Just curious,

I'm at the point where I'm looking at spending some reasonable dollars on a good 240... have any of you invested over $10,000 US or $20,000 australian?

There arent many cars that have kept my excitement like the 240z over the years, but, I sometimes wonder if I should spend the same amount of cash on a newer car, or even a z32...

opinions?

Doco, I have a '73 240Z still on the rotisserie (see pics in Body & Paint section).

Since day 1 of the full bare metal resto, I have been keeping an Excel spreadsheet of costs.

Excluding my labor costs, I'm up to $9,500:tapemouth and I estimate another $2,000 at least to trim and finish.

Because I'm doing everything myself, my labor costs are not a factor, but material costs certainly do add up!

However, it will certainly be better than new by the end of the 2003 summer, I HOPE!

Thanks Graeme,

I taking the easy option and looking to buy a 240 someone else has sunk a fortune in time and labour into, unfortunatley I dont have the space to undertake such a project myself...

Obviously you would not be putting yourself through all this if you diddn't think it was worthwile.

$2000.00 for the car.

$650.00 in parts so far.

But I've only begun to scratch the surface of what will be high-dollar project.

My car is a weekend budget-mobile. It is very obvious when it is parked at a show that it does not have the big dollars or thousands of hours of meticulious work behind it. When I bought my car, I made a list of goals. I wanted a cheap, head-turning, reasonably fast, aggressive looking and sounding plaything. But those were secondary.

Primary were:

1. The car must run PERFECTLY, every time, no fuss, no fiddling, no stress.

2. The car must stop perfectly.

3. The suspension must be taught and squeak/creak free.

4. The interior must be perfect.

For #1, every hose, tube, pipe and wire was replaced. Every plug, filter, fluid, clamp replaced. ZX oil pump, sending unit, K&N, electric fan, header, now exhaust..... and on and on and on. Every possible thing I could bolt on and replace to make the motor happy.

For #2, Every brake component was replaced. Everything. EVERYTHING. At the same time, I did the clutch master and slave.

For #3, Lowered/ stiffer springs, Tokico's, 225/50/15's on decent wheels, and the complete urethane bushing master kit.

For #4, All the interior panels were refinished, full dash cap, interior shell stipped and soundproofed and I had an upholstery shop do a complete custom carpet (charcoal) and seat (light grey) job. All new fasteners.

Car purchased 10/2001...........$850

Car was 'finished' 4/2002........$6000 not including labor.

I am very happy with the results.

steve77

I've never really thought about it but here goes,

Car 73Z ...................... 2500

Used mag wheels......... 120

work on wheels ........... 300

Tires............................. 375

New brakes................... 250

Eurathane bushings.......100

Tokico shocks.................180

Fixed radiator.................100

Rebuilt L28...................1500

5 speed.........................300

Rear end........................100

New Battery...................120

A/C system fixed.............600

71 Carbs (Ztherapy)........500

Headers.........................350

Custom Exhaust.............125

Tinted windows..............200

Stereo............................400

Front bumper.................200

Moldings, rivets etc........200

Spoiler............................120

Total ....................... $8640.00 US dollars

Boy, I was just rounding stuff off. I guess it really adds up! I'm sure I've forgotten a few things but you get the idea. When I bought the car the interior was like new so I haven't spent much there. I still need a windshield, recrome the rear bumper and a 4-5,000 paint job. Don't tell my wife:tapemouth

no where near finished yet but expecting to be around the $20000+NZD

I've spent $11000 on my 260 2+2.

$4500 on engine, g/box, clutch and carbies

$3000 on respray - never done properly so I've found out

$2000 on LPG

$600 on carpet

$1500 on stereo

$400 wheels

I wish it had of gone on my 240, because it is a vintage sports car now 25 yrs old, and worth doing up. I would go for it as you sound like u want to but need encouragement. I'm in the process of raiding all good bits of my 2+2 and putting it on my 240 I bought 3 months back. God ZED...........

Cheers Zorro,

I guess one of the reasons why im hesitant is performance, I really want a car with serious grunt, I used to own a 260 2+2 with an L24 about 6 years ago, I really enjoyed driving the car (not the best example of a 260) but felt it was lacking in grunt...

In my mind, a V8, such as a ford 302 coupled to the lightweight, nimble handling and cosmetic potential (see my other post "sweetest 240 ever") of the 240 zed would provide a package which is hard to go past, not to mention the sound of a V8 , this leaves me with several issues...

a) a V8 Zed is no longer original, and perhaps less valuable as an investment if I'm going to sink decent money into it.

we're talking a pretty seriously modified car requiring engineering reports, and tighter scrutiny by the RTA and insurance companies (though I hear Shannons are pretty good with Classic Zeds, even modded ones)

c) buying an already restored, moded bent eight Zed, could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000+ wich would go a fair way to buying a half decent turbo import... not as nostalgic, but plenty of poke...

hmm decisions, decisions...

This is my planned budget -- so far -- for the winter build of my E-Production racer. Not included was the $400 I paid for the car...

Koni Adjustable Shocks -- 4 @ $180.00 = $720.00

Panasport Rims 15x7 -- 8 @ $180.00 = $1,440.00

Rims 15x7 steel (rains) -- 4 @ $75.00 = $300.00

Header -- $450.00

Adjustable Front Sway Bar -- $475.00

Braided brake lines -- $56.11

Button clutch/pressure plate assembly -- $450.00

Lightened Aluminum Flywheel Southbend Clutch -- $450.00

Tilton Brake/Clutch Pedals (dual-long) -- $199.00

Tilton Master Cylinders -- 3 @ $59.95 = $179.85

Tilton remote bias adjuster cable -- $44.95

Griffin Aluminum Radiator -- $169.00

Quick Release Steering Coupler -- $39.99

Oil cooler and hoses/connectors -- $200.00

Materials to build control arms -- $300.00

Used Front calipers 1980 280zx -- $40.00

Front rotors 1980 280zx -- 4 @ $44.95 = $179.80

Used 280ZX 5-Speed Transmission -- $100.00

Misc Bearings/Seals -- $100.00

Lexan for windows -- $100.00

Paint and materials -- $140.00

Rollcage tubing -- 100 feet @ $4.50/foot = $450.00

Kirkey Racing seat -- $106.00

Rollbar pad 15 feet @ $3.50/foot = $52.50

Transmission Blanket -- $80.00

Muffler pipe 2-1/2, Y-collector and 3" turndown -- $100.00

Goodyear racing slicks -- 8 @ $150.00 == $1,200.00

Hoosier rain tires -- 4 @ $165.00 = $660.00

Rallye/sport EP L24 engine -- $10,000.00

Total: $18,753.20

I'll gladly accept any sponsorship :classic:

"I'll gladly accept any sponsorship "

McConnell Construction is good for at least couple feet of rollbar pad....

steve(McConnell)77

Does the total price include a garage to keep them in, tools to work on them, and all the spare parts? If so, then I don't want to even think about how much I have spent in the last twenty years since I bought my first Z. :tapemouth

Guess you could say I went a little overboard with my obsession.