37 Years and Counting (Story of HLS3076976)

[Randalla]

I was raised in Detroit, Michigan, a “car guy” from the cradle. My grandfather sold used cars and my father worked in advertising promoting Chevrolet, Chrysler and Ford. After college I followed in my father’s footsteps in the ad business, working on Ford, Oldsmobile, Jaguar, Chrysler, VW, Audi, Lincoln, Mitsubishi and many others over the years.

I loved cars as far back as I can recall. At age six, my father would point to cars asking me to identify them, which I readily did while sitting on his lap behind the wheel. I remember cherishing the promotional plastic model cars my dad brought home from work, racing hot wheels and slot cars with the neighbor boys, drawing cars every chance I got and touring the factory where the first Mustangs were

built.

Go karts were my first exposure to driving. My parents thought two-wheeled travel (mini bikes) was too dangerous. My dad built the first kart: tube frame, plywood floor, 2 horsepower Briggs and Straton engine, which he ran behind with a rope leash making sure it didn’t get away (it had no brakes). Later, I bought a factory built go kart which I loved to race against my friends and take apart, experimenting with

ways to make it faster. One night my dad came home to find the engine in pieces on the garage floor. “You’ll never get it back together,” he said unhappily, which only motivated me to prove him wrong. The next day when he came home from work I was proudly driving it full throttle around our circle drive.

In college, I was gifted one of my dad’s sedans, my first car. The idea of having a car of my own was something I’d always longed for but I really wanted something sportier, a car that could snap my neck back and turn the girl’s heads when I drove by. Unfortunately, my budget and, as the years passed, the necessity of room for my three kids, limited me to unexciting transportation choices for many years. My first recollection of seeing a Datsun “Z” car was in the mid 1980’s. A business associate had a 280-Z which he dearly loved but he had to replace rusty doors and fenders, after contending with Detroit’s road salt. I remember thinking how great the Z looked, but wrote it off as cheap Japanese junk (a common Detroit opinion at that time). In the early 90s I saw a restored 240-Z drive though my neighborhood in Michigan and fell in love, vowing one day to find one of my own.

In 1994 I moved to Phoenix Arizona and began my quest for a “rust-free” Datsun 240-Z. In 1995 I found HLS3076976, a 1972 240-Z, in the Arizona Republic classifieds. I bought the car for $2,500 after having a mechanic inspect it. I felt I’d probably paid too much for the car, but it was solid, drivable and came

with a thick folder of receipts and records dating back to the car’s purchase. The previous owner had used the car as collateral for a loan that he had defaulted on. I bought the car from Title Leasing Company with just over 100,000 miles. It needed to be completely refurbished, which I began immediately.

I learned the car was originally purchased by John Haggard at ABC Motors (now ABC Nissan) on Camelback Road, and serviced at Brit Smith Datsun in Mesa. The window sticker and bill of sale showed Mr. Haggard paid cash, purchasing it for $4,938.04 with two extra cost options added, air conditioning and mag wheels. Curiously three colors were written on the invoice, silver, brown and white, all crossed out. I later learned those were the first, second and third choices, the owner settling for orange due to

availability. When I bought the car it had been painted Maroon and the paint was showing its age.

I worked hard the first few years, replacing most of the mechanical components, cleaning everything and upgrading the car in several areas. The car made very few long trips but I drove it regularly and enjoyed it fully. I won first place at a local Datsun car show for the “best original interior.” I’d always wanted to have the car repainted its original orange color but there were always competing priorities with three kids in school. Finally, in the fall of 2008, after owning the car 13 years, I bit the bullet and had it painted. It took nearly six months, but in April of 2009 the Z was trailered back to my home and I began the reassembly. I was thrilled with the results.

The Z was put back together and on the road again by October, when I took it to its first show. While going through my file of paperwork for the car and looking at the bill of sale I became curious, wondering if the original owner might be alive after all these years and still residing in Arizona. I had a name, an address and a 37-year-old phone number. I tried the number and amazingly John Haggard answered the phone. He had moved from the original address, but not far, still residing in Tempe. After explaining who I was and why I was calling, we had a very pleasant conversation, reminiscing over the 37 years passed since buying HLS3076976 new.

