OK, here's a new one on me ~ A vinyl top for the classic 1970 240Z.

This guy's California 240 Zcar originally came with a vinyl top (he calls it a 1971 model year, but it has all the tell-tale features of a '70).

Rick has often reminded us that US Datsun dealers loaded these cars up with 'dealer options' to justify boosting the sales price, since everybody and his brother wanted one and there just weren't enough to go around. So dealers, knowing that somebody would buy a Z car regardless what was put on it, made themselves some more money by loading silly options onto their showroom cars. They were right ~ somebody bought them no matter how they looked and many customers fought among themselves to be first in line.

I have never, in my conscious memory, zeen a 240Z with a vinyl top. If I did, maybe I just blanked it out of my mind???

Anybody out there ever seen one of these?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... s%3Disch:1

The side view looks interesting, the rear view is down right ugly. I hope the buyer got a purchase discount on that Z!

_________________
Phil
1981 280zxt - Now in the care my son!
2014 370Z Sports Touring Roadster

Not too often, but I have seen them. Your assessment is correct Frank, given the popularity of vinyl tops in the early 70s, dealers did add them to some Zs as an option in an effort to drive up the price. I personally bought a 1975 280Z some years ago that had a black vinyl top installed by the dealer.

Some will say that they were installed at the factory, but No, it was not a Nissan option. Also, if any Zs are still out there with a vinyl top, I would suspect that the sheet metal underneath is pretty rusty by now.

Butt ugly too.

_________________
John Taddonio
1970 240Z
1977 530Z
1984 300ZXT
zcarnut@hotmail.com
FB: Zccr zcarclubofrochester

Ten-four on what everybody said above. And thanks for the unsolicited
credit, Frank. I've seen a couple of those suckers and agree totally with
Phil and John. Great way to ruin the appearance of a perfectly good Z.

I don't remember that we ever did that at Sharp; if the prospect insisted
on that for an option, I courteously admonished him that we were unable
to do that, recommended firmly against it, and gave strong reasons:

Namely that over time (at least on other makes of cars), they invariably
began to peel off, flap around, scuff the roof, trap moisture, cause rust
and bubbling, and remind you daily of your poorly considered decision
and the money it unnecessarily cost.

Not to mention the additional cost of repairing the damage

All Z Best,................................Kathy & Rick

_________________
All Z Best,.......Kathy & Rick

1969 Z.CAR (#00013 10/69) 8/30/76
1969 ITSA.Z (#00171 11/69) 8/24/73
1970 OLD.Z (#06289 6/70) original owner
1971 510 2dr since 12/31/75
1969 1600 rdstr (our 160-Z)
1971 (#19851 1/71) sold
1975 75.Z (#01343 1/75)

Add Camaro tailights and double fugly status iz yours!

Hi Guys:
The Red/White Z belonged to one of our Original Owners, Sue Fish. Another Original Owner here in St. Pete has the same combination.

The Vinyl Top was a Factory Option - in Japan. It was either a Port Installed or Dealer Installed accessory here in the U.S.

It is not clear if it was available in early 70... but it shows up in the Parts Manual of 74... I'd have to dig out the fiche files from 70..

FWIW,
Carl B.

WOW! What a quick education that manual is!!!

I just saw some very interesting articles mentioned in there. I recently told Thorsten and Eugene (No6thGear) that the headlamp covers were not a factory option on the early Zs. But I zee that they were available in Japan on the 432, and the "Racing Strip" (stripe?) along the lower rocker panels is what Rick has on Lucky #13!

Darnit, Carl ~ you're hoarding a LOT of information! When are you gonna write that book??

Hi John:
A very small point - but I'd put it another way - - the Dealers added accessory items to drive the PROFIT UP {not the price}. The cause was profit increase, the effect was price increase.

Small but important point. At MSRP the Dealer Profit on the Z was about $320.00 dollars. It was easy to add $100.00 to $200.00 profit with "Mag.'s". Another $100.00 to $200.00 by adding side strips, body side molding, front/rear bumper bars. Another $100.00 by adding A/C..

The 240Z's were in limited supply and high demand - so doubling the profit margins on them, off set the discounts on less popular models, or allowed higher trade-in prices for cars beign traded-in - and helped pay for better Customer Service.

