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Swiss two-become-one 240Z Ground up restauration / JDM mods


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While browsing through some online classifieds, i stumbled on this Datsun price list. Issued on 14. March 1977 and including cars like the 260Z, the 2+2 and the 240K-GT, Cherry coupe, sunny etc... There isn't any evedince that it's from datsun Suisse SA, but it's in german and french so it seems to make sense.
DSC_2536-Kopie.jpg


I got it from france, but the seller stated that it came originally from switzerland. There's also no currency for the prices, but i assume it must be Swiss franks (CHF). While my 240Z is not directly listed, it's another nice piece of Datsun Suisse memorabilia and some reference prices to talk about..
2020-12-08-17_35_35-Window-Kopie.png
 

Click here to download the full high-res scan of the price list:
1977 Datsun (Suisse) Price list
 

I also got a vintage Datsun sticker, which was a give-away by swiss datsun dealers at one point. This is not a replica, but (according to the seller) a genuine marketing item from the seventies. It is a bit worn and yellowed from the years in storage, so i assume it's the real deal. And it was merly the price of posting an envelope, so i just had to get it :)
DSC_2550-Kopie.jpg
 

Oh, and while googling for some other information, i stumbled upon this random file from the swiss Matchstick museum, which shows different "Gulf" branded matchstick box variants, with various Car dealerships, service stations, gas stations, etc.. Some of them beeing swiss datsun dealers. This just as a total random discovery :)

Gulf-Datsun-Matchstick-boxes-Kopie.png

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On 12/8/2020 at 1:05 PM, supernova_6969 said:

Hey jdm junkie. 

I'm franciphone (from quebec).  If you want, give me the person's email, i'll write to them and figure out the history.   Send me a private message and we'll figure out the details.  

Sebastien

Thanks a lot for your offer. but i thenk even the seller didn't really know the history. it's not really important and i don't have any contact, than through the auction site. Anway, thanks a lot for your nice support offer. i really appreciate that!

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A while a go i made a CAD drwaing of what the manual calls "Felt", but are actually rubber pieces, that work as dampers between the fuel tank and the chassis. Then took the drawing and sample to the local rubber shop and they cut them to spec for me:
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Left new, right old (with some dirt):
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Had them make two sets, but already sold the second set to a local owner.
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Oh and since NOS A-type 5-speed manual transmission parts are a bit rare, i just had to get this bearing when it popped up for sale. Also love the genuine oldschool Datsun (Suisse) SA Bag, it must have been in storage for quite some time...
DSC_2533-Kopie.jpg

Edited by jdmjunkies.ch
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Finally, something that i've really should have done first, happens now after many years. I decided to have the complete chassis blasted. Not sand-blasted but blasted with various media, depending on the area. Mostly Plastic-blasting and dry-ice blasting.
DSC_2540-Kopie.jpg

I thought i'd take a few "before" shots. so here we go. I hope in one or two weeks all old paint and underbody coating and rust is gone...
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Some panels like the roof and the LH Rear quarter will only be blasted partially, because they'll bee replaced anyway or have already been replaced with new panels.
DSC_2543-Kopie.jpg

So last week they came to pick it up and the car headed east two hours.
DSC_2555-Kopie.jpg

It arrived safely at the sandblaster, but is now waiting in the queue to get blasted. Due to holiday-season, COVID measurements and the fact that they're not exactly around my corner,
i wasnt able yet to check out their place and discuss a few details. but i still hope they can start the work soon...
130567651_723873361895102_17029377030549

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  • 2 weeks later...

The Bolts that hold the footrest to the floorpans have custom specs, that do not fit into any DIN / EN / ISO norm, so it's not possible to purchase them at any standard hardware supplier.
There are similar ones, but most of them have a too large head, that needs cutting to fit with the L-shaped "Feet" of the footrest).
So i had a local milling shop (specialized in oldtimer-parts) make the bolts for the footrest according to the drawing i made (see below) in stainless steel, since the original ones where bent, and pretty worn.
 

