Went to a SC junkyard today and this is what I found...

[zbane]

A nice (being a subjective term) 11/77 280 with a fairly solid battery tray area, complete (albeit messy) interior, solid frame rails and floorpans, excellent glass, and a mostly solid body. Certainly not rust free, but possibly worth considering.

The owner of the yard is able to sell the entire vehicle (assuming he can find the title). I must admit I am tempted by this one, as well as a different Datsun on the lot (KPL-610 10/72)...

The lot has all sorts of goodies, a great Karmann Ghia shell, Porsche 914, two Fiat x1/9s, Fiat 850 (pretty sad), and an S14 240sx, among other goodies.

I ended up getting a set of Z hubcaps ($40!) even though I don't need them, but I didn't want them just rotting away...

[zbane]

And a few more photos...

[zbane]

And the possible best for last...

I won't be saying just how much the guy wants for the KPL, but I will say that I really hope the other person who has 'dibs' on it will not come through...

[sblake01]

Both of those cars need a lot of work. By the time you finished that 280Z, you'd have more money in it that buying a running complete one to start with. The unique parts for a 610 coupe are probably as hard if not harder to find than they are for an 810 coupe. I visit 8 local juniyards a rarely, if ever, see any 610s in them.

[zbane]

I agree Stephen that the Z would need a lot of work, but the underside does indeed appear clean. It is out of my league in terms of workability, but for someone with more skill/time/storage...

The 610, however, was driven in under it's own power (original owner, an instructor at Clemson, died; wife wanted it gone) and apparently had an easy life. Internal parts (head gasket especially) would probably be harder to find than most, but it seems so hard to pass up (partly for its overall condition-interior especially; partly for its rarity)...

[sblake01]

It's not the head gasket and things of a mechanical nature that you'd have a problem with. It's the things unique to those cars like exterior and interior trim, glass etc.

[lonetreesteve]

The 610 is in remarkable condition, especially considering you found it in a junkyard! I agree with Stephen and would buy it over the 280Z if I were you. The rust on the 280 in the lower front fenders is really bad and has most certainly rusted through to the front end of the rocker panels underneath. If it were a 240Z and depending on what the price was, it might be worth it, but not a 280. Again, nice find on the 610.

[BRE-240Z]

Nice score on the hubcaps, David.

I was trying to remember the last time I saw a 610. I would have loved to have found that car when I was looking for a replacement motor for my 510 a few years back.

[Jeff G 78]

Lots of good parts on the 280. I wouldn't try to save it, but there are lots of parts worth saving. The hood, headlight buckets, hatch, emblems, etc all look to be in very nice shape. The hood is even the right color for mine. I am currently sporting a green and primer hood on my Z. The bumpers both look pretty good as well.