More info for '71 240Z

[steve-o]

Thanks to you all for the GREAT info about the 240Z.

There are some pics up in my picture place.

Any more info you could give would be great.

Are the rear brake drums supposed to be "finned" like Porsche stuff? Are they Aluminum, with a steel, or cast iron insert?

The car has no visible rust, but it's pushed up against the wall of the garage, and the tires are flat so it's hard to see the belly, and under the rockers. But it's been here in the So. Cal desert area it's whole life, and in a garage since '84.

It's definately never been hit, and I couldn't even see any minor body dents.

It has an overrider bar going between the 2 front bumper guards (on the top), is that dealer installed too? It appears to have all the original lights (headlights, taillights, sidemarkers) all with the Koito logo.

Is it common for the seats in these cars to be leather?

Or is it a fake simulated leather (not really vinyl) like they use on the back of the seats on Mercedes? The interior is pretty nice, only a couple of small tears on the seats, and one on the flip up center console.

I'm heavily into VW, and you other VW people will see what I mean about the steering wheel, if you look at my pics. PLEASE tell me what you think of it.

I'll post more, but I'm not sure how much more space I have.

Are Z collectors pretty serious about finding stuff? I know ALOT of VW people will fly out here to look at a car for sale and then pay to have it shipped back to the east coast. It's actually cheaper than trying to restore a rusty one.

Are there ANY other things I should look at?

I would keep the car in a heart beat, (I remember sitting in the "back seat" when I was about 5 or 6) if I didn't already have 2 VW's in the works, and no $$ to boot.

Thanks again for all of your help everyone, you have GREAT info!!

Please give me some feedback about the pics.

Please help me find a good home for it.

-Steve

[HS30-H]

Hi Steve-o,

You get the award for polite and enthusiastic replies. How refreshing! Some people don't even say a "thank you"......

I just looked at your photo gallery, and only one set of four photos is up so far ( the other set is awaiting approval - which is an administrative thing to safeguard the users of this site, and makes sense - so be patient ).

First thing I noticed ( no, second ) is that the steering wheel is the very early stock type with "filled-in" spokes. In fact, the spokes had the squareish depressions - just they were never cut out as on later cars. Its a totally stock early wheel - and perfectly matches the car. This is a good thing.

Actually, the first thing I noticed was that it looks like a good solid and unmessed-with car. Many of these cars ( no matter where they are ) have been altered or messed with in some way, which can be discouraging. Just like any vintage or collector car, and yes - just like the early VW scene - a nice "barn-find" car is quite often more sought-after than a good everyday runner. Its probably something to do with the virginal aura it sends out, and that whoever buys it can be the first to get at it..........

Those wheels are pretty regular aftermarket "Slot Mag" types and were possibly offered by the dealer as an extra. They are aluminium, and carry on the tradition started by Halibrand way back in the late Fifties ( although real Halibrands were magnesium and more sculpted than these ). I have no idea of the make, but it might be cast into the reverse of the wheel if you can get one off. That "P/S" logo must be identifiable by one of our American correspondents, surely?

The rear brake drums are also stock. They are cast aluminium with a steel or iron liner - like all S30-series Zs. Those rear bumper bars were a USA / North American market option ( again, a bit like the Empi bumper bars of the period - so it was probably part of the automotive fashion of the time ). The other markets did not get this choice as far as I know.

The lights sound stock, and they were made by Koito and IKI, with some being made by Stanley. Nothing out of the ordinary there ( again, that's a GOOD thing ).

The seats are probably the standard vinyl too; it was a pretty horrible simulated-leather vinyl. This did not survive well in hard use or strong sunlight - but again, the car seems to have been off the road for a long time - so its probably stock.

That flip-up centre console is non-stock I think; probably a dealer installed option or aftermarket item ( not a factory item ) and makes perfect sense with the automatic trans.

I would recommend that you try to get the car rolling ( get the tyres pumped up ) and then try to get it out in the open so that you can see what you have got. Gentle recommissioning would make the car easier to sell, so the usual rules for getting an old car running after a long lay-up would apply. There have been posts about this procedure on this site in the past, so I recommend you have a look and don't rush into it. You can bet any fuel in the tank will be bad stuff by now, and you do NOT want that getting into the rest of the system. Its easy to drain the tank and flush it out, there's a big plug in the middle underneath it. Spark plugs out and some stuff down the bores will help to unstick any piston rings that don't want to do any more work. You can turn the engine over by putting a big socket and breaker bar on the front pulley nut ( make sure you turn it the right way ).

God, I hate sitting here typing all this stuff - I want to come over and get my hands dirty myself! Hell - just leave it as it is and send it over to me...............

Any more help you need, just ask - the guys that inhabit this site are a good lot and will I am sure already be hatching plots to come and get the car from you.

Good luck,

Alan T. ( in London, England - so I'm a bit too far away to come and sniff the thing myself..... ).

[918/240Z]

Nice find.. how much did you pay? It looks like a 70 or early 71 ,

Interesting seeing it with an auto tranny.. looks like it has a/c as well... If you didn't buy it do so as long as you don't see any major rot on the rails or in the hatch from the pics the car looks clean..

Since your into VWs think of this car as an Oval or a split window.. might be worth as much... Its hard to find an original car out there buy it, clean it if you don't want it someone here will take it off your hands....

Were is it anyway?

Good luck Dave

[Mr Camouflage]

Hey HS30-H, I though you knew everything there was to know about 240z's but your comment about the centre console being non stock? are you saying automatic 240z were a dealer option? That console is on many photos I've seen of early american (with the same steering wheel) 240z both automatic and manual (of course the manuals had a vinyl boot) the flip up part is the ashtray, and infont of it (toward the dash) is the cigarette lighter/ fuse box cover.

