What do you guys think of this car?

[oskidunker1 0]

Its about 10 miles from me so I may go look at it just for fun.Not my favorite color and probably no A/C but it looks pretty good.Can anyone tell me if this is an original Datsun Paint?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/2634291689.html

[Arne 21]

The color looks similar to both 905 ('70-71 color) and 110 ('72-on). Don't know from pictures how well it matches the 110 that would have been correct for this year.

I can see several things on it that give me pause, but since I have my own car for sale now at a similar price level, I think I'll keep my mouth shut.

[Zedyone_kenobi 193]

Well it looks to be a rather clean little car, but we cannot see the floorboards or the under battery tray. You would need to drive it to see how the brakes feel and how it starts and warms up. If you go, make sure you are there to watch them start it. Feel the engine before they crank it. If it is warm then they started it earlier to ensure it would start well for you. It has some of the original fuel saving gizmos still on the balance tube. They may or may not work. If the body is solid and it runs, then 12k is not a bad price at all.

[Zedyone_kenobi 193]

OP, by Arne's car. I can promise you it is a more original and well cared for example!

[LeonV 77]

Looks like the color of my 260Z (110 Red). From the pictures, it looks like a close match. I love the color, maybe you'll like it better in person. It's a nice Z, especially interior wise, but I wouldn't trust the mileage claim unless it can be verified. You can find one in similar shape for less, especially if you're not too fond of the color. It all depends on what kind of Z you're looking for, prisine low-mileage or just a nice driver.

BTW, I'm in San Bruno as well!

[FastWoman 52]

I don't know how much a non-matching, non-original engine hurts the value of a 240 now, but it will surely hurt the value in the future. See if they have the original engine.

The common advice here is to buy the most car with the best body that you can afford. However, I'll give you some different advice. Ask yourself first why you want the car. If you want it as something to tinker on, then it might not give you that satisfaction. If you want it as something to drive around and enjoy, you might get too wrapped up in protecting it, afraid to park it anywhere for fear of getting a door ding. (And people can be mean, BTW. There are two dull dents in my roof, apparently from where someone pounded it with his fist.)

If you want a car that you can drive and enjoy, consider one that's not quite so perfect. This is been-there-done-that advice from someone who once owned an absolutely-too-perfect-to-have-fun-in-it '66 Mustang.

Of course if what you want is a pretty show car, and you don't like tinkering, this might be your ride.

Edited October 6, 2011 by FastWoman

[oskidunker1 0]

I had 112, Lime Green but those are almost imposible to find.Orange was my second choice.Being a Cal grad, a red car would be hard.

[LeonV 77]

The 110 Red is can be better described as persimmon. My 110 Red 260Z looks more orange than red, but it has been repainted. Like I said, check the car out in person if you have doubts on the color. Of course, a complete inspection is necessary to deem the car worthy of the asking price as well.

[steve91tt 1]

I'm confused about how many miles are on the car. They say the car has 22K, the rebuilt transmission has 45K and the rebuilt engine has 70k. I guess they used older rebuilt parts but it would be good to ask lots of questions.

[psdenno 670]

They lost me in the fist sentence of the ad when they stated "original looking Z". Wrong wheels, added side "bump" strip, interesting exhaust pipe, no bumper over riders, outside mirror.......

Might be a good deal, but there are probably better deals. 2¢

Dennis

[Oiluj 30]

I considered looking at this can myself, but decided I have enough on my plate at the moment...

If it's rust free and mechanically sound, the price is close to right. I wouldn't pay more than $10,500 for it, (arbitrary number). That's without finding any costly rust, mechanical or cosmetic problems. (Some small issues are to be expected at this price). It does seem to have a few cosmetic issues, and some missing & non-original parts.

I'll second that for just a bit more green, I would talk to Arne about his car. You know it's in good condition and has been well maintained.

I'm close by and would be happy to go look at it with you tomorrrow or Saturday to offer technical advice.

[olzed 0]

Door interior trim appears crumpled. Door weather seal rubber coming loose .

[Gary in NJ 2]

Just because the odo reads 22,500 doesn't mean that the car doesn't have 122,500 or any other interval of 100,000. I highly doubt that someone would pull the engine, transmission and have to repaint a vehicle with only 22,500 miles. If the seller is willing to lie about that, what else are they holding back.

Purchase Arne's car. The history of that 240 is well documented right here.

[Arne 21]

Its about 10 miles from me so I may go look at it just for fun.Not my favorite color and probably no A/C but it looks pretty good.Can anyone tell me if this is an original Datsun Paint?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/2634291689.html

I re-read the original post, and think I can add a couple of thoughts that are totally generic, not about any particular car.

A.) A/C is not at all common on 240Zs, and working A/C is quite rare. And even when working, the old A/C systems were not all that great. I'd figure that most won't have it at all. If you find one that does (and it works), consider it a plus. But don't eliminate a nice 240Z from consideration due to lack of A/C, because most will lack it.

B.) When looking for a ready-to-drive 240Z, overall condition trumps color every time. There aren't enough nice, non-rusted cars left to be picky about the color. I really wanted yellow (919, not Lime) or blue. I got 905 red. A nice 240Z is nice in any color. If you really want a particular color, you often have to restore the car yourself.

Edited October 6, 2011 by Arne

[30 Ounce 0]

Some of the engine specs don't jive: you cant punch a 260 block (same as a 240) to 2.9 liters. It's just not possible. The car sits too high in the back: wrong springs or strut tops? Rear window is wrong. Tons of little things need to be fixed and with the description of the engine I would be highly suspect.

Edited October 7, 2011 by 30 Ounce

[Decoy12 0]

I agree with 30 Ounce, way too high on the back! The exhaust is interesting as it has been mentioned before...

[Threehz 0]

The more opinions I hear about this car the more I wonder.. If you read the description it says that it was owned by a mechanic who worked on TONS of Z's, this car seems like it could very possibly have been put together with spare parts from any number of other Z's no?

[Arne 21]

MUST....BITE....TONGUE..... :tapemouth

I downloaded all the pictures to my laptop so that I could look at them a bit closer. (The downloaded versions aren't distorted in height/width, much easier to look at.) And at the risk of seeming biased and self-promoting, if that is a $12k 240Z, I need to raise the price on mine.

Edited October 7, 2011 by Arne

[Decoy12 0]

If I could afford a Z like that... I would rather buy Arne's. His we know his Z is built with the highest of quality because it is documented on his blog and the site and anything that might need work on, he has disclosed so that you are not buying it without knowing its full story. Plus his is an earlier Z if that makes a difference.