Z Car Hell Uncovered

[Carl Beck]

Come on - they haven't make beer cans out of steel for decades.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[280~Master]

Maybe Razor blades Carl.

Heck the only true good use for Japanese steel from the 70's is to make rust piles.

[Rainman]

That little "reddish" convertible sitting next to the cinderblock wall is a Sunbeam Alpine or Tiger. My Dad restored a Tiger and it's a quick little beastie. There are only about 500 of those left in the US... Just curious what engine it has in it, maybe if you're over there again you could check it out? That car is likely worth some money to the right person, as are all those Z cars as one of the previous posts mentioned (the rust belt).

[kurtwwalters]

I'd like to buy 1 or more of those cars. If you ever get contact info, please send me a message: kurtwwalters@yahoo.com

thanks!

[DougN]

With so many topless Z's (and a few other types) in these photos, maybe it should go under the "boobs" thread! :classic:

[sblake01]

Those have been there longer than five years. I saw that lot about 5 years ago when I worked in Riverside. Tried to find info as far as owners, etc. but it was just as sketchy then as now. I basically got the same story from the adjacent businesses. I checked on it off an on during the years I worked at ACE Hardware but never was able to find out anything else. If you do find out anything, let us know. I gave up on it long ago.

[Rainman]

Ownership of the lot will be public record in the county recorder's office. I'd take the address of the lot in and they should be able to supply the owner's info since the surrounding businesses are of no help. Best of luck!!

Tom

[ncolz]

Wow - what a find! I could use that ZX convertible frame for mine!

[Sailor Bob]

The Sunbeam looks light in the front end, probably no engine. Interesting car though. A friends father had a Tiger - it really was a weapon.

Maxwell Smart has one too...

[rtaylor]

If you PM me the address of the lot, I can pm you ownership information. I have a database with that information.

[lonetreesteve]

I like the Series One car that is pictured next to the ZX convertible. It appears to be a good restoration candidate. From what I can tell looking at the pics, none of the cars look like they have very much rust damage (typical of So Cal Zcars). If someone is able to get in contact with the owners of the property, I'm sure they would be open to selling the cars. There certainly are enough of us interested and I'm sure the owners would like to have some extra cash in their pockets rather than just having the cars sit around. I'd hate to see the 240Zs parted-out or crushed, most of them appear to be in good enough shape to be restored.

[Tony D]

Nobody will have any luck convincing the guy to sell ANY of those Z Cars for anything LESS than $700. At least that was the asking price years ago for a rat-eaten 73 240Z (the Red One). We call the guy "English Bob" and the story of that lot goes on for a long time. None of those cars has moved off the lot since 1997, when I moved in less than 2 miles away from the site.

The guy has an English Accent, and around 2000 was actually living an in motorhome on the property, if you were up at the right time you could catch him half-naked taking a 'shower' off the hose on the minimarket/dairy (now a stereo installation shop---or is it a car sales lot now as well...)

There is a phone number available, but trust me, unless you are willing to pay $1000 for the POS you see in that series of photos, he won't even talk with you. I have approached him with offers as high as $1500 for various vehicles on the lot (the Z's) and he will not entertain that sum either.

I know of at least half a dozen people over the years that have all gotten the same answer from the guy. He wants ridiculous money for what he has, and is...er....eccentric to boot.

And if things turn up missing, rest assured he knows what he has. Also there is video that overlaps from the neighboring businesses... Not worth it for what it is.

Funny thing is, if you think that is something, there is another yard in the same vicinity with 30+ Z-Cars, almost all of them 240's, with several three digit VIN cars in there as well! But that guy isn't selling either.

It's the desert, they won't rust away to nothing. They can afford to sit and let them appreciate. Condition 7 and better cars (which these Van Buren cars are not...they are worse) like in the other yard nearby can be sold for low $2000's now...

There is a guy off Clark (I think) that seeks and sells early Z's. He has a 73 that I followed him home behind... And an Orange 72 that has sit for some time. Sweeney is the name he goes by.