Opinions?

[mdbrandy]

Anybody want to levy an opinion on this car:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6187&item=2438471019

I'm looking for a third car for the family, since my oldest son is soon to be driving, and hey, I could buy another Z and let him drive the camry :classic: . Basically, this car is only 6 hours or so from me, and sounds interesting. I wouldn't have to feel bad about modding it since it is already far from stock... Its certainly not stock, but looks pretty cool. All opinions welcome...

[2ManyZs]

I was looking at that the other day...

Looks good, but I have to wonder about an owner that would drive around with only 3 lugs on each wheel, cuz he isn't smart enough to go to the local parts store and find the lugs. I've found those lug nuts at the little Advance store here in town for those wheels, so makes me wonder why he says he can't find them....

Might make you take a second look just to see what else might be half-arsed...unless the selling price is just too good to be true, in which case, it might not be a bad deal...

But, for a first car, and you know what things cost for a Z, and all the little things that can be wrong, you sure you don't want to just look at a late model 240sx? Plus, you'd have to figure in the insurance costs with a teenage, male driver....

Not that the insurance companies have ever discriminated against young male drivers....:tapemouth

[26th-Z]

The description is half arsed, 2Many! Dealer option leather? I think not!

The gas tank leaks because the vent hose is broken. I know where you can get lug nuts. Nice wheels BTW. Momo steering wheel. I have a dash cap for you, Mark. The body has already been hacked on - no telling what will happen in the future. I would say go for it under $2400. Give the Camry to your son and drive the crap out of the Z and sell it for parts.

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by 2ManyZs

Might make you take a second look just to see what else might be half-arsed...unless the selling price is just too good to be true, in which case, it might not be a bad deal...

But, for a first car, and you know what things cost for a Z, and all the little things that can be wrong, you sure you don't want to just look at a late model 240sx?

I noted the stupid leather-seat comment he made, and I've sent him a big list of questions. We'll see what he says. And in terms of first cars, it is going to still be my car. My parents didn't buy me my first car, and I'm not buying my kids cars either. I'll provide them one to use while they are still living at home, but all the vehicles will be mine, and they'll drive what I let them. So I'm not worried about him having to deal with the maintenance :classic:. And my insurance agent tells me that for liability only, the costs aren't any more for a Z than for a civic. For a $2500 car, I'd go with liability only anyway.

Anyway, I'm still investigating the car. We'll see what else is "half-arsed" as you well note .

[Daniel]

What is the "option leather hatch cover"?

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by Daniel

What is the "option leather hatch cover"?

In one of the pictures he has posted on the site linked to the auction, there is a piece of some material apparently stretched across the luggage area. In the pic with the hatch open, it appears to cover the luggage area under the hatch, but be attached to the hatch so that it raises along with it. Don't know why. To cover your suitcases perhaps?

[2ManyZs]

I was trying to be nice and not pic the car apart too bad like we sometimes do by only pointing the obvious point, which is the car seems like it may have a less than "perfect maintenance" type of owner....

The luggage tonneau we just had a long thread talking about that not to long ago.. actually, that's one of the better points of the car, however small it might be....

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=9282

I agree, the car probably needs a thorough inspection to see if it's a case of a not-so-good car with a fairly decent looking paint job to throw people off its faults. Although, with the fairly early VIN, it might be well worth saving if it's not too bad.

Oh, and those fenders.... ugh....

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by 2ManyZs

I was trying to be nice and not pic the car apart too bad like we sometimes do by only pointing the obvious point, which is the car seems like it may have a less than "perfect maintenance" type of owner....

The luggage tonneau we just had a long thread talking about that not to long ago.. actually, that's one of the better points of the car, however small it might be....

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=9282

I agree, the car probably needs a thorough inspection to see if it's a case of a not-so-good car with a fairly decent looking paint job to throw people off its faults. Although, with the fairly early VIN, it might be well worth saving if it's not too bad.

Oh, and those fenders.... ugh....

Pick away. That's why I posted. Hard to be objective here in the midwest, where you rarely see a Z anywhere. He hasn't answered my e-mail to him yet.

Thanks for the thread link on the cover - I remember the beginning of that thread, but I don't think I followed it through. Wouldn't have known what to call the thing to search for it.

Unfortunately, I will have to decide whether to gamble or not. Auction ends Friday, and there's no way I can get up there before that. There is a yellow '73 240 in Indianapolis on e-bay too, but after corresponding with the guy, he's had a channel welded over the frame rails, sheetmetal screwed over holes in the floor, etc. He thinks that since he's put $2000+ into it otherwise, he should get $2000+ back out of it. Fat chance.

[2ManyZs]

Well, it's really hard to be super critical with the pics he posted.

He's done a good job of not taking any pics of the areas I'd like to look at, that's for sure. Like down inside the engine compartment so we could see the frame rails and around the battery.

Other than what's already been posted, the only other things I can see by the pics is the seat covers are faded badly, and it looks like the carpet has been added over the trans tunnel. Can't tell how the door panels look and if there are any speaker holes cut in them or not.