John is now 74 years old, a retired college professor at Mesa College for 40 years. He taught business and even a couple of advertising classes. He’s the last of the Haggards, a family calling the Valley home for three generations. After collecting his memory, John, who asked me to call him Bill (his middle name), recalled that he was a 37 year old bachelor at the time he bought the car. He wanted a flashy car with some power and didn’t need four seats. He liked the orange color, though it was not his first choice. “I take care of my cars like a baby,” he said. He told me the car had never been in an accident and recalled only a single flat tire as a problem. He did relate, much to his chagrin, that he accidently spilt pool acid in the rear hatch area, eating a dinner plate size hole in the carpet. The car has been in the Phoenix metropolitan area most of its life, with only the occasional trip to California or northern Arizona.

Bill and I agreed to stay in touch and will meet in person before the end of the year, the next time I show the car. Meeting the original owner will complete the circle for HLS3076976 and for me. Half of John’s life has passed since he bought the Z back in 1972. Playing a part in reuniting two survivors will be a special moment.

[d240zx2]

Nice story. It'll be nice for you and Bill to meet and compare notes...

[Randalla]

Here is the conclusion to the 37 years and counting story above. I wrote this a couple of years ago so it is now 39 years and counting

After trying to work around some out of town time for both us, Bill Haggard and I were finally able to schedule a lunch to meet for the first time, and reintroduce him to the new car he purchased 38 years ago. Bill lives in Tempe, but suggested The White Chocolate Grill, near the 101 free-way and Scottsdale Road, a restaurant he frequents and enjoys. Bill beat me there, meeting me in the lobby. At 74 years of age, his youthful looks, dressed in blue jeans and a red polo shirt, surprised me a bit. I expected him to look his age. Perhaps his years as a college professor, and his still fertile mind, keep him young.

Most of our nearly two hour lunch was spent getting to know each other. We found we shared many of the same passions and life experiences, even though Bill is about twenty years my senior. I found Bill to be a very generous, warm guy, as much interested in the details of my life as I was in his. Now retired, Bill spends his time with friends and acquaintances, lending his business expertise to assist them with their own challenges. Bill offered to help me develop my own business plan for a venture I had contemplated starting. We got lost in the conversation, oblivious to the time we had been eating lunch.

After paying the bill, we walked to the parking lot together to show Bill “his car.” His first reaction was one of utter surprise at how the car looked today. Though I told him previously I had restored the car, I don’t think he was expecting to see his 38 year old Datsun 240Z looking as it does today. I had the sense his memory of the car was not as clear as I had hoped, though during lunch he recounted several memories of trips taken with the car in Arizona. I lifted the hood to show off all the chrome and detailing I had done. Bill was extremely impressed. I took several pictures of Bill beside his 240Z, which I treasure as one more of many mementos I have, associated with the car.

About a month before meeting Bill, I took the Z and my camera out for a photo shoot, attempting to capture some great shots that I wanted to frame and present to Bill at lunch. To say he was blown away would be an understatement! He assured me the photos would occupy a place of prominence in his home and would no doubt be a conversation piece. I also told him I was looking to publish this story which he was very excited about.

[zhead240]

post some before and after pics if possible.

[Kathy & Rick]

What a nice story! I just love to read stories of early Z Cars, especially those which

have a happy "ending" (so to speak) such as yours. I have been a 240Z owner for 41

consecutive years, and have never gotten tired of hearing about other peoples'

experiences with these great cars.

BTW I added your VIN and some of the details to my "archives." However, the build

date (driver's side door jamb) and engine block # (R/F strut tower data plate) would

be nice additional info. If you could provide these either here or by PM, it would be

very much appreciated.

All Z Best,..................................Kathy & Rick

[Randalla]

Thanks guys. I'll post the information you requested this weekend.

[Randalla]

Just walked out and checked the build date and engine block number. The build date is 4/72 and the engine tag and casting number on the block match, (original engine) #097506.