ksechler

All: I have been casually looking for a first generation z. I probably don't need a new project but I want one. Anyway, I have the opportunity to look at what appears (in photos) to be a nice '76 280z. Can you give me some advice for where I should look? I do live in the rust belt so I want to make sure the car is not a cleverly concealed rust bucket. I'm thinking the battery box, floor pans, frame rails, inside the fenders, rear hatch lip, dog legs, and below the spare. What other trouble areas should I consider? Thanks in advance to all who reply.

If I go the ebay route I can't see it. I want to be able to crawl under it, push on the panels, lift up the carpet, take out the spare, and look for all those problems areas before I buy. Let's face it, as good as ebay may be it has bread another type of criminal.

If you know anyone with a clean 240z that they are willing to part with I'd rather have one of those. I'm on the east coase and most of the cars around here are rust-buckets.

I've found a 1976 280z in the area that is in very good shape. It appears to be free of rust and in excellent mechanical condition. Seller wants $7,900. I'd like some confirmation from the resident experts that the car is worth that much. I did an NADA search that seemed to agree with the price (assuming the car is truely in excellent condition). Thanks in advance for any assistance.

A guy just up the street has a non-running 240Z in his driveway. I pass him everyday in my NISMO. One of these days I might ask him if he'll sell it.

Anyone have $7,000 they don't need? What a POS. http://winchester.craigslist.org/cto/3086489005.html

Jockeying up to the first car also gives that many more cars an opportunity to run you over. I have been cycling for 22 years. I would NEVER touch someone's car and as far as jockeying goes that's like cutting in line. Bicycle or no you have to wait your turn. Real cyclists don't need to lean on cars, they trackstand.

Sorry, I realize that my post may have sounded insulting. I didn't mean it that way. It was a good natured chuckle not a mean one. Any purist is going to pay close attention to details as you did. Thanks for sharing the listing. When I get my nerve up for my next auto purchase things like that will be valuable.

"...except they used some non-galvanized screws to reattach the VIN plate" "I could accept non-rivets but rusty screws..." That's a nice car. If those four screws are all that's wrong with it after 30+ years I'd drive it.

I don't know what year the 300zx TT was but he said in the commentary that it was an 80's 300 which is not the TT. Either way, my father had a '91 TT and according to Road and Track it was good for 5.6s 0-60mph. I'm not sure what the older 350s would do, but my 2008 NISMO has a published 0-60 time of 5.1 or 5.2s depending on who you believe.