Carl Beck

Someone has/had this - either on this sight - or on E-Bay. From the Canadan Sales Brochure.. FWIW, Carl B.

Interesting perspective. It is the fault of the customer that something intended to be used for sport or fun happened to require maintenance uncommon to the automotive market in which they lived. Instead of damming the darkness of automotive abuse in America, the Japanese light a candle. They design and built cars that could not only survive the ugly Americans mistreatment, they thrived on it. For Nissan's part, when they realized that their domestic models were not up to the riggers of life in the fast lane here in the U.S.A - they didn't keep sending the same failures. They redesigned and upgraded their products based on their target customers requirements. It's all sour grapes for the British and Italians of the day. The DATSUN line of small cars, pick-up's and sports cars evolved as necessary to survive in this market - the result was a line of vehicles delivered to their customers in America that took everything their American owners threw at them, and which are still on the roads in great numbers today - taking even more. The word reliability is a watch word for the Datsun 240-Z, and it's a joke for British and Italian Sports Cars. There is a sound reason for that situation, and it isn't to found with stupid owners. With enough care and coddling it is possible to keep a Yugo or Vega running, but why bother!! FWIW, Carl B.

If anyone would like a 79 280ZX 2+2 with 6K miles... let me know - $20K for an all Black Beauty. FWIW, Carl B.

The "B" pillar is actually the frame for the quarter window = there really isn't a "b" pillar in the sense of the word as being a pillar of strength. Anyone that has lifted a striped body - has found out that the rear half of the shell is about three times as heavy as the front.. Suspended at that point in roof - they would have to have a brace running to the rear bumper mounting points - to hold the body level... FWIW, Carl B.

I don' know how many people here get Classic Motorsports Magazine... but there is an interesting report about America's "British Reliability Run" The event will take place in three States - Sept. 27-28. Each will be 800 miles long. Now here is the kicker.... "Rag Tops and Roadsters" is sponsoring the Pennsylvania trip, and they will also be providing roadside assistance in the form of a well stocked van, plus an empty enclosed trailer".... - The whole story fits this thread to a "T" doesn't it? Road-side assistance, well stocked van's and an enclosed trailer - - for an 800 mile trip!! The picture shows MGB, Triumph Spitfire and GT... we are not talking about early 50's cars here.... All this to "prove" the reliability of the British cars..... I guess it is a challenge to get one of these to actually run 800 miles without needed a trailer to haul it home... Just too funny... FWIW, Carl B.

Are you looking for a 69 or 70 production year Z to Vintage Race? Or are you looking for a driver that can be set up for weekend duty?

Oh.. didn't notice that... the seller should accept the high bid... lets hope he had the reserve at $10K...

Sold for $9982.00.... If it is as represented, someone made a reasonable purchase. Three years from now it will look like a very good deal indeed. FWIW, Carl B.

From the pictures and sellers description - - - it looks like a pretty nice Series I 240Z. If he bought the car in California in 1992 - needing a head gasket replaced - he more than likely paid $1,200.00 or less at 57K miles. Very low engine serial number for that VIN range. This would have the 6 rather than 8 counterweighted crank. (AIR it was 6 vs 8).. Euro Spec. Springs - notice how high the car is sitting. Is it clean enough to be a rarity? - - No. But it is getting rare to see basically stock, basically original cars offered for sale in this condition. They used to be plentiful on the West Coast, but as the current price reflects - they are no longer plentiful. I would not call this car "ideal" for restoration - - If you were going to do a full restoration you wouldn't need a car in this good a condition - because your going to strip the car down to nothing anyway.. On the other hand, if you can afford to pay an extra $5K for a car to start a restoration - why not? This would most likely be fun to work on.. This would be a "very nice" car to have as the basis for a refresh or restoration.... IF - IF - IF If one was looking for a 240-Z that they could drive and enjoy as is - with the thought of some day doing a very nice "refresh" or even a full restoration - anything under $10K today for a car like this is a very reasonable price. (if the car is actually as good as the pictures and the the sellers tells us etc.etc.). Big PLUS for East Coast buyers - is the fact that its in MI rather than out on the West Coast... Fly in and drive it home from there. On the Great Lakes - one might be able to load it on a ship at one of the Ports - for Europe or GB delivery as well. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Thomas: What price range are you considering? That will tell us a lot about potential pitfalls to discuss. If you are thinking of a $5K USD project car - that's one thing. If you are thinking of a very nice driver for $15K to $18K that's another. Do you have any idea what customs regulations and/or shipping charges would be involved? FWIW Carl B.

Hi Julio: That Z is going to look fantastic!! Take your time putting it back together, and enjoy every minute of it. Don't rush to meet some arbitrary deadline.... give yourself whatever time it takes to do everything right the first time and enjoy the time you spend completing it. Once its done - its done, then the only thing you can do is polish it, or drive it... Kind of like having a cigarette after sex, enjoyable - but not nearly as much as all the previous activity. FWIW, Carl B.

