mystery brown Z

i’ve been seeing a clean rootbeer brown Z on the streets around mariners the last few weeks, typically during lunch.

today, i need a sylvania 2721 bulb to replace the impossible to find holder that fits into the EDU on my 9000’s dash. o’riley had one!

i’d already had one great Z story in the parking lot, (see mariner blue miata story) so i had no idea that my brief interaction with the salesperson would lead to another.

you see, when i mentioned that this bulb was for a digital display on my 1986 saab, he mentioned that his car too had a digital display. a little more curious questioning and i found out that his car was a 1983 280ZX with a digital dash, 102,000 original miles and 5-speed of course. i reminisced about my 1987 300ZX Z31. he commented how he really liked the looks of the Z31. when i told him i had to sell it because it was an automatic, he completely understood.

this young man was obviously quite proud of his ride. he told me too that another employee (who had stepped out for a moment) also had a 280 Z… when i learned a bit more, i mentioned seeing a similar car behind UCI and that i worked at mariners. he lives over there and it quite likely was him that i saw. i told him i’d wave next time i saw him.

he popped the bulb out of the package, and i was able to firmly fit it into the holder. it was a perfect fit.

not only had i solved the dash light delima, i’d made 2 Z friend within a few minutes of each other. important and interesting to note, on opposite ends of the demographic spectrum. over 60 and under 25. all different nationalities. yet all 3 of us with a passion for driving and a love for the Z cars.

i’ve got to stop by this shopping center more often!