1973 240Z in Santa Fe, NM

[Galaxybj]

Was at a car show in the park here in Rio Rancho today and a beautiful 1973 240Z (sn: 128853) was there. The owner says it is original. Has just over 48,000 showing on the odometer. Has the original owners manuals, notebook with service records. He has the original steel wheels with hubcaps, the interior is all original and in perfect condition. The clock works. He has extra parts like a 5 speed and head light covers. It is for sale - asking price is $20,000. He gave me permission to give out his name and phone number in case anyone wants more information: John Lawrence, 505-988-5888.

I am not an expert at determining total originality, but under the hood it appears there has been some painting done as the motor mounts are same blue as the block, the hood hinges are the same orange as the car. On the block, where the engine number is stamped, it is painted blue also. The muffler was painted black (why? maybe for show.) Was hard to see the under carriage real well since it was on grass, but what I could see was straight and clean. Over all - really nice car.

[GreenZZZ]

Nice car, didn't know Z's pulled down that kind of $$$. Did '73's have flat top or round top carbs? That has round tops.

[lonetreesteve]

'73s all came with flat top carbs. This one, like a lot of '73 240 and '74 (260) owners did was pull the flat tops and install the '70 through '72 round tops.

[Carl Beck]

A 240-Z with that VIN was mentioned in the Feb. 2003 Issue of Sports Car Market... they said it did not sell at auction.... wonder if it's the same car.

$20K - - not out of the question if the car is nearly perfect - and if the car checks out clean and straight in the undercarriage. If it is an original 48K mile car - not a doctored up, slickly detailed rag...

Looking at the picture of the engine compartment I'd say that the Cad. Plated parts would have to be properly re-plated to make it a show winner.. Nonetheless, better to pay $20K up front for a really nice, clean, low mileage 240-Z - - than to pay $7K for a car then put another $10K into fixing it up - - only to wind up with car that's now worth $12K....

I can't see the engine mounts - but it was common to have a bit of engine blue over-spray on the original engine mounts by 73. If they are painted entirely blue -they have been repainted the wrong color....

FWIW,

Carl B.

[SFe240Z]

Hello All, I am the owner of the subject 240Z. Thanks to Galaxybj for posting information on the car. I can answer some of the questions you all have asked. The muffler is painted because that is the way Nissan provided it. I recently replaced the primary muffler, connector pipe, and muffler/tailpipe with genuine Nissan parts and they all came painted black. The motor mount brackets that are fastened to the engine block are painted the same color as the engine. I believe this is because they were probably fastened to the engine when it was painted at the factory. The rest of the mounts that are fastened to the unibody are not. I have no evidence from the extensive records that the engine was ever painted. I have no reason to believe that the hood hinges were ever repainted. They look like they have always been this way. The car was advertised in the classified ad section of the current edition of Keith Martin's Sports Car Market. It was not offered at auction. I bought the car in December, 2003. It spent the first 30 years of its life with the same family in the Pudget Sound area. The original owner kept the car in excellent condition, and I have been trying to improve upon it. I entered the car in four Northern California concours in 2004. It won a 3rd in class at the Hillsborough show; a 2nd in class at the Sacramento show; and a John Morton Best Pick at the ZONC meet at the Blackhawk Museum. I am selling it as I want to do something different, and am limited to garage storage space.

[SFe240Z]

Oh yes, one more thing. The car was fitted with the "72 Solex-type carbs, using a conversion kit, before I purchased the car. I understand this is a common thing to do with '73s. The car is remarkably trouble-free and is smooth, powerful, and a joy to drive. John

[=Enigma=]

On my 73, the hood hinges are painted the same color as the car, and the motor mounts are painted the same nissan blue as the block.