Available '73 240z,,,, was what the private message said.

[Darrel]

Here is what the rest of the private message went on to say.

Hi.

My name is Terry. I saw your post ‘my 73 240z from CO’ regarding your white Z. I thought you might need a new project (or parts) so here’s my story.

I have a 1973 Datsun 240Z that’s been garaged since 1985. I had hoped I could return it to its glory days. But alas, I realize now it’s not going to happen with me. I was the 2nd owner, purchased in 1974 with 12,000 miles. It now sits at 214,000 miles. I was planning on putting ads out to see if anyone would be interested in it, but when I saw your post I thought I’d contact you first (since you’re relatively local, I live in Boulder).

The car is pretty much as I bought it. The body is in pretty good shape, with minor rust at the bottom of one of the wheel wells. If you or someone you know has any interest, I’d be glad to give you more details. If you’re curious, I could e-mail you some pictures. My e-mail is

I’m asking $600 for it. (Includes car cover)

Thanks…Terry

That's how it started back in June/July last year. I got the first pics around july 7th. I decided to check it out. Being between jobs at the moment didn't help. I went to his place. Talk about an unmolested '72 240z, except for the aftermarket radio and speakers cut into the tail light access panels, and slot mags, it is completely stock down to the flat top carbs. It started out in southern california and the last 20 in colorado.

Needless to say i was very curious after seeing the pics. Since I couldn't afford it, even when he offered to let me make payments, I decided to let others have a chance at it. So I had Terry take a lot of pics and he wanted some help in selling it. I gave him my honest opinion about prices to start with. $5k to start, take no less than $4k. Even with it sitting untouched since '85, it was well worth the prices I set.

2 weeks later, I interviewed for a job and got it. I called Terry and asked, knowing my opinion and he knowing he already offered me I could buy it for $600. I asked him what would he sell it to me for. He started chuckling and said, "Well, you said $4k, LOL" Then he got serious and said, how about $1K? I asked him if he could wait till january or february, Then I would give him $1500 for it. We both knew even in it's current state, non op, it was well worth the $1500. He was happy, I was happy. Today it is in my hands and hope to get it running before Terry moves out of state. That was the reason he was looking to sell. He didn't want to move it again.

Terry really took care of this car. Original paint and it is still shiny, no accidents, needs driver seat cover and maybe foam and the hatch carpeting. The floor mats still use the clips that kept them fixed.

These were the first four pics he sent me.

[grannyknot]

Pretty sweet deal, the kind we all dream about, Congrats.

So what are your plans?

[siteunseen]

That's a great find that you weren't even looking for, wow!

[Darrel]

I have always wanted to put a v8 in a 240. ;-)

seriously, this is very original, I have the radio and antennae I can take out of my white one and put in this one.

This car needs quite a bit to get it road worthy, but not any more than my white one needed which I paid $500 for 12 yrs ago. With this one I have to deal with 28 yr old gas which was filled up just before being parked. I have a set of round tops to put on.

I will get dave irwins upgrades as well.

[Darrel]

High performance tires to be for sale soon!

[siteunseen]

Maypops! May pop today, may pop tomorrow.

[Darrel]

Some pics of when the 2nd owner bought it, and I may have located the original owner who had it for only a year.

[jonathanrussell]

This looks to be a great find Darrel and at an amazing price. Assuming the typical rust areas of these cars look good on your car, you should feel very fortunate. Congratulations.

[Darrel]

I thought I put the rust pics. One of them you can see.

Here's the other,

How's that for rust?

[jonathanrussell]

If that is the worst rust you have, then you are in great shape. How do these areas look?

Floors (both sides).

left and right corners of the hatch deck area that gets exposed when you open the hatch.

Battery area

Area below the master cylinder.

Open up the cowl cover and see what it looks like in the cowl area.

For me, if what you show above is the worst rust you have, I would do everything I could to save your original paint as long as you can. Refresh the brakes. Refresh the suspension (rubber, tie rods, ball joints, strut inserts). Replace the tires. Replace hoses, belts. Tune up the engine. Flush and replace clutch hydraulic fluid. Flush replace coolant. Assess fuel tank and fuel. After that, drive it and enjoy. If it proves too difficult to get running smoothly, replace your carbs with ztherapy round top carbs.

BTW, very cool that you were able to obtain early photos of your car. Wish I had that for mine.

Edited March 2, 2014 by jonathanrussell

[Darrel]

Believe me, I am way ahead of you on my plan of attack. It's nothing I haven't already had to do with my white '73. I just have to deal with what's left of a full tank of 28 year old gas.

I bet if you had a time machine and had the cars side by side from 20 feet away you wouldn't be able to tell them apart except for the wheels. They were shinier in the earlier pics, Only a little bit of polishing will bring them back to match. Obviously there are minor door dings, but like Terry said in his private message to me, it is much like he bought it when it was a year old. I am not exaggerating.

All the plastic(turn signals, taillights, markers) are still real bright and no pitting or sun damage at all.

I did have Terry take pics from when I told him I would help him sell it. The gussets in the front wheels wells are perfect.

[siteunseen]

Don't try and crank it yet, there's things to be done 1st.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/introductions-z-stories/22619-waking-sleeping-beast.html

Post #8

Edited March 3, 2014 by siteunseen