Original ones:
DSC_2378.jpg
 

New ones:
DSC_2674-Kopie.jpg
 

Perfect tight fitment, as the factory ones.
What might be interesting is that the bolts where added to the "feet" before painting the whole thing as one unit, from the factory.
You can clearly see (not in these pictures), that there is rust and no paint on the area below the original boltheads.
DSC_2675-Kopie.jpg
 

Here's the drawing if anyone ever needs to make those. I have a set leftover, since i ordered two. If anyone is interested, let me know.
(since the "f" value is covered by my logo - it's also 4mm)
Spezialschraube-Fussraste.jpg

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Today i got a very accurate OEM Glovebox replica from Czech republic. Made by Privateer Pavel Dvorak. It's very close to the original regarding materials, shape and even location of the bostitches and little metal clamps. Excellent work, sir! Excellent work, sir. looks awesome.
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And then i got various vintage swiss Datsun stickers from various sticker collectors i found online. nice to have them to complete my collection.
it appears that the round ones where made in two batches. one with the additional latch and one without. as not only the latch is different, but also
the colours are slightly different...
DSC_2835-Kopie.jpg

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I got hands on a rare 3N71A/B Automatic transmission Manual. While i don't have an Auto-tranny and don't really need this manual, there is a reason i couldn't resist.
This particular manual is not a standard workshop manual, but a Training manual. On the first pages, the employee who got the training from Nissan People, wrote down the story of the training and how it went.
DSC_2838-Kopie-1.jpg
 

If you look close on the Cover page, you see that the Name of the Company is "Fehlmann Motor AG", which is the predecessor of Datsun (Suisse) SA.
The Instructions are written very detailed by the trainee in german and full of personal notes.
DSC_2842-Kopie.jpg
 

Definitely a unique item.
DSC_2843-Kopie.jpg
 

It also contains a few memos from later years where the company is already called Datsun Suisse, with names of the involved employees and information about upcoming technical bulletins they plan to write, and spare-parts they've ordered from Japan and the 3 weeks delivery time.
Nothing really relevant to my project, but a pretty interesting piece of Datsun Switzerland history..
DSC_2844-Kopie.jpg

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Today i got a few interesting documents again. Let's start with the Z-specific stuff. An original Toolkit bag packing slip / Content slip:
DSC_2871-Kopie.jpg

I will use it to make a nice replica for my original toolkit (which came with some missing tools and without the toolkit.
DSC_2870-Kopie.jpg

The one above came from an original "final spec" European 240Z and is different to what i've seen for Sale in the USA. But it might be possible that the slip has changed over the years and that later
spareparts came with a different slip. Picture below shows one for sale in america by zeddsaver.com:
2021-01-11-16_25_22-Datsun-240z-Jack-and  

Then i got an original 1982 Datsun Switzerland catalog:
DSC_2873-Kopie.jpg

Not really interesting for me, but it contains the 280ZX and some other nice cars and i will use it for my datsun suisse documentation (coming soon).
DSC_2872-Kopie.jpg 

I mainly got it because it came together with this nice piece: The March 1972 geneva automobil Salon "Newspaper" Called the Datsun "Red spot"
It's of course all about the cars, but it also contains some nice figures and facts about datsun switzerland (more on that coming soon),
DSC_2876-Kopie.jpg

Some of the cars, the racing efforts of Nissan / Datsun, The nissan switzerland / FMG Warehouse, etc..
DSC_2877-Kopie.jpg

And also advertising for some of the cool apparel you could order from them... A pretty nice piece of datsun switzerland memorabilia...
DSC_2879-Kopie.jpg

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Slightly delayed because of holday season and the current COVID situation, but i just got some pictures from the blaster, and a note that the chassis is done. They blasted the whole car with non abrasive plastic media, which doesnt warp big thin surfaces. Where abrasives were needed, they added a bit of sand to remove rust and bondo (partially). The sticker underbody protecting-stuff was removed by dry-ice blasting...
20210115_090753-Kopie.jpg
 

You can clearly see the many repairs on the inner front fender and Air channel and the ton of bondo remaining on the LH rear quarter.
20210115_090809-Kopie.jpg
 

Luckily the engine bay looks nice at the first view, but i have to inspect closer once it's back at my place.
20210115_090818-Kopie.jpg
 

This is the side that has already been finnished by the bodyshop (the brown stuff is remaining seam sealer...)
20210115_090834-Kopie.jpg
 

this is the undone side. Luckily i have a NOS spare roof and rear quarter in stock to fix this. Meanwhile the chassis should also be primered with a weldable primer. In the next days they will return it to me and then i'll take some better pictures and a closer look at all the details... Just a little tip from my side. If you ever do a full restoration like this. start with cleaning the chassis. not like me who started with the bodywork just to blast the chassis when half of it was already done. well you learn new things all th e time - and that's what makes a project like this so much fun :) More coming soon....
20210115_090735-Kopie.jpg

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Today i got the delivery from the guys at Sandstrahlen-plus.ch which i can really recommend if you're in switzerland...
DSC_2921-Kopie-1.jpg