Since he says the floors have been replaced, I'd really want to look them over good and see how well that was done.

It looks pretty good with him taking pics from 10 feet away..but it's up close that could make the difference. Even though it's an early Vin, and even if the price was under 2500, I'd want to see it up close before I'd put my money on it.

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by 2ManyZs

Well, it's really hard to be super critical with the pics he posted.

He's done a good job of not taking any pics of the areas I'd like to look at, that's for sure. Like down inside the engine compartment so we could see the frame rails and around the battery.

Yup, that's the kind of stuff I've asked him for. He actually has now responded with a little of the info. Near Battery tray:

[mdbrandy]

Firewall and a little of the rail on the drivers side:

[Bambikiller240]

From a California point of view, I say....... Uggh. IMO looks like Stage 2 cancer. Not fatal yet, but it needs to go under the knife for ANY chance of survival.

PS, I know this is "picky", but if the owner doen't know the difference between leather and vinyl, I have to wonder what else he doesn't know about the car, or is misleading about.

[2ManyZs]

Hmm, that area along the firewall seam looks like it could be more than surface rust, judging by the amount of rust on the brake and gas line.....:disappoin

Drivers side looks pretty good though...but there could be quite a bit hiding behind all that undercoating too...

I guess the biggest question is this, are you ready for another possible project?

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by 2ManyZs

I guess the biggest question is this, are you ready for another possible project?

Gotta be able to drive it. Any Z is a project, but it can't be one that takes it off the road for big chunks of time right now. I've asked him for more pics of the underside, frame, rockers, rear wheelwell, rear hatch shelf, etc. We'll see if he sends them. Thanks to you all - the reason I posted is to keep my head out of the Z clouds by getting opinions from other Z-sperts without any vested interest. If he sends me anything else, I'll post it. Without more info on the possible rust, I'll probably pass now...

If he sends me good pics, I'll have to agonize some more...

[26th-Z]

I think you guys are picking at the car with a different point of view. I DON'T think the VIN is low and I don't think the car is worth looking at in a restoration / valuable manner. I think it looks like a great daily driver for two to four years. I stick by my thought; if you can get it for under $2400, it's a great deal. Drive the crap out of it and parts it out.

[2ManyZs]

Well, the Vin is not as low as yours or many others, but it puts the production date to somewhere between 5/70 and 6/70, so being that, it's in the first 7-9 months or so of actual production.

I've usually considered a car with a VIN under 5000 that has survived to be a bit more of a rarity, since it wasn't long after these cars were produced that production levels increased to where they were putting them out the door like gang-busters.

My car is an 11/70 with a Vin of 14749, so in the 6 months after this car came off the line, they built 10,000 cars in the next 5 or 6 months, where they only built 5K in the first 8 or 9 months.

Finding cars with VINs under 1000 today is a rare find, especially considering these cars had the lightest chassis which made them even more prone to rust.

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by 2ManyZs

Well, the Vin is not as low as yours or many others, but it puts the production date to somewhere between 5/70 and 6/70,

He has posted a picture of the data plate. The production date is in 5/70.

[mdbrandy]

OK, a few more pics. Apparently when he said they replaced the floor frame with a channel, he meant a channel. looks like a 280Z frame now. This is apparently the rear end of the passenger floor and frame.

[mdbrandy]

And here's what they've done as it wraps up the back on the passenger side...

[mdbrandy]

A shot down the driver's side, apparently from back to front along the floor.

[mdbrandy]

And this is what he's got of the front of the passenger side framerail. Apparently the channel was welded into the front frame portion behind the T/C rod pocket.

So, more opinions! Keep me honest! 26th-Z has the right idea, that all I really want out of this car is to drive the heck out of it for a few years while I finish #215. But it has to last a few years without lots of structural work. I can whip out the MIG and retack some of the stuff that looks suspect, but there sure is a lot of "surface" rust showing in these pictures. 2ManyZ's question about whether I want another project is well taken too - I don't. At least not a big project. I have another 3 months before the kid can drive anyway, so I could work on it for that long and not have it hamper what I am really trying to get out of it.

Anyway, thanks.

[mdbrandy]

Oops. Forgot the picture...

[Smokey]

That rust is looking worse in every picture. I think as a daily driver (replacing the Camry) you will be Flinstoning your way to and from work in short order. Being able to tack weld suspect areas is great, but, you must have some solid metal to do that with.

My vote is plow on and look for something else.

[Bambikiller240]

Hi Mark:

I don't know how hard it is to find un-rusted, or less rusted Z's in your part of the country, but.............if all you are looking for is transportation and it doesn't HAVE to be Z, or if you have time to search and the possibility of another Z being found. I'd keep looking. In CA most folks would run from this one. JMO, naturally.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[240ZX]

I agree with Smokey regarding the Flintstone comment. Can you imagine accidentlly bumping into the curb and find yourself sitting on the pavement!