EBay Project ('F' Word) restoration car

[Go240Zags]

Someone is listing a car on eBay that is supposed to be one from the Nissan America restoration program -- you know the one with the "F" word. Anyway it was supposed to be in the program, before it ended and wasn't completed. Comes with lots of new parts. Might be worth a look to someone with the money for a partially completed project.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-1972-Datsun-240z-FACTORY-PROJECT-CAR-WOW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQitemZ4623876995QQrdZ1

[26th-Z]

Oh wonderful! I see this morning that his bid price is getting up there. Yesterday, it was half that.

This is HLS30-63767 prepared by Datsun Alley for the Vintage Z restoration program. It was not completed and never delivered to a Z-Store for sale. It comes with a letter signed by Pete Evanow, Nissan USA manager of the Z-Store program, to the Department of Motor Vehicles requesting transfer of title from Nissan USA as a non-running vehicle. The letter states that the car was intended for the Vintage Z program. The car has no Z-Store decals or console plaque. My understanding is that the car was sold by Datsun Alley in 2001 and later sold to the current seller. The seller tells me that little if any work has been done to the car since the original sale.

One of the peculiar things you may notice about the car is the yellow piping in the seat upholstery. Although I am not able to identify the car by serial number, the seats match those prepared for this Vintage Z photographed at Datsun Alley in 1997. There seems to be a lot of confusion about preparation spec for the Vintage Z program and this car provides an excellent example to further those conversations.

As you may know, most of the Vintage Zs were prepared by Pierre-Z in Hawthorn, California under the direction of Nissan USA - Bob Thomas, president and Pete Evanow, managing director. The original goal of 200 cars was never met; 38 cars are documented complete and sold through the Z-Stores of ten dealers throughout the U.S. This particular car represents the confusion of how many cars were restored. I have seen figures as high as 42 cars, however the most accurate current VIN record denotes 38. Three other restoration facilities were used including Datsun Alley. At the conclusion of the program in October 1998, many of the left-over parts and body shells were sold privately; the most visble being Datsun Alley. It is quite common to find remnants of the program.

There is evidence that some Vintage Zs were prepared "customized" to a specific owner's request. The most notable was the car sold to the editor of Autoweek magazine. The presence of the seats with yellow piping indicate such procedure. Obviously, these seats do not match the current car and were probably sold as either a spare set or they may be the seats orignally installed in the car below.

There has been quite a chatter on the e-mail about this car. I have talked with a couple of people who have seen the car. Opinions vary about why it was never completed and sold, but regardless, it IS what the seller claims it to be. Considering that the Vintage Zs are in a collectable class of their own, this car is a peculiarity of the group and in my opinion, properly completed or purposely left incomplete, worthy of inclusion.

Chris

[ncz]

How do you guys think they get the bolts, brackets, etc. under the car back to the "gold" or cadmium finish that came from the factory. That looks so good. Do you think it is replating or a paint finish, like the eastwood system that Kenny P used?

[Jackhammer]

Re-plated.... I had every bracket bolt, nut and washer on mine plated plus hood hinges and and the tension rods done after I media blasted everything for $125.00. It really gives it the edge. It is worth it... and then some.

[26th-Z]

The hardware is either new or re-plated. It is not a paint finish. For the restoration of my cars, all the hardware was cleaned, inspected, and sent out to be re-plated.

[TBK1]

:smoke: Got one of those steering wheels if anyone is interested

Might have the whole columnn, have to look

[er34gtt2000jp]

:smoke: Got one of those steering wheels if anyone is interested

Might have the whole columnn, have to look

Anybody else notice the incorect steering wheel for the year? If I am not mistaken that is an early series 1 wheel.

[hls30.com]

Chris,

I was hoping you would tag this thread, Thanks!

Will

[240ZX]

Maybe I'm just too used to looking at my Z car but, do you guys think this car is sitting a bit on the high side......looks like its a 4x4 240! Certainly would be a good buy. I would be asking alot of questions and actually look at the car in person. Maybe the guy thats selling it doesn't have much time to spend on it but, four years of reassembly time and its not completed.....hmmm! And what kind of skills and abilities does the seller have?

[240ZX]

Anybody else notice the incorect steering wheel for the year? If I am not mistaken that is an early series 1 wheel.

Did you also notice that the brake vacuum fitting location on the intake is also a 1970 or early 1971?

[ncz]

Yeah, it did look like it sits a bit high, like the engine is out. Maybe I am used to seeing saggy springs. Thanks for the info on the plating. I think I will look into that, really tricks out the look underneath. At least do the big suspension bolts and washers. I don't know if anyone will ever see my handbrake bracket:classic: Would love to have that car though!!

[26th-Z]

Yea, I'm still working on that book, Will! This happened to be a great find as it exemplifies what happened at the end of the program. The seller is motivated by a new baby and job relocation. We had a nice conversation on the phone the other night.

BTW, it sits way high because it has new shocks and springs and it has never been driven.

For further reading on the Vintage Z restoration program, the Z-Store and our flame wars over the insinuation that a "factory" had anything to do with this subject - http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15911&highlight=Factory+restoration

and

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14243&highlight=Factory+restoration