Carl Beck

Hi Jim: Price of that "kit"? Also more is shown in the picture than just the "kit" - yes/no? thanks, Carl

In Seattle it should sell for $5K to $6.5K. Compete repaint made worse by everything blacked out under the hood. Missing all emblems, wrong color seats. "Put it in the air and notice the immaculately clean undercarriage that was frame off restored before storage" - - -yea.. I'd like to see that! Most likely sprayed with undercoat to hid the rust.. If you want a nice 240Z - keep looking, this one is FAR from "mint". FWIW, Carl B.

I believe he had to stop - and give up the project. I could be wrong, but remember reading something from him to that effect.. Anyone know for sure? Carl B.

Hi jmorrison146: If I had that 240Z - I'd keep it stock. In simple terms, it will cost you less to keep it that way - and it will be easier to resell, as well as return a higher amount - if you ever have to sell it. You never know what will happen next week - let alone next year. All of us have seen fellow enthusiasts fall on hard times - and have to "give away" their Z's. When things start to go bad in life - the first thing to GO when you need to raise funds quickly - is a Classic / Sports Car you don't need. So if you must sell it quickly and need the most money back out of it- keep it stock. I have a nearly "stock" 72. I use it mostly for road trips and pleasure drives - I did add a 5spd. to keep the noise in the cabin down at highway speeds {70 to 85mph}. I also added a front BRE style Spook..I also have mag's..{but kept the original steel wheels and hub caps} All in all it is a pure pleasue to drive.. and fun to enjoy at local Cars&Coffee mets etc. About Production Numbers: The whole idea that 240Z's will never be worth anything because they made too many - is in my opinion simply silly. While Nissan may have produced 160,000 240Z's in four years of production. Ford sold 190,727 Mustangs in 1970 alone. Chevy sold 124,901 Camaros in 1970 alone. For 1967 Ford sold 472,121 Mustangs. Still think a lot of 240Z's were produced? Still see many of any of those cars still running around? In four years 1964 though 1967 Pontiac produced 286,470 GTO's... does anyone say that they made far to many of them to ever with worth anything? With the recent rise in collector interest in all Japanese cars - I believe the Datsun 240Z's are just starting to come into their own in the Collector Market. Good solid stock/original cars will gain value over the next few years. If you can afford it and want to Mod's a Z - buy one that already has had $5K to $10K spent on it - you'll be able to buy them for less than half what the owner put into them. {that should tell you something as well}. FWIW, Carl B.

Agreed - the VIN says Series I - build date should be 10/70. Series I VIN's run up through 20xxx. If the front of the car {engine compartment} and the floorboard did have #113 as the original paint - then someone grafted the front of a newer car to the rear of another. Does the car have a rebuilt title? Can you read the VIN stamped into the Firewall? Is the original data tag on the drivers door jam?

Great - Thanks Sean, I appreciate that. Carl

Good - 260Z manuals are pretty rare, since they only made them for a year.. Good luck with the project.. Carl

There is one well used on EBay for $50.00 plus S&H Seems to be missing its original cover - and is in a binder... Carl B.

You wouldn't happen to recall what the width of the seat tracks, on the Honda seat - would you? That is, the outside of the Left track to the outside of the Right track. thanks, Carl B.

Nice - I haven't seen too many of them here. I did like the size/styling of the last MKZ's. Do you know how much the car weighs? Carl B.

Hi Jerry: I don't think I've ever bought one... That might be a pretty rare part to find in NOS condition. But - I'll keep an eye out for you... Carl

Bart: Agreed - the seats look odd. But you could reupholster them, and get the proper door panels. You could put the "snaps" on that new carpet set as well. Nothing that $1500.00 wouldn't correct. I'd go with a FULL Dash Cap as well... never liked the half caps.. I don't like seeing the strut mounting studs/nuts painted.. It is just so easy to remove the nuts and mask of the studs. The paint under the hood seems too dull as well. Then too you might as well take the tie-downs/tow hooks off and return them to black. That Blue fan would have to go - replaced with a newer plastic one.. just to be safe. The Tail Lights look great - but you'd have to refinish the tail light finisher... All picky cosmetic stuff - but added all together it will hurt the value somewhat.. FWIW, Carl B.

Chris - now you'll have a reason to visit ZMeca more often. My advice was to take a large truck and long enclosed trailer. You don't want to leave anything behind. The rotisserie came with the car as I recall, when it was first advertised the car was still on it - you'll for sure want that as well. Get every nut, bolt, screw - believe me, they will all become important... FWIW, Carl B.

It would only have "rebuilt" status if the car / title were totalled and marked SALVAGE. Otherwise - it would have 'recent restoration" done... Carl B.

Looks like Chris Karl from the ZCCA bought it - Chris lives in Cleveland, OH as I recall. That was such a screaming DEAL, I was amazed that it took so long for someone to grab it. FWIW, Carl B.

