I hate to do it, but I've listed my 1983 280ZX Turbo in the classifieds. I bought that car in Texas in 1990, and I've taken great care of it ever since.

When is it time to turn loose of a car you've owned for 20 years? It's tough.

I have that ZX and a 1958 Fiat Spyder roadster...and I don't need two 2-seat sports cars. The Fiat was my 1968 high school graduation present, and it has been in storage since 1973. I keep wanting to finish it - but it seems like every weekend, I have to do something to the ZX or one of our other cars.

Here's a Fiat promo photo of my Spyder:

Now both daughters have moved out, but the ZX still takes most of my available time. The Fiat has been taking up my side of the garage for 12 years, waiting for me to put in the 10 to 20 hours that would finish it....and I'm halfway done.

And to tell the truth, I'm tired of keeping up with the ZX. It runs great and it's fun to drive, I know every detail of it, but the vacuum hoses need replaced - and the washer pump isn't working - and there's a slow current drain I've been trying to find. None of these matter a lot or are that hard to fix, but I'm tired of having a ZX that's 98% perfect but still needs tweaks. :disappoin

So although I hate to do it and it hurts, I'm selling the ZX so that I can get that Fiat back on the road after nearly 40 years. It's not a road car (top speed is about 75), but it's a fun in-town car.

What about you? Are you close to calling "time out" on one of your treasured cars?

Edited August 21, 201014 yr by Pilgrim

Do you have room to keep them both? If so, unless you need the $, park the ZX for awhile and focus on the Fiat. Like my MGB and Z, your Fiat and ZX are very different cars (although both 2 seat sports cars), so each has its own unique driving experience. If you can swing it, keep them both and induldge both driving experiences whenever you feel like it.

If you need the space or the $, then I would sell the ZX, no question.

Good luck with your decision!

Cheers,

Doug

So - I changed my mind.

I want to prove to myself that I DO have time to work on the Fiat, which needs more than the ZX. I'm putting a car cover over the ZX and parking it for a while - probably till next spring. I'm going to work on the Fiat and prove that I can allocate time to do it. If I can't, then I'll decide whether to sell one or both.

But I don't want to sell the ZX and then discover that I'm just not willing to make time for this. That's a different issue. If nothing else, I'm going to retire in 5-8 years, and I could hang onto it till then.

So - I changed my mind.

But I don't want to sell the ZX and then discover that I'm just not willing to make time for this. That's a different issue. If nothing else, I'm going to retire in 5-8 years, and I could hang onto it till then.

Good plan!

Dennis

Good, now come out to High Plains Raceway and watch other z's have fun out on the track.

september 11th all day, put on by the Z Car Club of Colorado.

www.zccc.org

www.highplainsraceway.com