Oops... my bad... left the "a" out. From your following Post - I am lead to suspect that you do not understand the difference between the "Krause Old Cars Weekly News and Market Place" and the "Krause Old Cars Price Guide". If you re-read my previous post - you will see that I specified "Old Cars Price Guide". I'm also left wondering if you subscribe to Krause "Old Cars Weekly News and Market Place" why you bother quoting numbers from ""Collector Car Market Review" in the first place. I have included a scan of the page out of the "Old Cars Price Guide" that provides the definitions(see below). As you can see, I have used the exact words as published (any typo's excepted). Your confusion is caused by using the wrong reference. I can't do much about that, except to suggest that you re-read my previous Post, where I specified "Old Cars Price Guide". I believe I understand the grammar and punctuation, but I'm afraid the misunderstanding in this case is due to the fact that you seem to be looking at, and quoting, the wrong publication. Wrong in the sense that it is not the reference I used. I do agree that you will find modified cars in the market - I tried to make it clear however, that the Condition Ratings I use, were as published in the "Old Cars Value Guide" - and that they applied to stock, original and/or restored examples. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Bob: According to Nissan - the 72 Model Year Datsun 240Z's for North America started production 09/71 with VIN HLS30 46000. However we have found 72 Model Year cars with build dates 09/71 and VINs as low as HLS30 43496. Your Z most likely did not have the red Seat Belt Warning light on the center console, nor automatic retracting seat belts, nor the pockets behind the seats for the auto retractors. The vertical defroster lines stayed until 01/72... Glad to hear your refreshing your Z... now you have to get it done for the convention in Cleveland.. FWIW, Carl B.

Hummm that was quite a trick - British Leyland wasn't formed until 1968.(BMH and LMC were merged to form BLMC) I'm no expert but "As I recall" - The basic design of the Continental Z-120, push rod, OHV 4 cylinder goes back to around 1946 and was used in several different cars {Standard, Triumph, Morgan} as well as the Ferguson tractors. Others here may know more about this engine - but it had an amazingly long life cycle. FWIW, Carl B.

500 in total... The first 50 are autographed by both Mr. Brock and Mr. Morton at $89.00 and the second 450 are $49.95. As I understand it - they are photographic prints as opposed to 4 color off-set printing. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi bigoak: Very long story made as short as possible I had purchased the lot behind my home, with the intention of building my dream garage. At the time of purchase we were in "the county" with Residential Zoning... By the time I was ready to start building, our neighborhood had been 'annexed" into the City that had grown to surround us.... The City Zoning Regulations were pretty vague as to the size of one's garage so I thought I had it made - - - but as the people involved at the City Zoning interpreted the Reg.'s - I was out of luck.{They saw it as a possible "commercial" building} 26th Z then sent me a set of plans - - that most likely would have passed muster.. with the entire ground floor as a garage (wash out area for hurricane/floods etc - so it didn't really count as garage space)... Sure enough - Florida was hit that year, and the entire Gulf Coast the following years, with hurricanes!!! That sucked all available building supplies out of this area - plus it put all builders/contractors into overtime rebuilding or restoring hurricane damage - which in turn sent the price of my "dream garage" skyrocketing from the $150K range to well over $275K.... I'm crazy but I'm not stupid... and I do have a wife... So there went the dream garage.... I still have the lot - - -and prices are starting to come down again in this area.... hope springs eternal! I designed, redesigned and redesigned my dream garage... now if prices will come down just a little more... I might have a go at it again!! FWIW, Carl B.

Is that the Silver Z that was just sold and delivered to Texas, as discussed in another recent thread? Or is it Ken Lewis's Z?

I have a 1924 MS-60, $20.00 Saint Gaudens Gold Coin - I "can" spend it...I'm sure any merchant would accept it as legal tender - - but I choose not to. A #1 car "can" be driven, sometimes they are driven from the trailer to the show area and back to the trailers. I have heard of people that buy and then drive #1 cars - but if they do, the car usually doesn't stay in #1 condtion for long. What the heck, if you want an "as new" Datsun 240-Z to drive and enjoy... $35K in todays money really isn't all that much. Buy a new 350Z and drive it for three years and see how much it's worth at the end... it would most likely cost you less to drive the 240-Z. FWIW, Carl B.

