What have I gotten into?

[Znutz]

Hi all,

I have just purchased the car I've always dreamed of having. Yes, a 240z. 1973 to be exact. It will be a project car for my 18 year old and me. Hopefully he will get it when he gets through Air Force boot camp and stationed in the states.

My question is about the rareness of this car we found. I truly believe the owner has had it for the last 30 years, with a brief hiatus to his son-in-law. From all looks it is true to it's original 39000 miles. It was undercoated and rot free. Amazing for Michigan! It has been unmolested except for spoked rims. To me, all the original parts are there except for a new fuel pump and slave.

I have been reading all I can about these cars and viewed many pictures to validate my position.

If this is true, what is it worth in your opinion?

[Jeff G 78]

Welcome to the forum! Post some pics of your new purchase. Value is hard to judge without a thorough inspection. It's all about condition.

Where in Michigan?

[motorman7]

Pics would help a lot for estimating worth. The price range based on your limited information would be anywhere $5K-$15K. Has it been repainted? Dash and interior condition? motor pics? frame rail pics? 'Unmolested' has a different meaning for each individual. It can mean anything from 'untouched' to 'the air cleaner on my V-8 doesn't stick out of the hood'.

Offhand, sounds like you have a great car.....we just like the pics :-)

Best regards,

Rich

[Znutz]

Hi Jeff,

We're in Holland, MI. I will be looking closer at the frame rails but the parting lines on the underside of the rockers looks excellent. Could be stuff under the paint though.

[Znutz]

[Mike]

Pics look great! Reminds me of when I first found my Z, sitting in a garage and unable to run. Congrats and have a good time restoring or refreshing, whatever it is you will do.

[Carl Beck]

Hi all,

I have just purchased the car I've always dreamed of having. Yes, a 240z. 1973 to be exact. It will be a project car for my 18 year old and me. Hopefully he will get it when he gets through Air Force boot camp and stationed in the states.

Yes - Go Air Force! Good for him...

My question is about the rareness of this car we found. I truly believe the owner has had it for the last 30 years, with a brief hiatus to his son-in-law. From all looks it is true to it's original 39000 miles.

After sitting for for so long - after undergoing a complete repaint, with everything blacked out under the hood - really impossible to tell. Nonetheless - I would expect a 39,000 mile engine to be in far better shape over-all - at least cosmetically.

It was undercoated and rot free.

I certainly hope that you are right. However, many times the undercoating covers up rust that forms under it. You'll have a much better idea once you get the car stripped down. Likewise the Tar Mats on the inside of the floors. - lots of times they too cover rusted metal.

Amazing for Michigan! It has been unmolested except for spoked rims. To me, all the original parts are there except for a new fuel pump and slave.

Well - "unmolested" except for a complete color change, blacked out under the hood etc.

I have been reading all I can about these cars and viewed many pictures to validate my position.

If this is true, what is it worth in your opinion?

Looking at the over-all condition - looking at the condition of the engine compartment - I would guess it has a lot more than 40K miles on it. Very hard to tell what the condition really is under that repaint. You didn't say if you could drive it before you bought it - but if it was in non-running condition - but with a fairly straight body.. $4.5K to $5.5K wouldn't be too bad a price to pay in Mich. A bit more if you were able to start and drive it 25 miles or so..

Nonetheless - it looks like it would be a good start on a Project. Keep us posted on your progress..

FWIW,

Carl B.

[240260280z]

These cars clean up nice and are easy to work on.

If you like the style, like most of us here, each one is worth a million dollars

[madkaw]

Probably on worth a couple hundred - but I'm offering 500$ :)cool father son project

GO USAF- my daughter is an USAF officer!!!!

Welcome to CZCC and the helpful staff here

Edited November 25, 2013 by madkaw

[bartsscooterservice]

Id go with Carl. But does it really matter... after some work, it will come out nice

[EuroDat]

Whats it worth? What is your hobby worth to you and your son. Thats all that matters in the end.

If your planning on restoring it for eventual resell with profit later, thats just not going to happen.

Looks like the PO has been tinkering with it like Carl said. Colour change and blacked out under the hood and I would be thinking more in the relms of 139k on the clock, but what do you expect for a 40 year old car.

Still a great start to an enjoyable project.

I wont say what I think its worth. My estimate is geographically biased. Zeds are all but an extinct species over here.

Chas

[jfa.series1]

The engine bay pic shows mostly OE hoses and OE hose clamps. The hoses will have to be replaced but hold on to the OE clamps and resist the urge to replace them with modern stuff. Get them thoroughly cleaned up and them replated in yellow zinc to add some flash and maintain authenticity under the hood. FYI - those old clamps are always in demand by Z restorers!

Welcome to the group and good luck with the project. Take your time and throw NOTHING away until you already have its replacement in hand. Bag and tag everything IMMEDIATELY as it comes off the car - don't trust your memory, it will fail you! Don't start a bolt/nut can and expect to remember where each one goes, bag and tag them individually.

We're here for your questions and updates, looking forward to keeping up with your progress.

Jim