I have been out of the Z car market for awhile, but I came across this '78 Black Pearl, 5-speed, that runs, but the brakes are not working. The car is pretty rough: Needs new seat foam/covers, carpet, probably both fenders, driver's door, maybe a hood, tires, brake work, paint, etc. The floors are solid, but the passenger side frame rail is rusty. The bumpers are in the car and look fine.

I could probably get the car for $500. Is the car even worth saving?

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Yes, as long as there isn't significant rot other than the areas you pointed out. If you can weld, or are willing to learn to weld, you can fix those areas easily. I just welded a new frame rail on mine last weekend. Cost me $7 for a piece of 16ga steel long enough to patch it. Mechanical stuff is not a big deal, but significant rust can be a major undertaking.

I've got other photos in that album of rust repair if you want to take a look.

It looks "needy", but if you're looking for a project that will keep you engaged for a while offer less than $500 (IMHO).

Dennis

no. Walk away and get something better to work with. It will save you a ton of money and effort in a very short while. $20k from now you will have a $6k car.

Went back and looked at the pictures again. NO

I think it deserves a closer inspection. If that is the original paint it looks pretty solid.

less than $200 to get the brakes and tuneup to at least get it to be a daily driver. Then you have a DD for only $700. Then you can inspect it better for more rust that might be hiding under the tar matting.

I'm in the thumbs-down group. Rust will eat your budget quickly.

Being from up north, I would say that it seems like a project worth getting into, but only because up here, every Z costs more and is in worse shape.

However, since you're from TX, I'm pretty sure you can find a better one if you look a bit more.

At least for 500$, it seems like a good parts car if things don't work out well.

The nay sayers aren't giving the car a fair shake. If the only rust spots are the ones he posted, it's about 15 hours worth of work and $30 worth of sheet metal tops.

Like Darrel said. It deserves closer inspection. Take a screw driver with you and poke on anything that looks bubbled up or loose. Check wheel wells behind tire, look in hatch area, see if upper frame rails are solid so that all you have to do is patch bottom, make sure floor boards are solid. If you find any rust thats not going to be easy to cut out and weld new metal in, then pass on it.

Edited January 24, 201114 yr by cozye

This is always a difficult and divisive question. The answer depends upon what you intend to do with the car after you buy it.

If you just want a Z to thrash around, then so long as the unit body is mostly solid, and it runs, it is worth the money to patch it up. Just understand that you will never get back what you put into this car. (Translation, don't put more money into it than you can afford to lose.)

If you are looking for a car to "restore" to "like new" condition and take to shows, this isn't the car that you want to use as a starting point.

There are lots of people up here in the NorthEast that will DD a car in that condition...although I would recommend some safety checks first!

Edited January 24, 201114 yr by cygnusx1

This is always a difficult and divisive question. The answer depends upon what you intend to do with the car after you buy it.

If you just want a Z to thrash around, then so long as the unit body is mostly solid, and it runs, it is worth the money to patch it up. Just understand that you will never get back what you put into this car. (Translation, don't put more money into it than you can afford to lose.)

If you are looking for a car to "restore" to "like new" condition and take to shows, this isn't the car that you want to use as a starting point.

Well put

And don't let the Black Pearl aspect play a role in your decision. That car is a long way from where being a Black Pearl would even matter.....