Rare Z that I'll be bringing back to life . . .

[Stickerman]

From what I read the Dealer put on accessories and some stripes and called it a special edition. Does that make it rare? In that rough shape, what is the difference if I take a regular silver Z and put the spoiler and stripes on it? Why would that one be worth more?

About 15 years ago the local Toyota store was installing spoilers and sunroof in base Celicas and marking them up as "sunchaser" special editions. Come trade in time it was still a base Celica.....

Edited April 22, 2010 by Stickerman

[psdenno]

I think if you Google Celica Sunchaser you'll see that it was factory approved and more of a Targa top than a sunroof mod.

A Celica SUNCHASER is nothing more than a special conversion of a 1979-1981 Toyota Celica. In all, probably 2000 GT and ST models were produced from all three factories in these years.

The Griffith Company was commissioned by TOYOTA to do the conversion. It involved cutting of the roof immediately behind the windshield to the edge of the B-Pillar to accommodate a targa style removable roof, and removal of the roof from immediately behind the B-Pillar to the trunk to accommodate a collapsible convertible rear section. When fully converted, all that remains of the normal roof is a roll bar.

Specific Alterations-

A sticker with the Griffith Griffin and SUNCHASER production number is placed on the inside of the Glove compartment door.

A badge stating "SUNCHASER" is placed on the outside of each B-Pillar, though mine was removed, you can still see where it should go. It's the long grayish section at the bottom.

A fiberglass enclosure is placed around the B-Pillar and remaining narrow band of roof and skirts underneath the convertible top.

A Leather/Leather-like padding is added to the interior of the B-Pillar / Roof.

Dennis

From what I read the Dealer put on accessories and some stripes and called it a special edition. Does that make it rare? In that rough shape, what is the difference if I take a regular silver Z and put the spoiler and stripes on it? Why would that one be worth more?

About 15 years ago the local Toyota store was installing spoilers and sunroof in base Celicas and marking them up as "sunchaser" special editions. Come trade in time it was still a base Celica.....

[sblake01]

From what I know about the Bob Sharp GT-33 cars they were more than just 'put on accessories and some stripes and call it a special edition'. Don't confuse this with efforts like the infamous Seattle 'Z-Hawk' which was just dealer applied stripes and no accessories.

Edited April 22, 2010 by sblake01

[Stickerman]

I know what the factory Celica Sunchaser was. If I was talking about those I would have put 30 years ago instead of 15 years ago. Google 1995 Celica Sunchaser and see what comes up.... This was not the factory models, it was a Dealer thing. Why is this different?

As far as comparing it to the Seattle Z-Hawk, again, why is the Bob Sharp car not considered the same? The Z-Hawk was stripes, the Bob Sharp car is stripes and some spoilers.....

I think it is a neat car, I just don't know what makes it more rare than any other Z. I just think it was a way for the Dealer to make more $$$

[sblake01]

From oklahomadan's write up on Z Car.com:

First I will start with what Bob Sharp did to the car

Custom White/Gold paint. The car was initially white, then they sprayed a pearl white on top of the factory white, and laid in the gold.

Custom Corduroy and brown shag interior. The seats and door panels are covered in tan corduroy. All of the vinyl has been covered in brown shag carpeting.

1" front sway bar

7/8" rear sway bar

front spoiler

rear spoiler

mini-lite wheels

competition exhaust

weber big throat

I don't know if that makes is worth more either. But it's more than "stripes and some spoilers". I've always questioned the worth of a ZZZap or BPE over any other 280Z since they have no documentation or markings/badges to distinguish them from the others. If nothing else, the Bob Sharp history is interesting. Plus, his was a pace car. I don't know the story on Jeffrey's car.

Edited April 22, 2010 by sblake01

[Stickerman]

From oklahomadan's write up on Z Car.com:

I don't know if that makes is worth more either. But it's more than "stripes and some spoilers".

That is on the White car, which has a number plate. The silver car does not have that equipment or a number plate (I have seen the car in person) It even has stock wheels. So the Silver car is a regular one with some stripes and spoilers.....

All I am saying is I don't know if it is worth rescuing one that has that much rust only because it had a dealer add on package. If you like the looks of it, get a better car and replicate it...

[sblake01]

Isn't that pretty much what I said? E.G. "I don't know the story on Jeffrey's car."

Edited April 22, 2010 by sblake01

[Mike B]

Looks like Biker Trash gave up on bringing this one back to life. Its on ebay now with no reserve and a current bid of $510.01 with 6 days left (probably just listed today) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-GT-33-1976-Bob-Sharp-Racing-Datsun-280Z-GT-33-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3f06e92d3fQQitemZ270698884415QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks.

-Mike

[Biker_Trash]

Yup, I decided to put the car up for sale. I have three 280Zs and that's just too many. Between the cars and all the vintage motorcycles I have to work on, I'm never going to get to the GT-33. So . . . I'll let somebody else take up the torch . . . and I'll let the market decide on the price. I just hope the next guy sees it all the way through. It really is a neat car.

Jeff Woodard