buying my first z

[zhead240]

for five months i've been searching ebay, collector car trader, zcar.com and some other sites for a 240z.i joined this great club to learn all i can about the car and get an idea the worth of different z.i've decided on a 72 or earlier model as original as possible.(prefferable a 72)being from canada 240z are very rare and all the ones i've been looking at are from out west.the shipping alone is about $2000 US,so i've been patient and trying to find one closer to home or within a days drive.i'm not mechanically inclined and not very handy when it comes to cars, so i want one thats already fixed up.just put gas in and drive, so i am willing to pay a little extra.well i finally found one(in toronto canada,who'd a thunk) for asking price of $9900 canadian.(thats about $7300US)the guy says he got it from san diego 2 years ago,its in mint,no rust,all original(even the dash is orig and no cracks)has all kinds of records and documentation on the car and it runs like the day it was new.i would appreciate any advice on how to inspect and what to look for when buying a z. i know the usual rust problems from listening to this site. (hatch sill, under battery, rockers,behind wheel wells) would it be rude to remove the carpet sill plate to lift the carpet and inspect the floor? also would it be alright to use a fridge magnet to check for bondo? i don't want to insult the guy. would undercoating be a factor not to buy(unless it was done when new)no air ,(sure would love to have it) or not a problem to get later, or wait for a car that has air.also he put headlite lens covers and scewed them on.(holes) this will be my first z and i want everything to go smoothly with no surprises.one last thing, the car is white which is one color i don't like(wife has a white mustang and its always dirty)but i can't be choosey since i'm in canada, but the guy also has a 72/240 being restored (it'll take 6 months) and it's orange which is a color that has grown on me.decisions,decisions what should i do? thanks for the advice in advance. hoping to be on z heaven highway soon ,thankyou very much - zhead240

[lordbiotree]

Say your post yesterday, was unable to replay at the time.

Sounds like you've done your studying. Not much we can tell you. Since your not very mechanically inclined you might want a fellow Canadian ClazzicZcar club member to help check out the mechanics. You not only need a mechanic, you need a Z car mechanic if you can find one.

If your unable to fine a Mechanic, listen to the car. Anything that sounds different/weriod to you note it. Note When how at what speeds you are noticing this ect. Then post it to the club.

I have a Z with head light covers. Yes, they requires drilling but they look SO GOOD.

As long as you've got full documentation. Cant find any rust any where you should be fine. Make sure you feel the paint to see if rust isn't forming underneath. Look for rust on the hood, door area, around the wheels. On the latch of the back hatch (Tailgate), Around the battery. That sounds about it.

I hope your happy with your purchase.

-Brandon

[MikeW]

Originally posted by zhead240

well i finally found one(in toronto canada,who'd a thunk) for asking price of $9900 canadian.(thats about $7300US)the guy says he got it from san diego 2 years ago,its in mint,no rust,all original(even the dash is orig and no cracks)has all kinds of records and documentation on the car and it runs like the day it was new.i would appreciate any advice on how to inspect and what to look for when buying a z.

I would have to say that the best advice to offer to someone looking at a 240Z is to get someone else to look at it instead. It's quite acceptable to get a used car inspected before the purchase and with an old Datsun this is especially true. It's easy to fall in love with the car while overlooking the flaws. Rust is obviously the biggest concern and it has a way of hiding.

It just so happens that there is a business in your area that specializes in these cars. If they don't specifically do inspections they can probably point you to someone who can. They're well known for their floorpan replacements. The owner is Charlie Osborne.

http://www.datsunzparts.com/start.htm

[Marty Rogan]

Go here: http://zhome.com/

There is a nice write-up on what to look for.

As far as him being insulted,...that is a fairly steep price to pay for a 240Z. It should be damn near perfect for that kind of money. Take the magnet and use it. Pull up the carpets and look at the floorboards inside and out. Look at the spare tire well and under the hatch ledge, along with the other spots you already mentioned.

Have Charlie Osborn check it out if you can. If he doesn't do that kind of thing, take it to a Nissan Dealer for a check. Have a compression test done on the engine and tell us the results.

If there is another club member in your area, maybe they will go along with you.

There still are alot of 240's out there for sale. Wait for a good one, you won't regret it. You have done some homework, so that is good. You will have a good idea what one is actually worth.

Don't be afraid to travel for a good one .... after you have someone close by check it out for you. Last year I bought one in NC and drove it back to Chicago (700+ miles). It was a blast!!! The last one I bought, I few to Cleveland for it and drove it home.