Some Dealers simply added $1000.00 or $2000.00 "Market Adjustment" to the Window Stickers..

FWIW,
Carl B.

Hi Frank:
The "Options" list is from Kats in Japan.
http://www.geocities.jp/datsunz903/

Rick just has to re-read his old Parts Manuals He has most likely forgot more than I know.

The JDM Headlight Covers were expensive in the 70's - as I recall they originally sold for $150.00 per pair. Plus many people did not like the trim ring sticking up above the headlight buckets. The BRE style headlight covers looked a little more integrated... Today the JDM Headlight Covers seem to be far more popular. I've seen NOS sets sell on E-Bay for between $750.00 and $1400.00. There were also some reproductions made that sold for around $850.00 AIR.

FWIW,
Carl B

I have to agree with Frank, Carl! You simply must put all of these tidbits of information into a book. Future Z Car Nuts will appreciate it!

You worded the "profit" point better than I did. The add-ons were intended to increase dealer profit, not drive up the price of the car.

Frank, I believe that those side stripes you see in the microfiche are the classic triple racing stripes above the rockers, not on the rockers as in #13.

And if I didn't see it, I wouldn't have believed it! A Nissan parts catalog with a "leather" top for a Z!! Must have been for later models, I do not see it in my 240 parts book.

_________________
John Taddonio
1970 240Z
1977 530Z
1984 300ZXT
zcarnut@hotmail.com
FB: Zccr zcarclubofrochester

Carl is so, so right!!!
I'm so rusty on parts and service things that if I were a 240Z, I would
have been parted out and sent to the crusher by now.

I admit I never knew the roof kit was in the parts manual. Probably
just as well; I would have dissuaded everyone who wanted one.

BTW where did that partZ manual get to?-- Probably loaned it out to
someone, just like my service manuals, never to be seen again.
FWIW,~Rick~

_________________
All Z Best,.......Kathy & Rick

1969 Z.CAR (#00013 10/69) 8/30/76
1969 ITSA.Z (#00171 11/69) 8/24/73
1970 OLD.Z (#06289 6/70) original owner
1971 510 2dr since 12/31/75
1969 1600 rdstr (our 160-Z)
1971 (#19851 1/71) sold
1975 75.Z (#01343 1/75)

Hi John:
It is in the "Miscellaneous" Section - along with the touch up paint and keys..

If you have the old hard copy - it's at the end.

If you Parts Book is older than 74 - check to see if it is there.

regards,
Carl

Back in '99 when I began dismantling my car I puchased a hard copy of the 70-73 parts catalog from a guy that had it printed from the fiche. It is over 1" thick and a great reference.

As Carl said, right there on the last page, section 150-1, is the leather top and racing stripe option. This is the first time I have looked at this section!

_________________
Jim Arnett
Richardson, Texas
HLS30-15320 12/1970 (original owner)
ZCON 2015 Gold Cup - Street Modified class

...........and I hope it's the last!!!!!

Say Jim, while I have your ear, how about having your local print shop
make me up a copy of your copy and we negotiate the price of that into
the wheel covers deal? Please advise; check will be on the way.

All Z Best,.................................Kathy & Rick

_________________
All Z Best,.......Kathy & Rick

1969 Z.CAR (#00013 10/69) 8/30/76
1969 ITSA.Z (#00171 11/69) 8/24/73
1970 OLD.Z (#06289 6/70) original owner
1971 510 2dr since 12/31/75
1969 1600 rdstr (our 160-Z)
1971 (#19851 1/71) sold
1975 75.Z (#01343 1/75)

Hi Rick -

Hope you guys are drying out. I saw the pics that Ross posted as well as the national news, some very serious damage up your way.

Re: the parts catalog, let me see how well a couple of pages reproduce. The fiche details are really small print. How about if I mail you the samples for your approval? Do you want me to get a price on some form of binding? Mine has a clear cover and plastic coil edge binding.

If you like it, I'll get it run off for you. The price will be the cost of the printing plus whatever it adds to the weight of the hubcaps package. I'll let you know how it proceeds.

Any others want in on this deal while I'm getting it for Rick? (i'm not trying to get into the book business. I have a car to re-build. )

Jim

_________________
Jim Arnett
Richardson, Texas
HLS30-15320 12/1970 (original owner)
ZCON 2015 Gold Cup - Street Modified class