They had my complete chassis blasted (except the roof and a few areas i will replace anyway) and primered.
P1280037-Kopie.jpg

The job is very nice if you ask me and it looks so much better with all the car in one colour, rather than twelve different layers of primer, bondo, paint, rust protection, etc.. in various states...
P1280029-Kopie.jpg

Remember, this is how it looked a few weeks ago...
DSC_2540-Kopie.jpg

Luckily the process didnt' reveal any new problems, only the bad repairs of yesteryear and the rusty spots i already new and have replacement panels for...
P1280049-Kopie.jpg$

I also made this little "unboxing" gif whlie unwrapping the car and thought it was fun to share...
Webp.net-gifmaker.gif

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Thanks to Covid-related home-office and the fact i save an hour of driving from and to my office everyday, it seems like i have too much free time to search for Datsun related stuff... Therefore i've collected a lot of cool documents lately.
DSC_2992-Kopie.jpg

The first delivery consists of a lot of Colour sample charts, many marked as "For europe" unfortunately not Z-related, but the came for free with the rest and they're cool nontheless...DSC_2993-Kopie.jpg

Then i've got the L6 service Manual in German, which might come in handy for me, since it's my native language...
DSC_2995-Kopie.jpg

That "Technical Training" Paper folder contains an empty Sample of a warranty report (from one dealership workshop to the Datsun switzerland headquarter) and a manual how to fill it correctly, as well as a few examples (most probably from a training at the swiss Distribution center):
DSC_2997-Kopie.jpg

Also got this 1972 swiss service warranty booklet. I really like the style of it. Every service you rip out the page and cross all the jobs done, but on the small leftovers theres a stamp and a signature of the workshop who did it.
DSC_2999-Kopie.jpg

One of the big green folders was empty, but three of them consist various technical bulletins for various cars in german / french, issued by Datsun Suisse SA / FMG. Written with a typewriter and nicely duplicated.
DSC_3005-Kopie.jpg

Two are from the early seventies and include information for the 240Z. One is from the 80ies..
DSC_3006-Kopie.jpg

The fifth folder is a Warranty Flatrate time folder, which lists various warranty flatrate times and Warranty codes for the different cars including the 240Z and C10. It is required to fill the above mentioned warranty report.
DSC_3004-Kopie.jpg

I usually don't collect stuff from other countries, but these American "Datsun News" Magazines from 1971 to 1974 were for sale for a nice lot-price, so i had to secure them.
DSC_2995-Kopie-1.jpg

The december 1971 christmas special issue has a nice comic of with the 240Z:
DSC_2996-Kopie.jpg

And a letter from "Mr. K"
DSC_2997-Kopie-1.jpg

One issue shows a few pages of a japanese factory tour made with american dealers in 1973:
DSC_2999-Kopie-1.jpg

Another one nicely shows how Datsun USA was organized back then. including the 10 (!) Car carrier ships that nissan used to operate back then:
DSC_3000-Kopie.jpg

Then i got another few documents. which included a few catalogs (they came with the pricelists i've posted earlier on my blog already)
P1280014-Kopie.jpg

But what is nice here is the 2002 Nissan Motorsports competition parts catalog (USA):
P1280015-Kopie.jpg

The German book About the history of Nissan. (check the picture at the bottem left,  how they used to load cars on the boat with ropes, before they had their own vessels...!)
P1280016-Kopie.jpg

And probably the rarest document (also not Z-related): An 1969 Datsun Switzerland press release folder, issued for the Geneva International Motor Show 1969, including price lists, car descriptions and instructions how to get a Press car for testing...
P1280017-Kopie.jpg

I have a few projects in the pipeline and I'm awaiting results soon, also awaiting a delivery with Parts and more Documents fom Japan, but thanks to Covid, everything is a bit delayed now. Looking forward to big news over the next weeks / months...

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  • 3 weeks later...

Yesterday the post officer brought a nice little package to my door:
DSC_3139-Kopie.jpg

It contains a brand new (NOS) L6 Camshaft for the E88 Head. It is used widely in many L-series cars from what i understoud, but i still have to research all the details. It was for sale not far away and the price was ok, so i thought myself i better secure it...
I love the beautiful wrapping with the Nissan wrapping paper, etc...
DSC_3141-Kopie.jpg 

It came with a (separetely sold) Set of Cam oiler blockoff plates and bolts for older externally oiled cams. I still have to check if i need those...
DSC_3143-Kopie.jpg

It also came with a "Cam bracket machining procedure when replacing with new cam shaft" Manual:
DSC_3142-Kopie-rotated.jpg 

Here you see the typical "A" marking:
DSC_3145-Kopie.jpg

I have a lot of parts on the way, but due to Covid, everytihng is pretty delayed...