Good luck on your quest. The looking is part of the fun!

Marty

[zhead240]

well, went and looked at the 240 by myself. i called before i drove up and asked if it had a sunroof or was undercoated and he said no to both (good). got there and inspected the car. it was in very good condition, i felt the pass side floor pan and the felt insulation was damp,on the driver side it was wet but the floor pans were in good shape(only surface rust and no too bad). engine bay was clean and body color(looked orig paint) but the rest of the car was undercoated, but not recent.(he lied) the interior was very good(no cracks in dash but some plastic cracks in panels) he said all guages worked even clock but it said 6 oclock when it was 10;30 am.(another lie) . lites and signals worked but wipers didn't( he said he turned the wipers off because he didn't drive it in the rain( this didn't make sense to me any ways you need it to pass a safety,which he already had?????hatch sill looked repaired and painted, hood didn't have z emblem? and front edge looked wavey(something just didn't look right) front valence had screw holes (possibly had an air dam removed)this info was not volenteered. also he was going to replace the pass frame rail because it was punky and he was doing both sides even though the other side was o k.when i asked to go for a spin he said not until i made an offer to show i was serious.i told him i just drove over 200 miles though rush hour traffic and i wasn't an 18 year old kid taken it out for a joy ride! i'm 50 year young.(what did he think ,i go around hassleing people who sell cars as a pass time, besides how can a make an offer without test driving it.) he relented and he jumps in the driver seat (i guess i get the pass seat) and we go around the block never geting over 45 mph.( i guess puting it up on a hoist is out of the question).he's asking $9990 so ifigure go low ( you can always go up from there) and offer $7500.he gets hufffy and says he'll give it to his boy before he sell for that price.(not even a counter offer, which i was expecting)one other thing, the rockers looked fabricated because the curve didn't match the quarter panels.he says he doesn't need the money and he can wait 2 years and get $12000 for it because the 240z values are on the rise.(very optimistic i think, why not wait 5 years and get $20000 if thats what he thinks)needless to say i left without the car and told him i'd think about it and call later(when it's worth $2000LOL )

[Sean240Z]

ZHead240 - Where in Ontario do you live?

If your near Kingston, Ontario check out the Thousand Island Z Car Club @ http://www.tizcc.ca/.

If you're in the Toronto area you could try the following http://www.ontariozcar.com/.

I grew up in Cambridge, Ontario and bought my 1973 240Z out of the Auto Trader in 1991 from a guy in Kitchener (Texas and CA car).

Good Luck with the search!

[Marty Rogan]

Zhead,

You did the right thing passing on that car. Too many things just don't add up.

I have a kind of rule of thumb that I go bywhen looking at cars. If I don't like the owner, I will usually pass on the car. If the guy is a class A jerk like this guy, he is probably lieing through his teeth and/or has abused the car too.

Check out http://www.collectorcartraderonline.com/ There are 48 240Z's for sale there right now. Also keep an eye out on ZCar.com and websites from Z Car clubs.

It will probably way cheeper for you in the end to travel for a rust free nice car. You can get some pretty cheap air fair or better yet free if you have frequent flyer miles. Paying a fair price for a car that has already been refreshed is cheaper than buying a fixer-upper and paying to fix it.

Good luck on the hunt!

Marty

[zhead240]

hi marty. i live right on lake erie between windsor and london ontario canada. i check out the sites you mentioned almost every day.i lost my wallet 6 months ago and still haven't got my birth certificate so i'm land locked in canada till i get it.i've seen a few z in illinois on ebay, maybe if i see any more and the're close by you can help me out. i'm just looking for a quality driver 72 or earlier. willing to pay extra for a nice one ( would really love to have working air but not a must). i've also checked out the 1000 island club site.it's a 8 or 9 hour drive.there is a zed meet in toronto motor sport park aug 7 &8. plan on going if i'm not working.i hear that pep boys will inspect a car for a nominal fee( $40 or $50 ) and give a report ,anyone done this before.it's cheeper than some companies that charge $300 to $400 U S.with pep boys u can inspect many cars and make a comparision, not so with the higher price.that way u get an idea or the shape of the car before u buy a plane ticket.

[Marty Rogan]

Zhead,

Sure, I wouldn't mind checking out a local Z. Many members have done it or offered to do it for me when I was looking. I would definitely suggest someone knowlegable with Z's check it out before I bought a plane ticket. Lacking that I had a Nissan dealer check outmy last one.

Marty