My Zed had the later style console with the switches and the ashtray and cigatette lighter relocated (cigie lighter in the dash, ashtray next to the handbrake. Holes in the steering wheel).

Steve-o the car looks in very good condition, and if its been sitting in a garage for 18 years why shouldn't it. I expect you could get a pretty good price for it. It looks all original.

It's an it's an auto, which i guess is pretty rare, but I suspect most 240z drivers like to change gears themselves. It's a pity you have to sell it.

[CoastGuardZ]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

I am racking my brain on those rims! :stupid: I've not only seen the logo before but i've seen that center cap on those slotted wheels before!

Nate :cross-eye

[Royce]

Looks like quite a find! I would say it is a keeper so long as the frame and unibody are in good shape! Even if they are not it would be hard to pass up with all the original bits it comes with. Looks like a bone stock US market, series I 240Z with a few dealer addons- front bumper overrider, center arm rest, A/C & wheels. Regarding the wheels, either they are 14x7 or have a bit of negative offset judging by the way they stick out from under the body in the back.

I may be joining this a little late and this may have already been discussed but check to see if the orignal engine is there by comparing it (near the back on the passenger side of engine) to the tag on the fender wall in the engine compartment. Also, if all original should have E-31 head, E46 intake manifold and 4 screw SU carbs without the drain plug in the bottom of the float bowls.

Have fun!

[2ManyZs]

Mr. Camouflage, I think the console piece in question is the arm rest on the rear of the console seen in the first group of pics, you have to look hard to see it. It was a dealer option in 72 according to the info on zhome, not sure if it was offered before that or not. May have been added later when it was available.

It's a shame the production numbers on zhome don't break down the production numbers between the manual and automatic. But sincde the total production for the US in both 70 and 71 is less than 72, I would have to say an automatic is part of a small number as far as the yearly production numbers.

I've seen that center cap before as well, but can't remember what wheel it was. Oh well.

Looks like a good candidate for a good cleaning first and foremost. Then it would be just a matter of checking out the body for any rust and going over the mechanicals.

One word of warning, I rememeber some discussion about the early automatics not being as good as the later auto's. Besides that, they are very hard to find if anything is wrong or needs to be replaced. Just though you might want to know in order that you can do a thorough job of inspecting the mechanicals.

[HS30-H]

Er, Mr Camouflage,

The point I was trying to make about the Centre Console was with regard to the Arm Rest.

These were never fitted from the Factory, and I see them most often in pics of USA / North American HLS30 cars - in which territory I believe the Dealers offered them as an Option part ( made in USA as far as I know ). I think I made a comment to the effect that it would make sense to have an armrest on an auto-equipped car ( nothing much else to do with your right arm except lean on it ).

And who said I knew everything there was to know about 240Z's? ( let alone all the other models of S30-series Z )!!!

I think I know something about some of the models and a little bit of the Japanese side of the story ( especially interested in Factory-built race cars ), but I'm no self-appointed "expert" and I do not have my own website or anything. I was just trying to help this guy out, and I didn't realise the Console Arm Rest Police were going to arrest me for "Posting Without Due Care and Attention"..................

I'll have to be more careful in future, Officer.

[Zedrally]

These were never fitted from the Factory, and I see them most often in pics of USA / North American HLS30 cars - in which territory I believe the Dealers offered them as an Option part ( made in USA as far as I know ).

Oh Alan,

I can't exactly agree with you on this point.

Although I can't exactly see the consul in question [bigger picture please steve-o].

Late model 260Z's can fitted with a similar piece of factory equipement. The first zed I brought way back in 1977 was a 260 2+2, spanking new and sported this luxurious device. The current 77 that I've restored also came with it, although it had subcumbed to the ravages of time and has been replaced with a handcrafted wooden piece of furniture.

The centre consol appears to have been an evolving piece of furniture and each "model" year seems to have a different centre consul.

So, how about a pic of the consul and we can discuss it over tea and crumpets!

[steve-o]

I'll try to take more pics this weekend, the console, and the "pan" (underbelly) too.

I'll put air in the tyres, and clean it up some.

Where's the best place to sell it??

Thanks for the info on the engine and the carbs, someone thought they were hitachi carbs, could this be? (I thought they should be SU)

I'll look better, the car will be easier to move with air in the tyres, and I can take a pic of the front of it too.

On another subject, I'm posting another picture of what appears to be an MSD ignition type set up.

(maybe it'll post tomorrow?)

Any info on it from anyone?? Is it rare, generic american stuff, or something cool?

It's for the Z, and many other cars too.

Thanks again to you all!!!

-Steve

[Royce]

Regarding carbs, I was not being specific the '71 - '72 240Z's have SU style carbs that are made by Hitachi.

Have fun!

[EScanlon]

The center console is correct for the early Z's, through 71. That this car is an Automatic AND it has the Hatch Vents is unique as that places it as a very late 70 or very early 71. The pillar emblems also identify it as such. (The hatch vents were being discontinued about the time the automatics were being introduced.)

The late 71's and 72's had the console changed to where the ashtray was now just behind the shifter with a slide cover. This was about the time that they changed the seats to include the switch that activated the warning light for the Seat Belt, and the Choke warning light. The armrest on the console was always a dealer and aftermarket option.

All in all a pretty good find.

It does show some rust on the front bumper guard, so it does need some carefull look / see for other typical hidden rust.

The Tail Light Finishers are the original color! That's a rare find!

The bottom line is this, your original post mentions that you don't have the time or money to address this jewel. If you are planning on selling it, why not give the folks here a shot at it first. You know that we're all aficionados and would take care of it properly.

Personally, I would tell you to avoid e-Bay although it seems a popular front for selling many items and even completely "restored" cars.

How much are you looking to sell the car for?

Keep us posted!