Buying first Z! NEED HELP

[garofalory]

So I found this 260z on CL for sale. It was hit on the driver side fender and the left back QP is wavey (sort of)...some kid hit him. He has a replacement fender for the driver side. It has 15k miles on the odo, said it rolls over every 100k miles. It's unfortunately auto but IDC! Everything is clean and I am going to get it checked out by a shop: compression test; rust; frame; etc... I need help! My dad *still live at home* is telling me I should bail on it. What do you guys think?! (if everything checks out ok):paranoid::paranoid::paranoid:

[Reverend]

If it has been hit, i'd pass it. IF you have the extra time and MONEY, maybe then. But pictures would help. Also may i ask the price?

[garofalory]

If it has been hit, i'd pass it. IF you have the extra time and MONEY, maybe then. But pictures would help. Also may i ask the price?

It's $1,500... I have 3g and the parts for fixing the fender and headlight. I'll post up pictures. I think it has potential and it's just a blemish. Once I fix it, she'll be back to her beauty again.

[garofalory]

<a href="http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/Ryan_Garofalo/?action=view&current=imagejpeg_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/Ryan_Garofalo/imagejpeg_2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/Ryan_Garofalo/?action=view&current=imagejpeg_2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/Ryan_Garofalo/imagejpeg_2-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Reverend]

Well.. i spent 1400$ on mine, which had new paint job and tons of extra parts. But once again, its up to you. 1500 is too much for busted z imho.

[SteveJ]

IMHO, take a pass on this one and wait for a nicer one. That's a lot easier to do living in California. If you use Firefox, go to crazedlist to search multiple CL forums in SoCal. You will find the car you want.

[Montezuma]

The front fender can be replaced and the rear section can be repaired...so go for it, but I would only pay $900 or so for it.

[5thhorsemann]

$500. is more like it.

[ZCurves]

What does the rest of it look like? Bad rust? Jacked up interior? How is the engine? Does it smoke, knock or otherwise run well? See what it would cost to have a body shop check the body to see if it is straight (Unibody not torqued) If those things are ok, then it would be fine to handle the body work.

[sparegolfer]

I know you must be really jacked to buy this car but sit back and read this first. I like all the early z's but the only thing wrong with buying a 260 is they only made this car a couple of years before they moved on to the 280 and they made a ton of those, so if you buy the 260 a lot of the parts won't interchange with the 240s and maybe not even the 280s. Parts are becoming more and more scarce, then add the fact that your car is more rare than the 240s or 280s and you could be in trouble when trying to find parts. I have had a lot of early 240s and if it was up to me now, I would buy a 280 and make it look like a 240 (skinny bumpers) 280s had a much better ride

[mjr45]

The 260 I believe was only made in 74, people who own them love them, IMO they are a sorta improved 240 and not fully a 280. If it is clean with no rust and runs well offer $6-750 and go to work on it, otherwise walk away and look for a better deal. Just my 2 cents.

[garofalory]

I haven't checked it out yet, but "supposedly" there is barely any rust. The body is straight, no knocking or smoking. I'm going to take it to a shop to get it checked out. The interior is 8/10. Few rips in the seats and that's pretty much it. Sparegolfer: so true about parts, hardly anything out there for it. I just think having a 260 since it was only made in 74 would be a unique car to have when I have my own kids (looooooong time from now.) Thanks for all the help btw.

IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A GOOD/CHEAP 240/260z (no 280 due to CA smog) PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I WANT GET STARTED ON THIS PROJECT ASAP!