to buy or not to buy?

[billyjarrell]

heres the story, a guy walks into my shop and says he's got a couple of 240z's that he needs to get rid of. after talking with him for a minute it turns out one is a 1970 and one is a 1972. The next day i go check them out. The 70 is vin #00371 i'm pretty sure its a 70 because it has the vented decklid and no "Z" vent in the quarter panels. But i could be wrong. Anyway both cars have been sitting for what looks like quite a few years, but he said the 72 ran recently and needed some carb work. The roof on the 70 is caved in pretty bad, he said a goat jumped on it, he then said he thinks the 72 has had the roof repaired also because its full of bondo. As far as rust goes, neither car is as bad as you might expect and floors in the 72 even looked solid from what i could tell. Now the delima, he said he wants $500 for the 72 and wanted me to make him an offer on the 70. Now i'm a long way from being finished with my 280, but at least its a driver. On the other hand the 240s would be worth more done. I'm not sure what to do, i don't really need any more projects but it seems like a decent deal. what do you guys think? thanks.

[sblake01]

Never mind, I had the wrong info.

[kurtwwalters]

A sub-500 VIN should have a build date of 11/69. If it does, I'd jump on it if it is in any kind of restorable shape, if only just to have it for the future. Check the VIN on the firewall, inside of the drivers' door, the dash and the plate by the front shock tower (pass side). Compare the engine number on that plate to the number stamped on the block at the top pass side rear next to the head. If this all jives, you have found a very rare Z indeed. Good Luck!

[Arne]

Yes, but...

I note that the seller hasn't given a price for the early car. I'm betting that's because he figures it's valuable. Doing a proper restoration on a low-VIN car is very expensive, so make certain it is fairly complete, and don't get carried away and pay too much. After all, rust and a caved-in roof will mean a lot of body work.

[billyjarrell]

Thanks for the input kurt and arne, I also assumed thats why he didn't give me a price on the early car, but i think if i show him 1000 to 1500 i could walk with both cars. I like what you said about having it just to have it, i mean even if i cant restore it I'd rather see another Z guy end up with it rather than see it towed to the boneyard. About the roof, which seemed to be the worst case would you think sectioning in one from another car or trying to beat out whats there? I'm a professional auto tech, but body work is a whole story.

[kurtwwalters]

I'm not a body guy either, but if it were me i'd have someone section another one on - mostly because I have a donor car. I wouldn't assume he thinks its valuable unless he says something. To lots of folks out there a Z car is a Z car. Good luck!

[MikeW]

Consider the possibility that he doesn't know much about the cars and is hoping that you'll basically haul off the earlier car. Since the 72 is less damaged and ran recently he might consider it more valuable. I'd offer $750 for both cars and see what happens.

[WingZr0]

It's jus me but if you could do it, beat out the original hood.

Granted it might take awhile but at least you can say it's the original metal

and not a donor piece.

Kind of like the original survivor debate.

Is it a true survivor only if it has the original paint no

matter how jacked up it is, OR not?

Even though I know this Z will be restored back to spec someday,

Jus my 2 c's from a sucker for orignality

~Z~