VIN conundrum
 

I just bought a 1974 Datsun 260Z according to the title. The VIN on my vehicle and my original title match exactly. The only problem, is from what I can tell, it is wrong. The vehicle itself has the thin front bumper of an early 74, but it has the blinker cutouts in the grill currently filled with fog lights the previous owner put in (of a late 74). It also has the L26.

Now, here is the part that has me kind of floored. Everywhere that I have checked, says that my VIN is of a 1970 240Z. Funny, eh? ANY help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

My VIN starts out HLS30. H signifies the 240Z, where a 260Z should start R.
My vehicle is the 036xxth vehicle produced, and according to what I've picked up over the years, a HLS30-036xx vehicle would have been produced in 1970. If it were to start with R, it would be correct.

Either it is something extremely simple, or something that will make life a real heck for me. Any information would really help me out.

check the vin on the firewall.

I did. All the VINs match.

go with what the vin tell you, remember these cars are almost 40 years old im sure someone changed something along the lin.

All 240Z-280Z start with HLS30. The only difference is the 2+2s which are GHLS30. Also I thought the early 260Zs got the original 240 bumper, but had the cosmetic updates like the blinkers in the grill and such.

yeah the early early 260's had the skinney bumpers and then had the updated junk.

early 260's are the 240 chassis, just different motor and exhaust (emmisions i believe) and carbs

did the early 260's still have the reverse light in the whole taillight assembly, or had they already switched to the separate reverse light like the later 260 and 280Z?

According to the Haynes manual, the 260Z's should start with RLS...does any style get the RLS?

What specifically tells you what year it is then?

The surest way I've ever known to check the year of an S30 was the tag on the driverside door jamb. If yours has been changed, then its a bit complicated. If it was truely a '70 240Z the differential should be a little more forward located than in the 71-78s. Then again, a good number of the early cars have had the diff relocated.

The Haynes shows me something crazy on the vin for my S130, and my vin on my car starts with JN1 or something of that sort, completely different from the Haynes, I've also come across a couple of instances now where the Haynes is off, but I thought all S30s started with HLS30 like I said my 280Z 2+2 is GHLS30 I don't know why Nissan would have included an R then suddenly changed it back to S30.

R
 

R = right hand?????

Apparently I'm wrong. I was looking through the S30 FSM. According to the FSM it shows HLS30 for the 240Z and the 280Z but apparently the 260Z was RLS30, but I wouldn't be surprised if a few 260Zs did make the HLS30 vins. I mean it seems odd that you'd have the 260 engine and the vin on the dash, firewall, etc would match.

Well, the dash is of a 240Z. I tried to check the wiring harness for a marker, but sadly, the previous owner apparently let his 3 year old learn how to solder on the harness, I cannot make heads or tails of it. As for the door plate....there is none. It appears to have some emissions items on it (as far as I can tell) an idle sensor on the motor (not connected) the water pipe between the intake and exhaust, and two hoses leading to the air cleaner. Of course, this is off of the motor, who knows if any is original. I did notice there is a number stamped on the side of the motor, as well as on the intake manifold, the number on the engine is N88 I believe, and on the intake, if I recall, it is a N46. (I'll check in the morning)

I think I might be 90% sure that the car is a real 1970 240Z that got severly hacked in the last 10 years. I bought what I thought was a whole car that was in desperate need of repair, and instead I got a jigsaw puzzle of a car. I found a 260Z in better condition, and this one will be used for parts most likely.

So on the terms of parts, what are the weakest points to a 74 1/2 260Z if you add power to them?

good time to start a new thread.

i could take the vin numbers off an abandoned z i found it to is a 1970 z and you could transplant the old plates to your car if you want pm me id interested

Found this on zhome.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1973 Series-IV Notable VIN Month Highlights
01 HLS30 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
02
03
04
05
06
RLS30 00020 07 260Z Production Starts at RLS30 00001
HLS30 172767
08 Last 73 240Z Built
172767 highest reported so far

Your Z is a '73 or '74

sounds just a tad illegal to me.

this..... this is kinda pointless... the title says its something so thats what it is no matter how many off make parts the PO used. numbers dont make a car!

besides not being legal, it won't work if you don't have the title to that abandoned Z. You need to be able to buy license tabs for it each year.

Wait a minute... so I can't just put a Ferrari VIN on my Vega??? You'd think the government would be cool with swapping VIN's. :075:

In some states (like North Dakota *cough*), you can get cars certified as clear titles from salvage titles just by having it inspected as road worthy by any local PD. From what I hear, you can also walk in with a bill of sale from a person and the car, and they can issue a title to you some how. I haven't tried it, or experienced it, but I have heard it is possible in North Dakota.

If what you say about the VIN is correct, and it is a 73 or 74, then it is quite plausible it is a 260Z, just one that someone let go to heck, and repaired with any Z part they could find. Then again, that car could just be a Ferrari in sheeps clothing :P

I have a parts car that has the vin tags still on it. It's RLS30-032385- build date 4-74. It's definitely a 260 all correct numbers.

i decided to check my 260 for you. its a 2-74 i believe.....


RLS30-026010

sooo... who wants to tell me what that all means? lol. seriously though. ive always wondered what number it was off the assembly line or w/e