Mine has the dealer installed A/C - and it actually works pretty well. Nothing like any modern car with A/C - but for its time, it wasn't too bad. Most likely passible for NJ. I've seen L28's installed... so with enough time and money... yes, an RB26DETT could fit. A friend of mine is just finishing up a V8 conversion in a 2dr. I've kept mine "stock" so far - but I wonder what type of mileage I could get with a modern engine and matching gearing. The wagon is less than 2,000lbs... A KA24DE would most likely give 175HP and 28+ mpg in town if tuned for mileage... It would be an interesting project for Nissan Sport... Garages - Always make sure that the people that work in your local Zoning Dept. read and understand the Zoning Requlations in the same way you do.. before you start the design process... FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Chris: I don't use, nor do I recommend any "basic standard for evaluation". Doing so would simply lead to confusion, such as using modified cars as examples of #1 Condition Classics. The Condition Category definitions I use, and which I usually try to make clear - are from Kruse's "Old Cars Price Guide". Over the 40+ years I've been buying, selling, restoring Classic, Collectible and Special Interest automobiles - the most commonly used definitions of vehicle condition among Classic Car Collectors that I have seen, is that published by Kruse. See: http://zhome.com/Buying/OldCarsPriceGuide.htm Kruse uses the word "restored" as it is defined in any dictionary, they farther define the #1 & #2 Condition Categories as including "perfect or excellent original". Both "restored" and "perfect or excellent original" indicate that the standard is "as new" - - not as modified... Modified Cars - would not be covered by Kruse's condition definitions nor covered in their value guide. I do not know what value guide one would use for modified cars. By "in the magazine" I take it you mean the "Collector Car Market Review" magazine you referenced. If that is the case - I would suggest that you read their definitions that apply to their Condition Guidelines. Again we see "Perfect Original" and "well restored"... - - - - - -- Quote - -- Collector Car Market Review Condition Guidelines These are condition guidelines to help assess a vehicle's condition. Keep in mind that there are many factors that affect value. For example, a "barn find" may on the surface look like a #4 or #5 vehicle, but it's time capsule quality means it is worth more than it's condition would usually warrant. #1 Excellent: A close to perfect original or a very well restored vehicle. Generally a body-off restoration, but a well done body-on restoration that has been fully detailed may qualify. The vehicle is stunning to look at and any flaws are trivial and not readily apparent. Everything works as new. All equipment is original, NOS, or excellent quality reproductions. (See show car description in How to Use section.) #2 Very Good: An extremely presentable vehicle showing minimal wear, or a well restored vehicle. Runs and drives smooth and tight. Needs no mechanical or cosmetic work. All areas (chassis not required) have been fully detailed. Beautiful to look at but clearly below a #1 vehicle. #3 Good: Presentable inside and out with some signs of wear. Not detailed but very clean. Body should be straight and solid with no apparent rust and absolutely no rust-through anywhere. Shiny, attractive paint but may have evidence of minor fading or checking or other imperfections. Runs and drives well. May need some minor mechanical or cosmetic work but is fully usable and enjoyable as is. #4 Fair: runs and drives OK but needs work throughout the vehicle. Body shows signs of wear or previous restoration work. Any rust should be minimal and not in any structural areas. Cosmetics, body, and mechanics all need work to some degree. #5 Poor: In need of complete restoration, but is complete and not a rust bucket beyond repair. May or may not run. Not roadworthy. Parts or Salvage: Incomplete vehicle most useful for parts. Generally, take 50-60% of the #5 value. - - - - - -- END Quote - -- The Franklin Mint car very well could be a #1 car - likewise the Yellow Vintage Z ... however modified cars would not be within the category as defined. FWIW, Carl B.

Apples to apples - new to as new. $3,850.00 in 1971 x 445.67 = 17,158.30 today - so 2x is $34,316.60. Yep - new vs as new the value of a 71 240-Z has doubled even when keeping up with inflation. If you have used your Z - and today find that it is only worth $5K, then it has actually cost you $29,316.60 to use it for 37 years. That's $792.34 per year for inflation adjusted depreciation related use. Talk about Economy, Value WOW !! Playing with the numbers for a 240-Z can really make one feel good!! FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Mike: Humm..... that's a tough call. It would depend on who was judging it, where it was being judged and what the exact judging criteria were. As I said above, it would most certainly lose some points for minor imperfections - but could gain some for originality if the judging criteria allowed.. To the best of my knowledge no parts were re-plated, and the pictures do not do it justice - you really have to see this car in person. The plating has dulled a bit with use/age.. but everything is still amazingly good for its age. I know this car, I knew the original owner and I know the owner now - - if the Black Pearl is a #1 car, and a #2 car is only a few points off that - then IMHO this one is a #2 condition car if points are added for originality. Others would be equally justified in giving it a high end #3 rating if points for originality are not awarded. We have had discussions in the past related to the relative value of a truly "original" car vs one that has been properly "restored". This is a beautifully cared for "original" car.. and it should sell for $30K or something close to that. It will have to sell to someone that places a higher value on "original"... than on perfect... FWIW, Carl B.

see if this helps http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/tech/ThomasMSD.htm FWIW, Carl B.

Hi bamboo Not too many Zap Yellow Z's left running around. Good to see one in great shape. It's about time to run in around America again. Your close to the National Z Car Convention in Cleveland this year too. regards, Carl B.

My best buddy likes the Station Wagon the best. Lots of cargo area, and you can camp out with it at Sebring. The 510's are just "fun" to drive.. FWIW, Carl B.