My first Z car

[Koss]

A week ago I was visiting my parents in the US (I live in Norway). While I was there I happened to stumble a cross a guy with a couple of Z cars. (Brent, owner of Z-Docs in Tampa, FL) I hadn't been planing on buying a car. But I have wanted an S30 for quite some time. I said I was looking for an old Z car. 240z, 260z or 280z with a manual transmission. As it turned out, he had a green 1971 Datsun 240z sitting.

The car had been restored a couple of years ago. Rebuilt engine and transmission. A full body repaint. (Not the best paint job I've seen, but at least not much rust) And the interior was in pretty good condition. But there is a couple of minor issues which I don't mind since it'll be a Sunday/project car.

After pulling the car out of the garage, and getting it to run I was just standing there looking at the beauty. I was decided "Why not!". I said I'd take the car for the price he wanted, provided he fix the breaks (needed a new brake master cylinder) and transport it to the port for Shipping. (Norway)

Since I had to leave for Europe the next day I left my father in charge of the rest. Brent offered to try and fix the brakes before I left, which was nice of him. But since it wouldn't make much of a difference to me we gave him a week and a half so he could do it when he had the time, and didn't have to stress to finish it.

I've been going through the forum and a lot of other sites the last two weeks, feeling like a kid on Christmas eve. And now, only 30 minutes ago, I got the call from my dad, saying he has paid for the car which is now mine.

So that's the story of how I happened to become a Z owner.

[d240zx2]

He, Koss, big congratulations to you. When do you expect the car to get to you?

[Koss]

Thanks. Not sure yet I am waiting for the sailing schedule from the shipping company. Hopefully I'll have the car in late May or the beginning of June.

Unfortunately I was not able to get any pictures of the car since I didn't bring my camera, and had to leave for Europe the next day. And all you would have seen was dust anyway.

[Carl Beck]

Hi Koss:

Gee.... to bad you didn't give me a call. We could have meet and made a trip to "Z Mecca". Jim is located in North Tampa. Not too far from ZDoc's.

Good to hear you found a 240Z that you like... Do you know what items will be inspected / required to allow import of the car into Norway?

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Koss]

Thanks Carl. Too bad I didn't hear about it till now! I'll be sure to give you a call next time I am over in the US. Thanks for the advice and hospitality! (Stumbling up on Z-Doc's in the first place was quite a coincidence)

I am not sure about the inspections and requirements. But according to my father who is in the car business and have done a lot of car importing from Germany, and some from the US, it shouldn't be much of a problem. The only thing I know as of now is that the car will need a road safety inspection before I get the plates, to make sure it's safe to go on the roads. Other than that I think the requirements are less strict since it's a veteran car.

Another good thing is that since it's a veteran car I save at least $8-10 000 on import taxes. We usually have to pay import tax on the engine volume, horsepower, emission and weight of the car. On veteran cars you pretty much only pay the VAT which is 25%.

(as English is not my native language, please just overlook any funky sentence structure or miss-spellings)

[esmit208]

CONGRATULATIONS KOSS

You will definitely stand out in a vehicle such as this in Norway. I don't suppose many of these were originally destined for Norwegian shores in the early 70's. Please post some pics as soon as possible. And oh yeah your English and sentence structure are fine considering no one here comes close to speaking or understanding your native language. May you enjoy many kilometres with a BIG

Edited March 30, 2011 by esmit208
mispelling

[Koss]

Thank you!

It will indeed! I know people have imported a couple of them from the US the last few years. But I have only seen a few for sale online, and I have yet see one on the road in real life. So it's gonna be a lot of fun.

I see you live down in Melbourne. I always used to be fascinated somehow by the old shack (which is now demolished) with he big open lot on E Strawbridge ave.

[Koss]

Finally got some photos of the car. They were in the folder with the title, I scanned them to my computer so the quality is not too good, but it's better than nothing.

Hopefully the car will arrive in Europe in late May!

[BoldUlysses]

Stunning car! I'm sure the wait will be hard. Is that a factory color?

I would nix the rear window louvers, but that's about it. Love the wheels, too.

-Matt

[Koss]

Thanks Matt. I was told it had a total respray a couple of years ago. It's the original color supposedly, but if it's an exact match I can say.

In other great new, I got the car through customs in Norway, and picked it up at the dock today. Hauled it on a trailer, which was a smart move since the battery was dead.

I didn't take any photos as the rain was pouring down. I'll see if I'm able to snap a couple of shots tonight.

[jfa.series1]

Let the fun begin!!!

Congratulations on getting possession of your new obsession (or perhaps it is the other way around).

Jim

[Koss]

So, here are a couple of shots from the other night.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markusaj/5821347143/" title="_DSC1446-1 by MarkusAJ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2225/5821347143_5da1c48760.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="_DSC1446-1"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markusaj/5821350863/" title="_DSC1447-1 by MarkusAJ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2344/5821350863_6774f5e79b.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="_DSC1447-1"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markusaj/5821354463/" title="_DSC1448-1 by MarkusAJ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5079/5821354463_476f8c1703.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="_DSC1448-1"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markusaj/5821920904/" title="_DSC1449-1 by MarkusAJ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/5821920904_fbaf019ff0.jpg" width="500" height="317" alt="_DSC1449-1"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markusaj/5821358127/" title="_DSC1450-1 by MarkusAJ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/5821358127_b5f1d17a64.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="_DSC1450-1"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markusaj/5821926602/" title="_DSC1451-1 by MarkusAJ, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5231/5821926602_d7095856e3.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="_DSC1451-1"></a>

ATM I have some electrical problems. Which means I'm most likely going to end up posting in the "Help me" section of the forum.