GTR-N1

Who's he insured with Longz?

Written to-day by Tony Davis from Drive.com.au Re: History and Future WHAT WERE THE GREAT DATSUN MOMENTS? You're laughing aren't you? You think we'll read irony into this question, just because Nissan is bringing back the Datsun brand, we'll use it as an excuse to diminish this noble badge. Well, we're above that here on FUQ (Frequently Unanswered Questions on Drive). Not a long way above it, admittedly, but the Datsun story wasn'e all 200Bs, 120Ys and Sunnys. Thanks goodness. There really were some great moments. They started in Australia in fact: in the 1958 Mobilgas Trial, a 16,000Km jaunt around this wide, brown land. Nissan entered two Datsun 1000s and there were a few small problems. The first was that the 1000 was based on an Austin but built with lower technology - and in an even more hostile industrial-relations climate - than the original. The powerful vehicle-builders' union demanded the right to choose the drivers and selected them for their political convictions rather than motor-sport experience. Fortunately, the sub-1.0-litre class was very, very lightly contested. Winning still required finishing, and amazingly, the union men did just that (-the three Toyota "Toyopets" broke down). Renowned American journalist and historian David Halberstam reported in The Reckoning (a 1986 book comparing the culture of the US and Japan by looking at Ford and Nissan) that the victory was a huge turning point for Japanese car makers. The team arrived back to "a huge procession into town, and thousands of people along the way..." As an aside, The Reckoning made the usual 1980s mistake of assuming the Japanese were impregnable and the Americans were, by comparison, stuffed. We now know, in their own way, they were both doing a lot of it wrong. But back to Nissan. The second great moment was the Fairlady Roadster unveiled in 1961 (though not on sale until 1963). It was at least as good as the MGB and received a lot more development, becoming the quick and quite delightful 2000 Sports by 1967. In 1964 the Datsun Silvia coupe appeared. It was hand-built, fiendishly expensive (at $4390 in Australia, it was up with the Euro exotics) and the quickly sagging doors weren't suitable for anyone looking for closure. But it was by far the most stylish 'Italian coupe' to come out of Japan. Of more widespread relevance was the 1600 sedan of 1968. Half the price of the BMW that it was modelled on, and a lot more than half the car, it was tough, handsome, quick and fun. Cheap, too. With success came hubris - and a series of vastly inferior follow-ups - buy hey, let's stick to the positive script. The big triumph of the 1970s was the Z-car, which changed many people's ideas about Japanese industry. In its original and stylish 240Z form, it sounded the death-knell for most low-cost British and Continental European sports cars (and alas, the spectacular Torana GTR-X). OK, the 1980s weren't so flash. The Datsun name, and the considerable goodwill it still carried, had its oxygen cut from 1982 because executives wanted the car name to be the same as the corporate name. Makes you wonder why they didn't just change the corporate name to Datsun. Not long after the new handle was applied, George Fury - who had already bagged a couple of Australian Rally Championships for Datsun - set the fastest lap time for the old Mount Panorama circuit while qualifying the "Nissan" Bluebird for the 1984 Bathurst 1000 (his time was 2.13.850). He didn't win the race, so saved himself the toruble of being pelted by beer cans for the unpardonable crime of not driving a Holden or Ford. 'Lucky that'. The first new Datsuns will be back on sale in 2014, although only a cheap sister to Nissans, and initially only in Indonesia, India and Russia. Cheers!

Final result. So thanks again...

hehe... Back to thread... Justin, if you wish to contact Sensei Hans who organised the Japanese Swordsmanship Demonstration at the R34 GT-R 10th Anniv Cruise, his number is 9873.2727 E: [email protected] Pics of the Demo on NSW > Event Archives http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/260190-r34-10th-anniversary-charity-cruise-n-show-n-shine/ Somewhere around Page 17 - I think Anyway, PM me if you want me to approach him with you

FYI Juz Re Japanese Swordsmen

At least it's more easy to reverse the process should you... * get tired of it * wish to sell it * damage a section and need to match it * want to drive on a moonless night with your lights off

Yup

* R34 GT-R V-Spec II I count 4 of them around Aust F/S atm. Interesting!

A contact at Lincorp (P'matta Nissan) has one set of N1 stickers remaining. One of the pair sits next to the V-spec sticker on the offside rear quarter. The other fits exactly where the 'radio' panel is and it's larger. PM me if you have an N1 and wish to purchase.

If you are comparing prices between your friend in Japan supplying and shipping them to you from there Vs a second hand set from Australia, it might help if you gave us a ballpark figure so far; even if it's in Yen or US$. Have you tried sourcing them from up north at NAGTROC too? They may have salted roads up there, but at least these fenders are made of aluminium (although you might call it aluminum).

So both ADMs and JDMs don't have jacks? Does the space accommodate a standard size scissor jack since there's a brace? Do you simply buy one yourself from Supercheap or a wrecker? Or as a Plan B, buy one of those aerosol tyre repair cans? Surely not Plan C and wait for Roadside Assist?

I was dead serious > but now I Lol

Sigh... ...such a beautiful place! ...but oh so risky!

Someone nicked my Nissan spanners > why do they do that? lol

That's good - in fact, that's great!

Yup, paid mine yesterday. > Marcus replied within hours. Paid Kudos too for the gaskets (+ other things) > They replied straight away > Superb

...and therefore you owe me feedback! hehe... (about how to profit from working on trains)

Can you look on your Insurance Terms and Conditions to check if the car needs to be secured in a garage or equivalent? Not sure if there's a restriction against parking where you parked it > PM'd Now; I can express my sorrow about your loss...

Hmmm... Ta > figures ...seems to be more trouble than what it's worth

Butch Cassidy/Sundance Kid

Can I assume that if polish, even mild, were used on the wrap or paint it could smooth out the texture and thus, leave a patchy look?

Garry Sandher at Top Secret Imports had his R34 done. Ask him if he got a special price.

Just an alternative if you're after an auto fwd. Maximas also depreciate badly. My 85 yr old Mum decided she needed to downsize. Her 1997 GXE only has 70,000km on it and couldn't sell it for more than $5K > gave it away to my nephew. It has a good engine. She was also looking at Magnas at the time. One thing you may not know ( out of interest ) is that in the mid 90s, Nissan brought in just a few manual versions too.

Look and check both; and drive both. Ensure that the recent import is able to be (or has already been) complianced, otherwise it's just going to be a track car.

That's great Colin! On one occasion when a quote was given to supply & instal, they needed an extra part that they'd run out of. They went into Blacktown to procure the part but insisted on not charging me any extra. They even apologised for taking up extra time. Good old fashion service at Carbon Car Systems & Daniel Gardener. Chris Rogers in Brisbane has the same service approach.