240 or not 240 that is the question

[datman]

Hi

I am about to buy a 240z 1972 and would like to know if there are any tell tale signs to body swaps?

I have searched and not found the answers I'm looking for.

I have checked the car details out and all seem to tie up but didn't want to get caught out and find that I have a 76 body with 72 vin numbers welded in! Are there any parts of a 72 240z body that are unique to that model?

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[savageskaterkid]

Well, the 76 is a 280z, not a 240z, that the first thing. If its got bigass bumpers, its probly a 280z. I dont think i've ever seen anybody actually take the nicer 240z bumpers and putting on the eyesore 280 bumpers.

[Pop N Wood]

There are quite a few differences. Bumpers are an obvious one.

 

One of the more noticable differnces is doors. 240's do not have side impact beams in the door and use a weaker C shaped door latch bolted to the door jamb. Doors with the impact protection have a post on the door jamb that fits into a groove in the door.

 

240's also have very weak "frame rails" under the body that don't go all the way to the back of the car.

[HS30-H]

Hi

I am about to buy a 240z 1972 and would like to know if there are any tell tale signs to body swaps?

I have searched and not found the answers I'm looking for.

 

You should be able to date the body fairly easily once you know a few of the tell-tale detail differences' date=' but before we get into specifics - why are you asking about "body swaps"? Do you actually [i']suspect[/i] something?

 

I have checked the car details out and all seem to tie up but didn't want to get caught out and find that I have a 76 body with 72 vin numbers welded in!

 

Bear in mind that you are asking these questions on a forum that - generally speaking - knows very little about the peculiarities of the UK-market models. Hence you will tend to get answers like this:

 

Well, the 76 is a 280z, not a 240z, that the first thing.

 

........which is correct for the USA market, but not the UK market. The 'RS30' 260Z was sold in the UK up to the introduction of the S130-series '280ZX' in 1978, and never shared the USA-market model-specific details of the '280Z'.

 

You can actually learn a real lot about your car by cross-referencing the manufacturing / quality control dates of the components. A 'Frankenstein' car will soon be discovered if you look closely.

 

But, as I said, why would you suspect that your VIN and the rest of the car don't belong together? Do you suspect something?

 

And what is the VIN number, anyway?

[datman]

Yes I realise the cosmetic differences like bumpers, Pop n wood explained just what I wanted to know. Things like the door latch changes and chassis rails.

Thanks guys

[datman]

The VIN number checksout , the only reason I had some concerns was another member explained that the car was a 76 not a 72 from looking at the advert http://www.datsun240z.co.uk/parts_sales.htm

Im looking/buying the car tomorrow if it all checks out. I have done a background check on it and its all good.

vin#HS30-101293

[HS30-H]

The VIN number checksout , the only reason I had some concerns was another member explained that the car was a 76 not a 72 from looking at the advert http://www.datsun240z.co.uk/parts_sales.htm

 

Whoever told you that the car was made in 1976 is not worth listening to. It looks to have all the attributes and equipment of a typical UK-market HS30.

 

The website you linked to also has some bad information, but I wouldn't let that put you off if the price of the car matches with the condition you expect for that price.