Posted this morning on bringatrailer.com
All I can say is wow!
http://bringatrailer.com/2010/07/27/fac ... lady-z432/

Never seen of one of these. Anybody translate Japanese?
For those who are not familiar with this site, beware it becomes addictive.
Colin
the older one

The styling of that car looks strangely familiar...

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-Chris

Looks like the car of the month

Speechless. I want one.

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

club car??

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

(I bet we wouldn't have trouble finding a member who would let us store it on his property!)

and not to mention how long the waiting list will be for borrowing it......

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

The 432 Fairlady is actually well known in Z circles. The engine is the key to the desire for these rare cars. Hemispherical cross-flow heads with triple Mikunis gives the 2.0L dual overhead cam engine more hp than the 2.4L American 240Z had. Parts availability makes them simply impractical to own and drive here tho, even if they were 'legal' this side of the pond.

Phrog's 280 looks so much like these 432s, it's striking. But his is LHD and all the 432s were RHD.

If you consider the German and British 6-cylinder cars made today (and some 4-cyl Italians), this basic engine design has proven very successful over several decades. The 432 engines are now 35 - 40 years old, so you could easily find a smaller, lighter powerplant which would produce more push than these engines did. But in the days of the original 240Z, these 432s were the "260s" of Japan, several years before the 260 was released.

The '432' stood for something, just as the American 442 stood for four speed, four barrel, dual exhaust. I forget what the Japanese designated with those numbers.

I don't question the suggested price on these cars (assuming you could find one in the first place, and assuming it was in VG condition). They are among the rarest Z cars ever made.

I think Carl Beck has an article on these in his IZCC ZHome.com.

I believe it was:

4 valves per cylinder
3 carbs
2 cams

Rare, impractical, parts impossible. I would still love to have one in MY garage!

By the way, back in the day Nissan also produced a handful of 432-R models specifically for racing. They had racing seats & belts, no radio, no heater, no standard interior trim, a fiberglass hood and body panels. They were incredibly light, incredibly powerful and went like craZy. If I am correct, I believe only 13 were built.

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

ok guys just a reminder my birthday is December 21st....

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

Funny that the Japanese would make any car with an english "R" or "L" in its designation! I've often wondered why the GT-R was so called, and if many Japanese speakers actually ordered any over the phone.

R sounds like "ah-ru" and L sounds like "ehr-ru" in my experience, lol.

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-Chris

R = RACE

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

Of course.

But in Japanese, the word for "race" is ソウ, which sounds like "Soouse".

Why would they not use "S" instead of "R"? Aimed for the English speaking (American) market, I suspect. (Is that Jingoism?)

You have a point.

432-SOOUSE

GT-SOOUSE

Just doesn't make it, does it?

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