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Lately i've been purchasing a lot of stuff for the project and related documents and automobilia. Just when i got additionally offered a complete lot of documents from a big collector. Due to covid related delays, the different orders from several weeks and months ended up arriving at my place all within a few days...  If you look at the picture below, quite a lot of stuff! Some things just came with the lots, and i will not keep them, even if nice stuff though. Nevertheless, here's what was in my mail yesterday. In the next part of the story, i will show you a huge pile (two cars and a trailer full) of nice parts i picked up yesterday from an old barn...
DSC_3189-Kopie.jpg

So what was is all that? First a bunch of swiss Datsun memorabilia: including a vintage swiss datsun plastic bag, sales window cards, spare-parts bag, patches, a beer coaster, folders, matchstick boxes, etc...
DSC_3190-Kopie.jpg

One of the coolest parts here is definitely the 1971 Geneva International Motor show press release folder, including the 240Z and information about the Z beeing shown at their booth.
DSC_3192-Kopie.jpg

But what is even cooler. The press release states you can order Lithographic master plates from Datsun (Suisse) SA, for your own catalogue production, and it came with one of those lithography master plates. With exactly the same picture as shown in the press release and which is also used in some of the official swiss Z-documentation:
DSC_3193-Kopie.jpg

Then i found another press release. This time from 1972, about the introduction of the 240Z in switzerland:
DSC_3194-Kopie.jpg

From germany, i got a set of service manuals and a parts catalogue, which somehow seem to be photocopies of original ones. Not sure exactly who made those, since they're quite good quality and have an "official" feel to them. Maybe Datsun / Nissan germany replicated them themselves?
DSC_3195-Kopie.jpg

I collected also a bunch of magazines, which include stories of interesting cars that are not your standard Z-car tests:
DSC_3197-Kopie.jpg

An original swiss 240Z magazine ad (also seen in other countries with the same picture, but different text)
DSC_3202-Kopie.jpg

Various random Datsun and Z-related magazine tests:
DSC_3204-Kopie.jpg

A bunch of vintage Z and ZX related parts catalogues (Some of the companies do not exist anymore, or have different names now...)
DSC_3205-Kopie.jpg

A set of japanese S30 and L-series related Mooks (Magazine books)
DSC_3206-Kopie.jpg

Including this nice Nostalgic speed motor calendar (Sorry for the blurry photo)
DSC_3207-Kopie.jpg

A bunch of key holders. Not sure if any of these where officially released by nissan or if all of them are 3rd party stuff.
DSC_3209-Kopie.jpg

various stickers
DSC_3210-Kopie.jpg

Sew-on patches and a little C110 Skyline Kenmeri Diecast car:
DSC_3211-Kopie.jpg

Various User manuals, dealer list and empty document folders from the austrian datsun Import company (which does not exist anymore):
DSC_3212-Kopie.jpg

Various apparel and a Datsun banner:
DSC_3213-Kopie.jpg

Japanese nissan chronicles and history books:
DSC_3214-Kopie.jpg

Which seem very informative, but still have to go through them:
DSC_3215-Kopie.jpg

The japanese fold-out sales brochure for the Fairlady Z:
DSC_3216-Kopie.jpg

Some new (re-issued) Tomei vintage stickers:
DSC_3219-Kopie.jpg

A japanese Fairlady Z Parts catalogue:
DSC_3220-Kopie.jpg

Random parts and bits for my project:
DSC_3223-Kopie.jpg

And the cooles part: The "Breadbox" triple mikuni Airboxes, which where used on some of the works rallye cars, and where also optional "competition" equipment.
DSC_3224-Kopie.jpg

The ones i got are japanese MS Kubo replicas with slightly different locking mechanism. Original ones are rare to find and expensive. And since i'm not even sure if i can install them here street-legally, i decided not to go too crazy about finding original ones. But then i still liked them so much, i had to have them. Here's a picture of the competition parts catalogue, listing the original ones:

1978-Sports-option-catalogue-Competition

 

Stay tuned for the next part of the story, which includes a Barn and loads of stuff. but now i need to sort through all the parts first and take nice pictures :-)

