
There are a lot of old Z-cars in my area. There are a 240Z and a 280ZX on my block alone. On a typical day I see at least one, frequently more, and they range in condition from tired beaters to cherry restored examples. A couple are modified like this, a pretty popular style with Z tuners. Flared wheel arches, 8-spoke Rota RBs, Konig Rewinds, Panasports or Watanabes with a wide lip, shaved bumpers, various aerodynamic add-ons and a fat tailpipe are the typical recipe, not to mention a fortified L-series straight-six that may or may not be turbocharged. Fit and finish may vary depending on the owner's budget and whether it's a driver, racer or show car.
This Z had me believing it was a 1972 240Z at first, because it has the round Z medallion badging on the C-pillar that came out in 1971.5, and lacks the two vents beneath the rear window that were installed on the earliest cars. However, the taillight panel has two vertical backup lights separate from the brake lamps. These were first seen on the 1974-only 260Z and carried over to the 1975 280Z. This car is likely a first-year 280Z, because it has grille indicators and the license plate is an issue probably from 2007 (6B prefix, same as my 2007 Ford Focus). A 1976 or newer 280Z would be subject to California emissions testing and this one has no tests listed in state records -- which are
publicly accessible here. Stop thinking I'm creepy. The Bureau of Automotive Repair is a big help in identifying 1970s and newer cars.
The only car Datsun/Nissan ever built that was beautiful. You should see these cars when made over to look like the '62 Ferrari 250 GT. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteThere was one locally done up that way, red with the 250 GTO kit. I meant to photograph it but it was always parked in the driveway. The owner moved away before I could ever get a picture.
DeleteCRAP! Well at least your heart was in the right place. You know Jay, another one might pop up someday. Keep your camera ready. ;)
ReplyDeleteThatis sacrelige to do a japanese car up in the garb of one of the automotive holy grails. The first generation z cars were beautiful on their own, no neeed to much them up with a crappy body kit. As soon as some osees its not a real ferrari you'd be labeled as a poser with no credibility anyway. WHo knows what year this one is anyway. The owner propably picked all his favorite parts from the early z cars and put them in place on the one he owned.
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