I have a Blue 72 and I have both BRE Front & Rear spoilers on it. Rock solid at speed.. Built L28/triples/cam/headwork etc. I tend to drive it faster than I should - for some reason. Freeway runs between Clearwater and Atlanta nights - typically made at 100 mph.{just to keep the trucks from running over me}. On that Z I like having the pair. I also have a White 72 - mostly bone stock - I find myself driving it at a much more relaxed pace. Typically 70-80 mph on the Freeways. I have only the Front BRE Spook and the car is very solid on the road. So from my personal experience - I'd say you would be perfectly happy with only the front Spook. FWIW, Carl B.

Here is a little larger copy of the Car & Driver Aero Article from 74 http://zhome.com/CarDriverAero/CDAero74.htm FWIW, Carl B.

Realy Great to see the history of your Z documented so well. My first 240Z was purchased from Paul in Spokane, March 14th 1970. HLS30 01777. I've been driving 240Z's ever since - and Paul and I are still friends to this day. Mark is a fantastic Driver! {must run in the family}. FWIW, Carl B.

Hi Jerry: It would be great if you could save that project - I'm sure you and your son could have it back on the road in short order... Plus it would be good to see Bill's mind put at ease, given his contributions to the Z Car Community over the decades.. At least you are close enough... Carl B.

Something like this: FWIW, Carl B.

Yes. Top money is paid by serious, fanatic, Collectors for top quality cars. When they see reproduction parts used - they walk away. If they see reproduction parts used - they wonder what else the builder did to save money - what other quality short cuts were made. Let's face it - if the car was built with no exense spared - why would there be any reprodution parts used? On a very nice "Enthusiasts Car" - reproduction parts are not so much an issue. FWIW, Carl B.

Yes - it is Official. Seems that Matt was pushed down to 4th Place - Perhaps the Officials felt that using the Pit Maneuver on the track was just a little too aggressive the second or third time. It wasn't just Greg being "bumped" out of the way that could account for such a penalty being deducted could it? Pretty stearn treatment given Madza is the Series Sponsor... Hats off to the SCCA Officals - Carl B.

Good points - and I couldn't agree more. I did not get the impression that John expected to be anywhere near as good as he was 40+ years ago. I can only speak for myself. I am tickled pink with the fact that John took the invitation to join in the Celebration of 50 Years of SCCA Championship Racing. I'm also very impressed that he, or anyone for matter - could enter a National Level Championship Race, jump in a car he had very few hours to get used to - - and compete with 36 other SCCA Championship Drivers. All of whom were driving cars they have spent at least the last entire season honing their skills in. I think it speaks volumes that at over 70 years old - John could finish in the top 1/3 of that group. Indeed there was only one other 240Z {260Z} driver that finished ahead of John. I was also very happy that John and the Z finished the race without any incidents. Hats Off to both Greg and John - for keeping the Dream Alive. FWIW, Carl B.

Scratch the "Preliminary Results". Looks like Greg Ira is the Official Winner of the E - Production Championship. It seems that Matt Reynolds bumped one too many racers, causing them to loose track positions - on his way to the front. Accidental bumps between cars are part of racing, but it seems that when it becomes a pattern looking like a "Pit Maneuver" - some of the Officials Take Note. Matt was thus pushed down to 4th Place. Official Results - E-Production Pos Car # Name Make Model Total Time 1 2 Greg Ira Nissan 260-Z 34:29.864 2 5 Aaron Downey Mazda RX-3 34:38.226 3 02 Chris Dryden BMW Z3 34:38.427 4 71 Matt Reynolds Mazda Miata 34:39.733 5 34 Jesse Prather Mazda MX-5 34:39.733 6 97 Kevin Leigh BMW Z3 34:55.158 7 41 Kenneth W Shreve Mazda RX-7 35:03.529 8 95 James Simaras Mazda RX-7 35:06.995 9 83 Sam Halkias Triumph TR6 35:28.454 10 48 John Morton Nissan 240-Z 35:35.447 11 54 Don Bunt Nissan Nissan 240-Z 35:53.892 12 20 Lance Loughman Nissan 240-Z 35:55.216 Jim - thanks for the pictures!! FWIW, Carl B.

E-Production Preliminary Results 1 71 Matt Reynolds Mazda Miata 34:29.691 2 2 Greg Ira Nissan 260-Z 34:29.864 3 5 Aaron Downey Mazda RX-3 34:38.226 4 02 Chris Dryden BMW Z3 34:38.427 5 34 Jesse Prather Mazda MX-5 34:39.733 6 97 Kevin Leigh BMW Z3 34:55.158 7 41 Kenneth W Shreve Mazda RX-7 35:03.529 8 95 James Simaras Mazda RX-7 35:06.995 9 83 Triumph TR6 35:28.454 10 48 John Morton Nissan 240-Z 35:35.447 11 54 Don Bunt Nissan 240-Z 35:53.892 12 20 Lance Loughman Nissan 240-Z 35:55.216 37 cars started - 28 finished the race. Greg put the 240Z on the Podium - with a very very close Second Place finish to the winner. FWIW, Carl B.