Can you help me establish a price?

[POKeY]

Hi everyone-

I'm a new member and potential buyer of a '71 240z. I was hoping someone could help me with some questions and have a look at the car I'm considering.

Here's some pics:

The car appears clean and very well kept. The interior and dash are in great shape.

Here's a pic of the engine. Other than needing to re-route some wires and hose's everything seemed fine and the numbers match.

I saw a pic of another 240z with that bar on the door also. Just to be sure, is it standard?

This is directly under the dash on the passengers side. Can someone tell me what it is? It looks out of place.

The car has had a front end collision at some point. Here is where the drivers side hood and body is out of alignment. Would this be an expensive fix?

Lastly, here's the front bumper. Other than being slightly askew from an apparently light impact it is in relatively great shape. I'm wondering if it could be tweaked somehow to "cover-up" the damage.

Okay, I'll be honest, I always figured I would have a '69 Camaro RS/SS as a first classic, but this car has kinda stole my heart. It has 130k miles and a 4-speed. I'm wanting something that will only need an initial investment of about $500-$1000 to be a solid 3-4 day/week driver.

The car seems solid, but there has been some bondo work done around the doors and in a couple other places. It is noticeable, but barely.

It's at a car lot (and I HATE dealing with car lots) so that's why I'm asking about establishing a price. They said $5k, but I know they have around $1200-$1500 into it. So, any advice?

I wanted to write this thread after contacting the previous owner and getting some more info, but have not been able to reach him yet. Are there any "240z-specific" questions I should ask him?

Thanks in advance for any input-

jeremy

OMT, funny story.... When I was talking to the salesman about the car he said, "It runs, but not great". I said OK and we got in the car. Started it up, and it did sound like a dog, but he didn't know it had a choke (the labeled side of the choke had been flipped around at some point so you couldn't read what it was. I adjusted it and the engine roared to life. It ran VERY well and tracked straight. Although 3rd was alittle had to find. Later-

[2ManyZs]

If the car doesn't have any hidden underbody rust it looks like a great find. Worth 5K? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what the underside looks like. Be sure to check out the floor pans, frame rails, under the battery tray, around the fender lip and the rocker panels to see if there have been any not so perfect repair jobs.

The 3rd gear being hard to find is somewhat normal with the early 4 speed which this car probably has. If it is original it should have the early A model trans with the less than perfect shifter linkage. It can be swapped for a later one or you can try a set of solid bushings to help.

The bumper looks like it could be fixed without much trouble, just some work to straighten the bumper mounts, as long as there is no damage to the lower fender and headlight bucket. The bumpre itself looks pretty clean. Hood can be re-aligned with little trouble.

Interior looks pretty good, some holes cut for speakers you will want to cover up. Door panels are orginal style.

For what it is worth, I paid 3500 for a car in nearly the same shape. Mainly because I could only find one rust area on the outer body behind the door. Don't know what your budget is, but you can start low(2500 or so) and work your way up till he agrees to a price.

Good luck, looks like a pretty well kept car, certainly worth a second look!!

[Ed]

The car looks pretty nice. Like 2ManyZs said check her out well. Make sure the bondo wasn't put there to cover up rust, specially on the doors. If she is in as good a shape as she looks I think I would pay the 5k. I would first try 4k and work with the dealer to get a better deal.

The under dash on the passenger side is the heater fan. It says "Mr. Z" in yellow paint because it came from a junk yard. This is how many junk yards mark their parts in case of an exchange or something.

[laffeaux]

The car looks good, but the real price determined looking at the underside of a Z. Check the frame rails and floor pans for rust. A rust free car is worth a lot more than one with rust on the under carriage. My first Z had the front driver's side frame rail collapse due to rust, so look for it. Rust is more prevalant on early Zs than most cars.

The strap tha tyou asked about is stock. The cut-outs for speaker in the doors decreases the car's value. The seat upholstery, shifter nob, and color (note the mismatched engine bay color) are not stock. You can use all of these points to talk the price down.

Without seeing the frame rails, it's hard to establish a price. If they are clean $4K is not unreasonable. If they are rusty or if there is a lot of bondo that would be high.

[Mike]

Originally posted by POKeY

I'm a new member and potential buyer of a '71 240z. I was hoping someone could help me with some questions and have a look at the car I'm considering.

I saw a pic of another 240z with that bar on the door also. Just to be sure, is it standard?

Yep, standard.

This is directly under the dash on the passengers side. Can someone tell me what it is? It looks out of place.

Yep, it looks out of place. But, it's supposed to be like that. The "Mr Z" writing isn't standard thou. That is a fan for your heater.

Lastly, here's the front bumper. Other than being slightly askew from an apparently light impact it is in relatively great shape. I'm wondering if it could be tweaked somehow to "cover-up" the damage.

Doesn't look bad at all.

It's at a car lot (and I HATE dealing with car lots) so that's why I'm asking about establishing a price. They said $5k, but I know they have around $1200-$1500 into it. So, any advice?

This is at least a $1,500 car if isn't rust free. Look for bubbles in the paint behind the wheel wells toward the bottom of the body area.

I'd pay $1,500 or $2,000 for it.

[Alfadog]

Originally posted by Mike

I'd pay $1,500 or $2,000 for it.

Damnnn looks to me like more than 2k worth of Z! Is a number-matching original 240Z really worth that little over there?

[POKeY]

Hi-

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'll be going to the lot to check for rust in a day or two. Then, if everything is fine there I'll see what can be done.

Laffeaux, I didn't think the shifter knob was standard because it has "Nissan" written on it. Thanks.

OMT, do the original hubcaps have a "D" on them? This one has "U.S." on them. It does have the original spare in the back. I thought that was cool.

Thanks again-

jeremy

[beandip]

The value of the car in some degree is dependent on the location . There in Florida are the240s common as they are in Az & Ca ? Mostly as the others have stated the Rust is the biggest thing , on a couple of the pictures , it may be water drops or reflections but if not it looked like blisters in the paint . If there is any blisters in the paint that will drop the value a lot because they will grow in short order . One area of common rust is also at the rear hatch , when you open the hatch , look to each corner of the sill and also on the maiting corner of the hatch. Water has a tendancey to collect and rust out both of these areas. Of cource all of this stuff can be repaired but you are looking at a new paint job as well as the rust repair . Paint could run 1500. and depending on what was covered up much higher . So look closely for paint blisters . From what I have seen in the pictures , you would be in good shape at $2000. for the car. If you can get in touch with the privious owner , that could be a great great help. I picked up my '73 for $500. and have been driving it for the past 2 yrs. , but by the time I get the body work done and paint and all I will easily have 2000. in it and that is doing alot of the work my self. This car is a hobby with me so I enjoy working on it. Keep us informed on how you do, All the best to you , good luck Gary