What to do....

[Mike B]

Anyone have a "D" hubcap for sale?

They come up on ebay pretty regularly, although usually in sets and they can be very expensive, depending on condition. There are also two types. An early style with large clips on the back and a later style with more smaller clips. With your car being a 71 you most likely need the later style D hubcap. Here is a single one on ebay that will need repainting the correct color. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/69-70-71-72-73-Datsun-Z-240-432-510-Hub-Cap-14-RARE_W0QQitemZ250374411443QQihZ015QQcategoryZ140745QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem. Les Canady at classicdatsun.com sells a grey paint that seems to be a very close match for the original grey.

-Mike

[northernz]

Thanks Mike, I'll check itout.

[jmortensen]

Okay,I'll content myself with a refresh and paint job, and some mag wheels.(I only have three of the "D" hubcaps). When I drove it for a month after I got it, the car felt very vague and squirmy, especially in a crosswind. Perhaps supension bushings are worn? If I pull suspension apart, I'll soda blast the bits and start the refresh there

Bushings are guaranteed shot if they haven't been replaced. You can pretty much bet on outer tie rod ends and ball joints needing replacing too. Search on the bushing replacements before you dive in. Things like poly TC rod bushings can be a problem, as can pulling the spindle pins in the rear to change the outer control arm bushings. These things have been discussed ad nauseum.

As to the question about modding the car, make it perform the way you want it to perform. It's your car to enjoy, no point not enjoying it so that others feel better about it. If you really don't want to mod a nice series one, sell it for more than you paid and get a nice series two and mod that one.

[ConchZ]

New poly bushings made a huge difference in how mine drives. The slop and vibration both are gone.

[=Enigma=]

Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the forum. I chose not to vote because I feel you should do whatever you makes you happy. I bought a 73 so I could go whatever direction wanted and leave the series 1 & 2 cars for those looking to do original restos. In the end I chose the resto-mod including upgraded suspension, wheels & tires, and various performance mods. That said, if you want to tub you car, put in a solid rear axle and drop a hemi in it, that's your business.

[Carl Beck]

I thought I was logged into the Classic Z Car Club.... isn't HybridZ at another site?

"Put a Hemi in it" - - - Are you kidding me?

#1 or #2 240-Z's going for $35 to $40K today. Only twenty thousand or so Series I cars delivered to North America going on 40 years ago..

1964 Pontiac GTO's = 32,450 how many do you see today?

1965 Pontiac GTO's = 75,352 how many do you see today?

1966 Pontiac GTO's = 96,946 how many do you see today?

1967 Pontiac GTO's = 81,722 how many do you see today?

286,470 total - - how many do you see today and what do they cost?

About 155,000 240-Z delivered to North America 1970, 1971, 1972 & 1973....

.

A year out of this recession and you'll see #1 Series I 240-Z's hitting $65K+... Lose your job during this recession, have serious and expensive illness etc etc - and you'll wish to hell you had kept that car perfectly stock.

"It's your car do what you want" What kind of advice is that???

I feel that I should do whatever I want - I'm 64 and I don't have to worry about the next twenty or forty years of my life. I'm retired so I don't worry about losing my job. The house is paid for and there's enough money in the bank to feed me for the next 30 years... I SHOULD DO WHATEVER I WANT.

If you can't say the same - then my advise is control your emotional urges and use your brain. You bought a Classic Car that will appreciate in value over the coming years. Keep it Classic and enjoy it for what it is. You want a street rod, buy a far cheaper car to begin with... better still.. buy one that is already modified to suite your taste and let the last owner take the loss in value..

To answer your original questions:

- Yes a cheap paint job will hurt the market value of the car.... that's why you got to buy it for $9K to start with. It it were a solid #3 condition car it would have been $18K.

- Upgrading the suspension - as long as you don't lower it etc. won't have any adverse effect on market value.

As mentioned previously - bolt on items - that can be easily returned to stock - won't hurt the market value of the car - as long as YOU put everything back to pure stock before you try to resell it.

Future values are always a guess at best - but the car should appreciate in line with others in its class. A car in that same condition five years from now will most likely be in the $18K range. Work on refreshing it properly with a high quality paint and body job... make the engine compartment sparkle, clean the undercarriage and suspension components... and bring it up to a solid #3 car and five years from now it will be in the $24K to $28K range.

Five years from now - perfect #1 or #2 Condition show cars will be in the $55K to $65K range..

I think the 240-Z's will follow the trends that the 55,56 &57 T-Birds did in the 70's, 80's and 90's... A very nice small Bird will be $75K today and a #1 example will set you back $125K.

Just my perspectives based on all the stupid things I did over the years....

FWIW,

Carl B.

BTW - I have a Hemi sitting in the garage if your interested...

[=Enigma=]

Holy crap Carl. Was this verbal hemorage targeted at my post? If so you took my comments WAY TOO SERIOUSLY. The comments about "tubbing the car and dropping in a hemi" was written in jest. Hence the smiley. Perhaps that sentiment didn't come across effectively given the medium.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Enigma:

No - it was a somewhat tongue-in-cheek reply. I should have put some "smiley's" in there, but I was laughing too much as I was writing it.

I say "somewhat tongue-in-cheek" as I was serious about the advice to keep a Classic Car - well - Classic; and the associated increase or decrease in its market values. Not to mention the associated increase or decrease in one's net assets over the long haul.

I did understand your comment.... and I actually do have a Hemi in the garage.... Just thought we'd stir the pot a little.

Mark - you're cleared to land on your own runway....

FWIW,

Carl B.

Edited February 17, 2009 by Carl Beck

[northernz]

Thanks for the input,guys. It's clear that I didn't know exactly what I what I was buying, I seemed to have lucked out in that regard!

Have you seen this ad on Kiji?

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1971-Datsun-240Z-W0QQAdIdZ103955618.

That is the condition I have decided to aim for with my car,They really are beautiful cars aren't they?

Mark

[rtaylor]

Mike, I have a 71 with the small tabs on the hubcaps.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Mark:

I've seen the ad for that Green 71 before. would hope that for $32,000.00 the car would have the correct hub-caps, if it is indeed a 1971 Model Year example.

Has anyone actually seen this car in person? Very few detailed pictures for that kind of money. The picture of the engine compartment - - - leaves me wondering if the Yellow Cad. parts have actually been Yellow Cad plated, or just painted. Somehow they look too much like gold paint... Could be it is just the lighting/picture... but it leaves me wondering?

Yes - they really are beautiful cars and the beauty is far more than skin deep.

One of the definitions of "Classic" is "of timeless beauty". To me personally, the 67 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 and the Series I XK-E's were also beautiful cars - - - but their more rounded and bulbous curves date them as 50/60's era styles. No question they are serious Classic's...

The 240-Z on the other hand is far less period specific... If it had never been seen before, I believe most people would consider it a beautiful design today....... ie. a truly timeless beauty.

The other thing I've noticed is that they grow even more beautiful the longer you own them...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[rdefabri]

The other thing I've noticed is that they grow even more beautiful the longer you own them...

+1 - It's been my lifelong dream to own a Ferrari - specifically the 308/328 cars of my youth. If I were ever to make that purchase, it's now - which means the 240Z would likely have to go. And yet, I struggle with this sooo much it's unbelievable...I am potentially passing on a lifelong DREAM because I love the Z that much!