Finally got to drive the "Barn Find"

[5150 will]

Thanks for the love guys. Cozye, The story basically goes, sold originally June '71 in Stockton, Ca @ Stockton Datsun. The original owner sold it in '73 to the lady I bought bought it from and her husband. At that time the car had roughly 7k miles on it. They(she) drove the car up until sometime in '87 or '88 when they bought a new car and the Z was put in storage in a barn in the Linden, Ca. area. The husband was a mechanic and kept up on all the maintenance before it was parked. Fast forward to September 2010 and I was selling a '77 280 I had. I had the '77 at my work and my secretary started telling me about a friend of hers who had an older Z but hadn't driven it in years and she had some pics of it on her computer. Needless to say I wanted to see the pics. I got in touch with the lady who owned it and she told me where to go see the car. I went and looked at it and was shocked to see the car had ZERO rust, but all the systems needed to be refreshed obviously. The butterscotch interior is almost pristine. Having had many cars over the years, I had just told my wife when the '77 was gone that I'm done with project cars for awhile.........that lasted all of about 3 days:D . After I looked it over really well, I basically told the lady I would help her sell it or I would be willing to pay her xxx for the car. She accepted my offer, obviously, and I trailered it home the next day 09/11/10. It is such a nice car and i'm keeping it basically stock. I've got a pile of documentation with the car and even the original am radio. Heck, even the power antenna still works as does everything else.

[ajmcforester]

The shocks can be rebuilt that is what I plan to do. I was looking for a place but the restoration shop stated they can do it they have some sperm wale oil that they get recriminated sp? and use. If you are getting rid of rebuildable 240Z shocks you might to see if a British, Ferrari, Lambo, and Pantera sp? shops could use it they might buy your shocks for the oil. Their is no better oil in the world and these cars diffs would wear-out early without it. The Italian sports cars even use it for transmissions

[78zcar_blue]

She is a beauty, I can relate to the enjoyment after 3 years of restoration, I too was able to drive my 280 again.

[esmit208]

5150

You should have bought a lottery ticket the day you took posession of it. The only time i saw an original look that good was on the sales room floor. Take care of it and may it see many highway miles. Project 3/72

[Zealous]

Congrats Will,

Glad you finally got to take it for a drive. Hope to see it out on the road sometime.

[zhead240]

great look'n zed. more pics please. underside and engine bay if possible.

[5150 will]

Heck James, you can drive it. I've still got a bit of underhood detailing to do, and when I get it looking a little more presentable I'll put up some more pics. I do feel very fortunate to have found this car to say the least.