72 240 on ebay-thoughts?

[zbane]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-1972-Datsun-240Z-Restoration-Project_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQihZ020QQitemZ300026028879QQtcZphoto

This one caught my eye, and I thought others might like to think about it. The photo of the interior seem to show a complete, non cracked dash, other than that, it looks messy but not terrible.

I'm tempted to bid, but need to check shipping first.

[sblake01]

I'd have to see more pictures. It will surely go for more than the starting bid. I wonder if we have any members in Mass. that could inspect it.

[zbane]

I agree, Stephen. I hope it hangs out low, just in case.

[a7dz]

With the hatch showing that kind of rust and it being a Mass car I would steer clear unless like you said there is someone there that could eyeball it.

[Carl Beck]

Hi David:

If you are tempted to bid.... you have to be one of the people that love the process of refreshing or restoring a 240-Z. Count me in... I've done several over the years. However I have to say that it's getting to be far more expensive to enjoy this hobby than it used to be. Complete Front and Rear Bumpers now cost as much as I used to pay for a 240-Z 15 years ago!!

Start with that car and you'll have at least a couple of years of hard work to enjoy and the fun of spending at least $12K to refresh it to a presentable condition, or $25K to restore it... It doesn't get any better than that does it ? That is if we just assume it's a good solid car, and that the engine isn't shot, the tranny and rear-end are fine etc. etc.

On the other hand, for less than $12K you could drive this one... while you worked on the fine details.. and five years from now it would be an $18K car.

<a href=http://zhome.com/Jaffe72After/Jaffe72Yellow.htm TARGET=NEW> A Very Nice 72 </a>

Funny that the cheaper the car is to begin with - the more it winds up costing us. But then it's only time and money... right? You've got to spend both on something....

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

[26th-Z]

I heard you had someone lined up for the car. I had no idea it was that cheap. What the hell are you doing selling that car that cheap?

[Carl Beck]

I heard you had someone lined up for the car. I had no idea it was that cheap. What the hell are you doing selling that car that cheap?

Hi Chris:

It doesn't fit in the Collection and The Collector said to make someone a good deal on it... (the Collector has a 72 240-Z with 16K miles already).

The person that it was offered to - decided he wanted to wait for a Silver Car.. so I put it on a Web Site. I told him honeltly he was making a huge mistake... but to each his own I guess. I don't expect it to last too long, anyone that has seriously looked for a clean 240-Z, will snap this one up in a hurry... They are very hard to find East of the Mississippi and getting harder and harder to find out West...

A clean 240-Z with an interesting history as well... I called ZRush about it... thought it would go well with their Vintage Z <vbg>

FWIW,

Carl B.

[26th-Z]

I saw the pictures of it when it arrived. I don't get it.

[bobc]

Carl,

I just sent you contact info via email. Please let me know if you received it and when's the best time to speak.

Thanks,

Bob

[Carl Beck]

Carl,

I just sent you contact info via email. Please let me know if you received it and when's the best time to speak.

Thanks,

Bob

Hi Bob:

Just received the e-mail and I'm dialing your number now...

regards,

Carl

[rdefabri]

Carl,

Have to agree with you - the person that passed this up is making a mistake. I would think a "refresh" could very well PASS 12K, so IMHO, this is a SCREAMING bargain.

Let me ask a naive question - I suppose the pictures don't reveal the entire story, but what makes this a #3 car? Are there incorrect pieces? Cosmetically, it looks pretty good. As I said, this is naive, I don't profess to know how to appraise these, so I was curious.

Rich

[xray]

I agree on this being a #3 car as well. From what I can see, it's mainly engine compartment details, mismatched hoses, etc. Interior-wise, all I see from the pics is the console armrest that's wrong. I'm sure the undercarriage reveals some #3-ness as well. Remember, strictly speaking #3 cars are excellent to very good driving examples. They will win local, and even some state-wide car shows, but they are not perfect restorations. #1s are NEVER driven. I think of #2s as #1s who drive their cars. #3s are like this one (if I can extrapolate from the pics) and #4s are pretty much what a lot of us own.

If I could do it over again, I'd take a solid #3 or 3+ car to do a restoration on if I wanted to try making it into a #1 car. Or, it could be enjoyed as is, with limited depreciation (vs the hit one takes by driving a #1 car, for example).

Steve