here is something that I find to be very messed up. Some people know and some do not but in Japan and many countries the car manufactiures such as Nissan have tons of power. With this power they influence the insurance companies and so forth. Well, in Japan for example people do not drive older cars, they buy new ones every few years usually no more than 5 years. The main reason is insurance is super high for older cars, the older a car the more the insurance costs. In my opionion this comes from the influence the manufactures have on the rest of the industry. The reason is they want the consumer to buy new cars reguarly. Well, this greatly affects rigs like the Patrol and is happening outside Japan.

I recently inquired to a New Zealand Nissan dealer for parts. I sent him a list of parts with numbers that show up as no longer available in the USA to see if I could get them over seas. On a side note, they won't sell them to me once they find out I am in the USA but I have that worked out with friends overseas. Now from my list he emailed me back with prices. These parts come up in the USA database with prices but are NLA when you try to buy them. Here is the list of parts with numbers and prices in NZD and USD...

13001-58000 camshaft $1200-00 = $715.00 USD
13021-58000 crank gear $240-00 = $135.00USD
13024-58001 cam gear $460-00 = $375.00USD
16420-85G00 spacer $16-00 = $10.00USD
26520-C4200 lamp combo $130-00 = $77.00USD
40579-44002 seal $90-00 = $54.00USD
16010-43301 carb $1200-00 = $715.00USD

Now these parts come back much more expensive then listed in the USA. This seems odd to me but does not change the fact that the price of Patrol parts is way jacked up beyond reasonable. $715 for a 1 barrel carb or camshaft is nearly twice what it is in the USA database. I feel this is going on because of the "buy a new car" thing the Japanese manufactures want us to follow. In the countries they can do it they jack up insurance to get people not to drive or keep older cars and in other countries they say the parts are not available or make them not afforable. Many people I talked to in Australia don't buy Nissan parts because the price is outrageous. This makes me very mad as they are trying to kill off the old classic Patrol. These Japanese car manufactures do not understand the USA market in my opinion. The classic Patrol will help them sell X-terra's, Pathfinders and if they would get it together and release the Patrol here it would greatly help them sell that truck.

Well, any ways...I just thought I would share this with the rest of you.
After more than a year of hassling and working with Nissan for Patrol parts I have nearly given up and am resorting to using parts from Columbia and other places as they are much cheaper plus it is all available.

64 L60 Patrol
*project in the works*

64 KL60 Patrol "Hogan"
-67 145 HP engine
-Koenig stock PTO winch
-7.50x16 Michelin XZL's
-Rancho 5000's

66 KL60 Patrol "Admiral Togo"
-40K original miles
-245-75R15 Cooper Discoverers on stock 15" split rims & caps

Planned obsolescence, my friend. It drives profitability. They make a lot more selling you a new truck than they do selling you a part for an old one.

Domestic manufacturers are just as bad. Go to your local Chevy dealer and try to buy parts for your old 283. You probably won't have any luck. It's just that in this country, there is enough aftermarket in OEM replacement parts to support older vehicles; the factory isn't doing it. Nor is Nissan - the difference is there is no aftermarket support for these older trucks.

I agree with your rant and went through many of the same issues finding parts for my old 240Z. Once you do find what you need, it's marked up so far beyond reasonable, it's not even funny.


1998 Frontier 4x4, 2002 Xterra 4x4, 1983 280ZXT, and a ratty old Sentra
Remember, Grow the Nissan Community and stand up for ORV user rights!
Card Carrying M.E.S.A Member (Modified Easterly SWANKy Associates)

Thats ridiculous!!!


"TSUNAMI"
1969 Nissan Patrol
Mods getting too numerous to list!
79,000 Original Miles!

I assume you are totaly right DR with "old" cars in general...it only makes sense. Yet, I am so involved with Patrols that I have dug deep and found lame stuff out. I never had an old car besides all my Patrols, the Pinz and a 70 Mustang fastback. Plenty available for the Pinz and the Mustang, not jack from Nissan for the Patrol. I guess it not so much a vent on Nissan as much as it is on the indusrty...I love cars, old and rare cars. Stupid me I guess...

I do feel slightly discriminated on by Nissan though being a USA Patrol owner. Mostly because I know for a fact things like rear wheel cylinders are availbe from them outside the USA. I suppose I best just get over it and live with it as I am not going to get into newer rigs. The best thing that has come from the last year of ordering parts from around the world, writing letters to Japan and to many emails to count has been this Columbian friend. The 60 series Patrol is the CJ Jeep down there. So every single part is available in OEM form. Yet, I had and still want to restore my 66 using exclusivly Nissan parts, new or NOS. All it has every had on it is Nissan parts...

IMHO opinion though car manufactures, especially Japanese, do not understand how their now classic cars can greatly promote their new vehicles. The Patrol would be great for promoting any Nissan 4x4 in that it is a 40 year old truck that is still very tough. Toyota understands this I think a bit with the FJ40. Land Rover definately does with the old Series trucks. If they all would just offer a small amount of every part a year, say everything for 100 vehicles worldwide then it would sell and not cost them to much. Also would be a bunch of nice vehicles such as Patrols showing how cool Datsun/Nissan is and has always been!

64 L60 Patrol
*project in the works*

64 KL60 Patrol "Hogan"
-67 145 HP engine
-Koenig stock PTO winch
-7.50x16 Michelin XZL's
-Rancho 5000's

66 KL60 Patrol "Admiral Togo"
-40K original miles
-245-75R15 Cooper Discoverers on stock 15" split rims & caps

I just like being different. It irks me to see myself coming and going at stoplights and such...

Its a conspiracy, I tell you! Its costly to be different. Cheaper to be like everybody else!


"TSUNAMI"
1969 Nissan Patrol
Mods getting too numerous to list!
79,000 Original Miles!