Z OWNERS GET TOGETHER
Datsun car registry finds new life
Will Mann is excited about showing his car at this weekend’s Luxury and Supercar Weekend. He was just 21 when he went against his father’s wishes and ordered a 1971 Datsun 240Z. The $4,200 price tag at Langley Datsun was double what a new Datsun 510 cost.
But he wanted the peppy silver sports car with the black interior and four-speed transmission. The 240Z was delivered within days in the spring of 1971 because the car he wanted had been ordered by someone else who decided against it. It was Will’s daily driver until rust took its toll.
After years of storage, the retired Telus employee embarked on a rotisserie restoration to make the car new again. He did all the work himself, including welding and painting to return the car he has owned for more than 46 years to new condition.
Another original owner who will show his car in a Datsun Z lineup on the grass at VanDusen Botanical Garden is Brian Peters with the 1974 Datsun 260Z he had completely restored after driving it for 25 years. With money earned in the mines up north, Peters bought his dream car new from Hugh Rider Motors in July 1974 for $6,200.
“It brings back a lot of memories for people at shows. It takes people down memory lane,” the retired commercial banker says.
The two cars will be displayed in the Datsun 240/260/280 class at the Canadian Concours d’Elegance section of the Luxury & Supercar Weekend show that starts tomorrow. The weekend show features gourmet food, fashion and drink along with some of the world’s finest automobiles.
In addition to new supercars and a trio of big-time luxury vehicle Canadian debuts, the classics on display will celebrate 100 years of Lincoln cars, the 50th anniversary of the Cougar, the Camaro, the Pontiac Firebird and Lotus sports cars, air-cooled Porsche sports cars, Volkswagen vans and buses, Cadillac cars of the ’50s, pre-1961 Corvettes, woody wagons, American muscle cars built in 1970 and the Datsun Z sports cars.
Possibly the most enthusiastic Datsun Z car exhibitor is Surrey supply chain leader Hardeep Chaggar, who will display his 1973 Datsun 240Z. He is an admitted Z-car fanatic. Originally from Kenya where Z cars have a huge following, Chaggar grew up in England around the cars his father specialized in at his repair shop.
A family friend bought a 2+2 Datsun Z and took young Hardeep for a ride.
“I fell in love with the shape and lines of that car with its almost 50-50 balance even though it is such a long car. The L series engine is just fantastic. I just love the sound and iconic shape. It’s something way ahead of its time.”
He has owned his canary yellow 1974 260 Z 2+2 for 18 years and brought it when he immigrated to Canada. Once in Canada, he bought a 240Z that he has updated with a Garrett turbocharger and four-barrel carburetor. He drove that car to California and back with no issues.
Last year, he paid $600 for a 280Z that had been stored in a carport for 20 years, replaced the frame rails, got it running and drove it to Mexico and back with a fellow Z enthusiast. A new purchase is a rust-free 1971 240Z trailered back from Arizona for restoration.
Chaggar’s enthusiasm has led to the revival of the B.C. Z Registry, which had been stalled for years. There are now 25 members with 250 enthusiasts participating in the Facebook forum. Hardeep Chaggar is president of the club.
“I love the ability to bring people together to find common ground,” he says. “The younger people don’t want concours cars. They want to soup them up and do different things with them. Older members have been very accepting of this.”
Club member Ian Tanner runs an auto repair shop in Coquitlam and helps members restore and maintain their cars.
He is among the members showing their cars at the Luxury & Supercar Weekend show Saturday and Sunday. Look for a green 1971 Datsun 240Z that is the next thing to perfect.