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Disclaimer: Nothing in this post is for sale - Do not ask me, thanks!
What qualifies something as a "barn find" has been discussed previously. But nevertheless, i found these parts covered in dust in an old shed. They were not exactly "forgotten about", but stored there in many years. The story behind them unfortunately includes a bit of human tragedy. After many years, i was the lucky one to buy the whole lot. Well sort of. Since i'm not exactly a hoarder and did not want to have many more parts of those i already own, i made an agreement with a Friend who basically bought the whole lot and i was the one to handle it. In return i got some rare, free and much-needed parts from the lot.
So let's start: A while ago i learned from a nice gentleman and z-owner who had some small parts for sale. After some first talks, it turned out we had the same interests, and then he told me about what he had in storage - and it was much more than i had expected. Since his z-restauration is completed now, he doesn't need the parts anymore and was willing to sell them. Talk about good timing! After some first parts viewing, assessment, calculations and negotiation with all of the stakeholders, i was able to make a deal. This is the little shed in some swiss countryside....
DSC_3168-Kopie.jpg

 

Most of the parts where stored in the upper level and only accessible via an unstdeady ladder. But hey - who cares if there are NOS genuine datsun parts?
I was initially only interested in the sheetmetal parts, mostly the datsun original parts. But they were only for sale as a lot. Well and then we agreed on buying the whole parts Lot including all the used and aftermarket parts too, so he could clear out the whole stock at once.
DSC_2957-Kopie.jpg

 

Last weekend, i was finally able to pick up the parts. First we had to get everything down from the roof-level and outside.
DSC_3171-Kopie.jpg

 

And then put it all into two transporter-cars and an additional trailer:
DSC_3176-Kopie.jpg

 

So the last days i spent in my garage sorting through all the parts. I made three piles. Left is used original Parts, Center are aftermarket parts and right are NOS genuine Datsun / Nissan parts. On the wall to the right you can see some additional big items...
DSC_3251-Kopie.jpg

 

Which includes some funky window louvres, a used hatch glass and a new aftermarket Windshield:
DSC_3261-Kopie.jpg

 

Additionally a set of Doors, hood and hatch from a donor-car:
DSC_3262-Kopie-rotated.jpg

 

The "holy grail" is definitive the NOS parts lot which includes air-channels, complete front inner fenders, a set of front valances, frame-rails, hubcaps, weather strip, trim pieces and many small bits.
DSC_3255-Kopie.jpg

 

These are some of the parts that will end up on my build, if required. I've been looking for those for many years now, so i'm quite happy i finally found them!
P1280066-Kopie.jpg

 

The used parts lot included everything from an uncracked dashboard to original steelies, radiator frame, Headlight covers, an A-type 5-speed transmission, Euro-spec front spoiler, Euro turn signals and much, much more...
P1280077-Kopie.jpg

 

The aftermarket-lot included a lot of older, but unused parts from all kind of sources. A complete Hood, 3 front fenders, inner and outer rocker panels, rear lower corners, door repair panels, rear arch repair panels, a set of vintage Koni dampers, Aisin-seiki clutch cover, brake shoes and much more... It has been an exhausting but also very fun and satisfying journey to get all those parts. They're now safely in storage and will end up on some pretty nice restauration projects, which deserve such nice parts!
DSC_3263-Kopie-1.jpg

 

So again, none of the parts are for sale. All of them have either been sold already or are for my own build. Sorry..

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21 hours ago, Jboogsthethug said:

Dang what a great find!! That's awesome man! Your thread has so many posts about documents it's like a mini history lesson. Pretty cool!

Haha thanks. i really learn a lot from all those documents. And i have more on the way here. And i don't think i even posted all here in this thread since it's a build thread and not about documents :P

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  • 1 month later...

Lately i've started collecting the tools for a complete Toolkit for the Z:
DSC_3538-Kopie.jpg

Which includes this packing slip, from a genuine swiss Z:
DSC_2871-Kopie.jpg

You can see there are still quite some things missing. but at least i got some of the nissan branded tools already, like the wrenches:
DSC_3539-Kopie.jpg

The wheel stopper set:
DSC_3540-Kopie.jpg

Spare lug nuts (not sure if they're part of the toolkit. I've seen it listed in a later version of the above toolkit slip. But they're nice to have anyway!
DSC_3541-Kopie.jpg

And the original tookit bag.

DSC_3542-Kopie.jpg

Whit is missing currently are the scissor jack, the lug nut wrench, and at least a pliers and one screwdriver from the toolkit bag. I know you can still buy them new, but if possible id'like to source things locally with the right patina, whenever i come along it. At least i've started to collect things now :)

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