Guest pauli Posted November 15, 2000 Share Posted November 15, 2000 what are the exterior differences between the different years of z's? looking at pictures of z cars around the web, i have developed the working hypothesis that every car was custom made at the factory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Bayley Posted November 15, 2000 Share Posted November 15, 2000 These are by no means all of them, but it's what I go by to determine specific years: 70 - early 71: 240Z Rectangular vents in bottom of hatch, turn signals underneath front bumper, reverse lights and tail lights in one common piece. late 71 - 73: 240Z Same as above, except the hatch vents were intigrated into the C-pillar Z emblems. early 74: 260Z Smaller 240Z bumper with 2.5 mph shock mounts, turn signals still underneath front bumper, reverse lights seprate from all other tail lights. late 74: 260Z Larger "rounded style" 5 mph bumpers, turn signals now located above front bumper in the grill. 75-76: 280Z Exterior identical (I think) to the late 260Z, only noticable difference was the fuel injection in the 280 models. 77 - 78: 280Z Large switched to the "squared style" 5 mph bumpers, louvered hood vents. -Hope this makes things a little easier. -Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pauli Posted November 15, 2000 Share Posted November 15, 2000 cool, thanks! i guess my hypothesis didn't check out in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted November 15, 2000 Share Posted November 15, 2000 A few other odds and ends: 70 - early 71: 240Z A "240z" c pillar emblem, hand throttle next to choke late 71 - 73: 240Z A "z" c pillar emblem, no hand throttle Also 73's used a different (stronger) bumper mounting system than the 72's. Seems I have a 'late' 72... my last 73 was 127 numbers after it in the same month of production, yet everytime I check, one is a 72 and 1 is a 73. ------------------ "Gimme Fuel, Gimme Fire, Gimme that which I desire" -Metallica Drax240z 1972 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Bayley Posted November 15, 2000 Share Posted November 15, 2000 Hmmm... I don't believe the American 70 - early 71 Z's had the hand throttle. I could be wrong (most likely) but I though the hand throttle was not an option in the American versions. Oh yeah, I forgot that the early 240Z C-pillar emblems were different, thanks for the refresher. -Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYRON Posted November 15, 2000 Share Posted November 15, 2000 I discovered the hard way that there are some differences in the doors and door latches/locks between 76-77 models. I bought a 76 parts car because it had perfect doors and door panels only to discover AFTER I did all the clean up and prep work that they were not the same as my 77 model...DOH!! Myron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted November 16, 2000 Share Posted November 16, 2000 Hmm, andrew now you have me thinking. I am about 90% sure that the 70's at least had the hand throttle. I know a guy that has a totally stock restoration of a 70, and its got the place for the hand throttle. He was not allowed to put the unit in the car because of safety regulations though. Maybe only the early 70's cars had the hand throttle? I will be talking to this guy this weekend, I'll try to remember to ask him about it. ------------------ "Gimme Fuel, Gimme Fire, Gimme that which I desire" -Metallica Drax240z 1972 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Locutus Posted November 16, 2000 Share Posted November 16, 2000 Just to add fuel to the fire, I have a 77 280Z, and my hood is solid no louvered hood vents. Is it possible my hood has been replaced? I think the louvered hood would help my car cool better by letting some of the high pressure hot air out thru the vents, if they are indeed functional vents. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyind Posted November 16, 2000 Share Posted November 16, 2000 Early 240Z had HAND CHOKE cable.... I have a Jan-77 which has door like 76 mod... ------------------ Z U V8ter http://cyind.com Rspencer@satx.rr.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RisqueRace? Posted November 16, 2000 Share Posted November 16, 2000 Hi Mike, I have two 77's and the hoods are both vented. I believe them to be original equipment from what I can tell. Hope this helps you. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted November 16, 2000 Share Posted November 16, 2000 Yes I know that the early 240's and 260's had hand chokes. But as well, the early 70's 240z had hand throttles so that you could set the throttle with the choke while you were warming up the car. ------------------ "Gimme Fuel, Gimme Fire, Gimme that which I desire" -Metallica Drax240z 1972 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 19, 2000 Share Posted November 19, 2000 Brief note to call your attention to a project I am working on to document the differences between all the stock models from 1970 to present. I am looking for excellent side profile 3/4 front and rear to fit in my web layout. If you are good with a camera or can bring your stock looking Z to me to photographed for the projectplease contact me. To see a sample of what each page will look like go to http://www.jps.net/zparts/tests/zperf_300zx-est.htm Thanks much, Eric Neyerlin ------------------ Z PARTS - Used & New Online Parts Inventory at http://www.jps.net/zparts/selectzp.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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