My third 240Z

[Arne]

Thanks for the great comments, people! I can't wait to pick it up.

Individual replies:

To nealkeith - More pictures soon. (A few more of the pre-purchase pics are attached below.) I should pick up the car tomorrow. I hope you're right about selling the yellow car. I don't have room for everything I've got now!

To SavannahZ, 1 Bravo 6 - The sunroof is the biggest downside to the car, by far. But, it appears to be a very nice one, well installed and with a nice looking seal. It is a twin-glass pop-up type. It takes up almost no headroom at all. As add-on sunroofs go, it looks to be a top-notch one. While I don't care for it, the rest of the car is so good that I decided I'd over-look it for now.

To sakijo - I had to really ponder this purchase, because I only have room to store one Z indoors. If I were to keep the yellow one too, it would have to live outdoors and that won't do.

To rdefabri - I guess part of the reason to go from the yellow project to the red car was that now that the mechanical work (transmission conversion, engine swap back to L24, etc.) is substantially finished, the time was approaching for the part I can't do myself - the rust and paint. So while the yellow one was a challenge, it was also great fun and a good learning experience, and so buying the red car instead was not as easy a decision as it might seem.

To Gav240z - I'm still trying to decide what I'd like to see on it for wheels. I think I'd prefer to not go with slots or Panasport/Minilite/etc. style simply because they are a bit too common. I don't know for certain what I want, but they'll have to be really nice, and I'll probably know them when I see them. And I've still got my steelies and 'D' hubcaps for 'formal attire' if that seems appropriate.

To sblake01 - Yes, when I was shopping for my first Z I turned down a couple unseen solely because they had sunroofs. But the condition and originality (other than the sunroof itself) of this car outweighed the presence of the sunroof to me. And while there are a whole lot of people who agree that the wire wheels must go, there is a sizable minority who have already contacted me about buying or trading for them. To each their own...

To Marty and zbane - Yes, the roof on the parts car is good, and that thought has occurred to me as well. I'll need to find a place to store it though, as I doubt I'll paint this car for several years.

Anyway, more to come after I take possession. Stay tuned...

[rtaylor]

Hey Arne, great find. The sun roof doesn't look bad. If the car didn't have that you would have had absoluitely the perfect find. The motor looks great. You should not have to spend much money there. I'll miss your avatar with the old yellow Z, I'm kinda partial to those...Good luck

[theianmonster]

Wow; that's a different style sunroof than mine. Mine doesn't have the split in the middle.

[moonpup]

OPB: Arne

The sunroof is the biggest downside to the car, by far. But, it appears to be a very nice one, well installed and with a nice looking seal. It is a twin-glass pop-up type. It takes up almost no headroom at all. As add-on sunroofs go, it looks to be a top-notch one. While I don't care for it, the rest of the car is so good that I decided I'd over-look it for now.

Arne, When I bought my 72, it too had a sunroof that I didn't really care for but after searching for two years to find a fairly rust free car, I also put the sunroof issue on the back burner. Eight years later when it came time to restore my Z, I decided to change the color to Guards Red (Porsche color).

Anyway, while I was at an auto glass shop inquiring about a new windshield, I noticed they also carried and installed sunroofs. This was in the late 80's and they had a new line that included dot matrix colored sunroofs which at that time included black, white and red sunroofs. Besides the fact that the red one was almost a perfect match to my new paint, it was their low profile that really sold me. I didn't have to replace my roof and I now had a sunroof that didn't stick out like a sore thumb!

Even though I doubt you're gonna change the color of your beautiful Z just to match a sunroof, I'm throwing this out here for all the others who have sunroof issues and want other options to consider. Besides, you could always go with a lower profile sunroof in a clear or black dot matrix color.

Here's a pic of my 72 and a link and pic from a company that carries these. I'm sure any local sunroof dealer can get these. Good luck, and enjoy your new Z!

BTW..have you considered Libre's?

http://gallery.bcentral.com/Gallery/ProductDetails.aspx?GID=4773613&PID=2284235&page=3&sortOrder=0

[ktm]

Beautiful car and an incredible find.

[Arne]

I'll miss your avatar with the old yellow Z, I'm kinda partial to those...Good luck

Yeah, stock 919 yellow would have been pretty cool. But this car looks good as is, the yellow car's avatar was photoshopped to look that good.

[Arne]

BTW..have you considered Libre's?

You bet. And for the yellow car, Libres would have been real high on my list, even though my wife doesn't care for them. But for this car, I think I need something with more polish than the Libres. Don't know, I'll just have to wait and see.

[DougN]

Arne,

Congrats on the new car! I think your just trying to stay one car ahead of me (I just picked up an interesting '72 on Friday - but it is also the original yellow-green color) Unfortunately, it looks like we will have to revoke your membership in the Yellow Z-Car Club

Seriously, looks like a great find! As for wheels, why not drive around with the steelies and the "D" caps on? Certianly not common, but definately original and correct for your new car! My friend bought an all orginal (paint and everything) 5/71 from the same guy I got the '72 from and it has the steelies and "D" caps on it and it looks really good. My "new" 72 has steelies and "Z" caps on, and while my original thought was to replace them, they are growing on me very quickly and I'll probably keep them that way.

[=Enigma=]

Congrat Arne, a very nice find. It reminds me of when I picked up mine. A one owner, always garaged car in excellent condition with..........a sinroof. Not a typo. In the end, the rest of the car outweighed the negative of the sunroof and do far, I've been more then happy with it. The original paint has a lot of chips and defects but like yours, is still in relatively good condition. A little polishing brought it back to life as it will yours.

http://jaderunner.com/Gallery/240Z-First-Polish

[Arne]

Unfortunately, it looks like we will have to revoke your membership in the Yellow Z-Car Club

Yeah, and I really LIKED being in the Yellow Z-Car Club, too.

As for wheels, why not drive around with the steelies and the "D" caps on? Certianly not common, but definately original and correct for your new car!

You're right, on both counts. But thee are two reasons why not, either one sufficient on its own. First, I don't want to risk having one of my near-mint 'D' hubcaps falling off and rolling around in the road. And second, while the later 'Z' caps aren't bad looking, frankly I don't think the 'D' caps are all that attractive.

Oh, if I can figure out storage on yet another set of wheels and tires, I can definitely see putting the steelies and 'D' caps on for shows and gatherings, but not for day to day use. And regardless how low miles it is, there will be regular use. (Although rain scares me now. )

[Arne]

The original paint has a lot of chips and defects but like yours, is still in relatively good condition. A little polishing brought it back to life as it will yours.

Yeah, the orbital and Griot's clay and polishes will get a good workout, I'm sure.

[zhead240]

way to go arnie. what? this guy live down the street or did you see it in an ad?