Bought a car

[SteveInOakland]

Have had a lot of help from this terrific board over the last 4 months or so. Now I've got a car. It becomes my second 240, the first being a 1972 (orange) that was with me till late in 1978. There was also a '76 280, mine 1981-88.

This new one -- it's a '73, and there are some more photos in my new member gallery. Unsurprisingly a '73 wasn't my first choice, but this was the best car that I found, and I do think it was a find.

I'm the third owner, the second having been a good guy who acquired it to settle a debt with a friend, had it five years, worked on it, virtually never drove it. He rebuilt the engine, put in round-tops, did lots of other good stuff, and as you will see, did not touch the body or interior. It has 136,000 miles on it and the engine is original. The car was originally bought in San Jose, driven home the 25 or so miles to Pleasanton, then went to the second fellow, 10 miles away in Livermore, and has now come the 40 or so miles to Oakland. (It came on a truck. It's driveable but hasn't been registered in 5 years.)

The car has lots of surface rust, but none of it is organic. There is no peeling or bubbling on the rocker panels or doglegs. All of which makes it unique among the non-restored cars that I looked at. It has spent its life in garages and carports in a fairly dry climate.

I'll be continuing to have a lot of questions -- thanks for recent answers on dealer part-stock. I remember Daland, down in Millbrae.

Any opinions on the following? I've got to do something with these seats, and I'm not in love with the original "beige" (off-white) upholstery. Would prefer to stay with the original seats, possibly using black or blue; the two colors the earlier blue-exterior 240s came in. OTOH I'm pretty tempted by some RX7 seats, first generation, that I can get for about 20% of what it'll cost me to re-do what I have (driver's side needs the stuffing too). Have seen a lot posts about RX7 seats but not sure any are about the first generation. The good news about these is that they do look like something from a long time ago; so not entirely out of place. Anybody done it? Got an opinion on looks? See second photo, here. And sorry for being longwinded.

Steve.

[montoya_fan01]

you'll sit higher in the RX7 seats from what I hear. talked to a guy at the MSA show that had them in a 240. He said that if he was any taller than 5' 10" that his head would be bouncing off the roof as he drove the car. No way he could wear a racing helmet in the car either.

[Fun_in_my_z]

Looks Good to me. What my friend Garth here is saying is he wont fit so you need to put them RX7's in so he wont still your car!

Check your rockers carefully. Just becouse its not bubbled dont mean it hasnt rusted. Could have some bondo in it. I doubt it she looks to good for that, but be carefull.

If you ever want to get rid of them hub caps let me know.

[SteveInOakland]

Thanks for the thoughts -- keep 'em coming!

The height thing does worry me with the RX7 seats -- I'm tall, also I like being low in the car, part of the feel of it.

Is it for sure the first-generation RX7 seats that were low?

Fun, I'll keep your hub caps question in mind. No bondo in the rockers. Course as you say, they could be commencing to rust from inside. But no sign of it as yet.

Steve

[montoya_fan01]

The height thing does worry me with the RX7 seats -- I'm tall, also I like being low in the car, part of the feel of it.

Is it for sure the first-generation RX7 seats that were low?

I'm fairly sure it was the 1st gen rx7 seats that make you sit "high" (not low).