78&79 Z

[Mark Maras]

 Hi All

 CL-Onalaska, Wa. (Southwest, WA.) I looked at two Zs. A 78 and 79. 78 is complete and the 79 has been sitting with the head off and the cyl. are full of water. Both have the usual severe rust BUT the 78 has an interior that is in very good shape. I couldn't find any cracks in the dash. Carpet, trim and seats are also very nice. Seller is asking $1800.00 OBO for both. He wants both of them gone and he doesn't want to part them out. I've got plenty on my plate at this time but was wondering what a good dash is worth. Can't seem to find any on e-bay. I'm going to pass on them for now. Maybe he'll consider parting them out if they don't sell.

 

[Zed Head]

Is it black interior or the more typical butterscotch?  An uncracked dash is a rare find.  I wonder if it would survive the removal.  For non-running cars with decent parts you can estimate what the wrecking yard would pay for the body and get a better idea of what the parts will actually cost you.  Pick n Pull will give a number right over the phone after a few questions.  They'll even arrange towing from your house after you pick ii apart.  Of course towing from Onalaska needs to be factored in also.

Drive trains would be very similar.  79 used the early type 5 speed.

[Mark Maras]

 Brief history-78. Looks complete. Shortly before it was stored 11 years ago, it was given a fresh coat of paint. The paint now has thousands of "tiny bubbles, in the wine" colored paint. (Sorry) Rust blisters, I'm assuming. Tail light panel, rockers, floors, rails, firewall & battery area would need a lot of attention too.  However, it has a beautiful, clean  black interior. Small crack in the console forward of the ashtray is the only damage I could find. I'm not ruling out that I may have been looking at a dash cap. Sun was going down. If it was a cap, it was a damned good one. I forgot to ask him as we strolled thru his eclectic collection of cars and projects. I'll ask him about the dash and report back. Also going to approach the possibility of parts. The 79 is incomplete. Lots of easy elec. goodies to be had, I hope.

  Among the oddities was an early Corvair. Little to no rust, orig. white paint, light blue interior is complete and it runs and drives well. Hasn't been licensed in years. 2 1/2 1965 Mustangs, 2 RX7s, Model A pick-up, 46 Desoto, 71 454 Vette and about a dozen other cars and trucks his wife would like to see gone. The Vette stays.

 

 Description-79 :Light brown in color. Rusted in the same areas as the 78. Some places a bit better. Someone removed the head and the cylinders are full of water. Some parts stored inside. Interior is ratty, except a very nice set of alum sill plates with the Datsun logo and orig. screws. I was surprised to see them on a 79.

[rossiz]

i drove a '64 corvair ragtop for a couple of years - fun car, but nader was right...

[Mark Maras]

 I remember an intrepid soul back in the 70s that actually raced one.

[hr369]

I thought the 79's only had the plastic door sills. You are talking about an s30 and a s130? 

[Mark Maras]

 Both S30s. At the time, I thought the owner was unsure about the years, but I was so bummed about the rust I let the subject of the Zs drop in favor of an MGB that got my attention. The earlier Z has the older style rad. support. The later Z with the Datsun logo sill plates has the newer style rad. support. What year did the rad. supports change? I think the sill plates must have come from an earlier Z at some time. Sure hope he wants to sell some parts.

[EuroDat]

They changed the support in august 76. Your probably looking at a early 75-76 model and a late 77-78.

Can you remember what the bumpers looked like? The Accordian rubber side bumper started same time as the radiator support changed.

If you do decide to by them and part them out, I know someone here looking for an early fuel tank. The early tanks are getting hard to find.

[hr369]

What i've done in the past is take a piece of paper and write down every good part on the car that you can see. Then write down the price you think it

will sell for.  Then find all the parts that you would want for yourself and add that in too.  Add em all together and see if its worth your trouble.

Parts are always more expensive when YOU need them , right?

[EuroDat]

Mark, You should buy them. You never know when I might need something

[Mark Maras]

 Believe me, If I had the space and dollars I'd have more than the three I have now.  Late 71 (Parti Girl) that is being parted out (gas tank is good btw), My 260 project that was going to be on the road a year and a half ago and my original early 71 that I'm going to part out this summer. I haven't given up the thought of getting a few more bargain Zs to part out. The key word being bargain.

 I'm still looking for that elusive "rust free" Z that needs to go to a good home (mine) at a reasonable price The Pac. Northwest is full of rusty Zs. Unfortunately they weren't stored in barns. I keep coming across Zs that are said to have "little rust" thinking that at last I've found "the one". When I step back and look at the reality of that happening I feel a bit like the Lagina bros. searching for the Oak Island treasure BUT there are treasures (Zs) still out there and I'm having fun searching. We'll see what the future holds.