I havent looked at the car yet. It is a 76 280z. It is completely stripped minus the dash and seat. H ehas $750.00 in parts receipt, mainly the entire brake system. Says it runs great. It has no rust. The floor pans, gas cap door, rockers, were all replaced (which is why the car is stripped). All the glass and interior comes with the car. The interior is missing both door panels but he has another 77 280z that has complete interior that I can gut what I need before I leave his property.

He is asking $750.00 for both cars. It has a clear title.

My main interest is that the car is running. Which means I would be able to cruise around town while im redoing the interior and body work.

Would you go for it?

Wouldn't even consider it without seeing it.

I agree you've got to see it first. But a running car, pretty much any running car is worth $750.

A 280Z with no rust and it runs? Sounds like a great deal to me. I'd still want to look at the car to check for rust in any of the hidden areas- frame rails, floor boards, etc.

It "runs great but is currently stripped" means that it's a basket case and doesn't run until proven otherwise. Unless you can start it and drive it around the block, assume the worst. Also, the '76 and '77 door panels do not interchange. The door lock pull moved when the latch changed in '77.

It might very well be worth $750, but basket cases make really bad restoration candidates. They do make good parts cars, however. Unless every part including every nut and bolt is bagged and tagged, you will go nuts trying to figure out what you do and don't have and you will be nickel and dimed to death buying little parts to replace the ones that are still in his garage that he forgot to give you.

Unless you have owned many Z cars like a lot of us, you will not know what you are missing until you start reassembling it. Personally, it doesn't sound like the car you'd want unless you already have a basement full of spare parts and fasteners.

Trust me, I was you 25 years ago when I bought my first Z. I became very frustrated , it turned into a parts car and I wound up buying a real Z a year after buying what I thought was a great deal.

I am going to try and look at it tomorrow. I plan to inspect it before buying for sure!

From what he says on the phone, He was working on this car and doesnt have room to anymore. Brake system was replaced, interior was gutted minus the dash and driver seat, and the glass was taken out to fix rust. The rust was all fixed including rocker panels and floor pans. Says it runs great and I can drive it around the neighborhood to test it out.

If it runs and shifts solid, with very little rust repair needed. Would you shy away from a gutted car that comes with all the gutted material?

Edited December 2, 200816 yr by 280z4me

Since I posted in this thread, I found your other posts and I am now even more sure that this probably isn't the car for you. It sounds like you have ZERO experience with the Datsun Z. I would strongly suggest that you search this and other Z forums for someone in your area (or wherever the car is located) with strong Z knowledge that is willing to go with you to inspect the car and give you an honest assessment of its condition and completeness. Do whatever makes you happy, but don't jump at this car unless it is complete and in very good condition. If you do buy it, your next purchase needs to be a Factory Service Manual and the parts microfiche which can be purchased from this website.

Good luck.

Edited December 2, 200816 yr by Jeff G 78

Another point... if the rails, rockers were replaced, and glass was taken out to fix rust... then its a rusty car. If all that rust was fixed.. you gotta figure it might not be straight until proven to be. Thats alot of rusted metal to remove and replace properly. Seriously consider this before you spend the money. You'll spend a whole lot more fixing it or finishing the previous owners 'refresh' than you would if you found a car that hasn't been already rust repaired and is ready to drive.