Z's on BAT and other places collection

[lonetreesteve]

THE LAST 240Z?   I posted a few pictures of HLS30-172767 about a month and a half ago under "The Last S30" by AndysPlit's post back on 10/23/2007 on ClassicZcars.com. The car is still for sale and after I let the seller know that I was pretty sure that his car was the last 240Z that came off the assembly line in Japan. If I remember correctly, I believe that the seller raised the asking price of the car by $10k to $45,000.00. Looks like HLS30-172767 is now up for sale on Craigslist. The seller provides a lot of good information about the car's European background. The seller still has the car's original L24 engine set aside and the car currently has an L28. Is HLS30-172767 the last 240Z?  Can this be confirmed? 

Here is the Craigslist link to HLS30-172767: 

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/scottsdale-1973-datsun-240z/7573434340.html

 

Here is the Seller's Story: 

Originally sold in Switzerland of all places, this 1973 Datsun 240Z was registered for the first 14 years of its life in Germany by the original owner, an engineer with Honeywell. It was imported in 1986 by the original owner when he was transferred to the US by his company. I have the stack of importation papers and documents from the German TUV and even factory Nissan documents. (Several of the photos here were taken while the car was being refurbished.)

I bought it in 2015 from the original owner’s daughter in Tucson (the original owner had died). I began a slow restoration (“restification,” more accurately) with the help of former Datsun specialists in Phoenix, Sakura Garage. The car was stripped down and all-new suspension components, drivetrain and brakes were fitted after stitch-welding the front end to stiffen it up, which is slightly flex-y on original Zs.

ENGINE
The new engine is an L28 from a 280Z using an F54 block and N42 head combination, but was machined .030” over, uses an Isky “slalom”-spec cam of .490”-in. lift and 290 degrees duration, and 242-degrees duration at .050” lift. It uses an aftermarket AER programmable fuel injection system plumbed through individual throttle bodies from TWM. A Z Story exhaust header has a massive flange, so it won’t warp -- a common problem with many aftermarket Z headers. This leads to new 2.5-inch diameter exhaust tubing from Borla and a Borla muffler at the rear. The fuel tank is a new-old-stock 280Z tank running an electric fuel pump. The flywheel is a lightened Arizona Z Car flywheel, mated to a stock 280Z clutch. The ignition uses a trigger wheel that replaced the conventional distributor and six individual coils mounted on the passenger side of the engine bay. A four-row aluminum radiator cools everything. After the injection/ignition was finished, the engine produced 188 hp at the wheels on the dyno at UMS Tuning in Tempe, AZ. UMS Tuning also converted the stock tachometer to work with the modern ignition system, no small feat, as the original tach has 12 volts running through it, or as many volts as the old wiring would permit. (New wiring here, too.)

TRANSMISSION/DIFF
Backing up the L28 engine is a rebuilt, late-1980 280ZX 5-speed transmission, which has slightly closer ratios than the more common 5-speed used through 1979 on both Zs and ZXs. At the rear end, I installed a rebuilt R180 limited-slip diff that came out of a 2005 Subaru STi (3.54:1) using custom-fabricated halfshafts splined to mate to the new diff and to bolt to the U-joints. The clutch also now has a new slave cylinder at the gearboxes’ side.

INTERIOR
Inside, Toyota FR-S seats sit on custom-fabricated frames and a Momo Prototipo steering wheel replaces the stock wheel (the stock steering wheel comes with the car). New carpeting has been fitted to the footwells and cargo area and all the window glass was removed and new door and hatch weatherstripping fitted. The odometer shows 65,000 miles and this might be accurate, though I have no way to know the true mileage for sure.

BODY
Though I did not repaint the car, Sakura did wet-sand and prep it carefully. (It had been repainted in the original color several years before I bought it, when the original owner had died.) I also painted the engine bay, the new gas tank, the rear taillight surround panels etc. all in semi-flat black. I had the front and rear bumpers re-chromed at ASTORNOMICAL expense. These bumpers are like 1972 American-spec bumpers, which are simpler than the transitional 1973 American bumpers.

The car's spoilers are original to the car, as many of the 240Zs bound for Europe back then wore the front and rear pieces. I was told by a body expert these originals are also much heftier than the reproduction versions on the market today.

The front wiring harness and the fuse box are all new and the car’s Hella H4 headlights are running off of relays, so they get a full 12 volts rather than a mere whisper of electron that old Datsuns normally deliver.

SUSPENSION
The suspension is all-new with adjustable perch coil-overs are at each corner, with adjustable shock damping and adjustable camber plates also at each corner. Anti-roll bars also sit at both front and rear (the Euro-market cars had them stock) and every single bushing has been reamed out and new ones fitted. They are not Delrin or high-durometer bushings, though, as that would result in terrible ride quality, I chose conventional rubber.

Braking in the front is via new (not remanufactured) stock Toyota 4Runner four-piston calipers mounted over standard 300ZX four-lug vented rotors. All of these components bolt up to the Z’s stock spindles, though some trimming was required of the splash shields. The rear brakes are new drums with Greenstuff shoes.

New period-correct Enkei 15x8 wheels wear 225/50R15 Pirelli P Zero tires.
OTHER
I've been told this is among the very last 240Zs produced for any market and perhaps the very last one. I've not been able to verify that, though. I still have the original L24 engine, transmission and differential. The car also comes with the original metric speedo and various other spare parts.
The interior still needs finishing off and the passenger side floor does have rust at the box channels running centerline down the floor panels.

It’s an interesting, quick and fun old Z, though I have had minimal time to drive it and now, new family obligations require the sale. If you're plugged into the Datsun community here in Phoenix, the car is known among that crowd and those that knew/know the Sakura crew who worked on it for a while. I have even more photos that I can share once you’re in touch. Sold as-is, with the extra parts listed above. 

$45,000

Leave a brief message on sichs-oh-nein, zeven-tree-won, won-sichs-phive-nein. Or e-mail through CL.

Thanks.

 

 

[zspert]

No fender cover, OUCH!

[26th-Z]

On 1/4/2023 at 11:52 AM, inline6 said:

Is the embossing on the vinyl by Distinctive Industries as deep/defined as the original?  I have the sense from pictures that it is not.  But I haven't compared them in person.

As I recall, Distinctive Industries was the vinyl manufacturer for the Vintage Z program.  I have installed their interior vinyl once and I have another full set on the shelf.  There are very subtle differences from original but one would really have to know to see them.  Otherwise their products are first rate, fit very well, and look great.  I don't think the embossing is an issue.

[Carl Beck]

9 hours ago, lonetreesteve said:

THE LAST 240Z?   I posted a few pictures of HLS30-172767 about a month and a half ago under "The Last S30" by AndysPlit's post back on 10/23/2007 on ClassicZcars.com. The car is still for sale and after I let the seller know that I was pretty sure that his car was the last 240Z that came off the assembly line in Japan. If I remember correctly, I believe that the seller raised the asking price of the car by $10k to $45,000.00. Looks like HLS30-172767 is now up for sale on Craigslist. The seller provides a lot of good information about the car's European background. The seller still has the car's original L24 engine set aside and the car currently has an L28. Is HLS30-172767 the last 240Z?  Can this be confirmed? 

No way that I have found to confirm it - - but it is the highest number VIN I've seen so far on a Datsun 240Z. According to the VIN information published by Nissan - in the Factory Service Bulletins -  HLS30 172732 was the last North American Spec.  According to my notes - HLS30 172733 is in Colombia. HLS30 172753 was in New Zealand . Who knows? - might have been a couple more with higher VIN's sent to Europe/Africa etc.

As of 1999 - it was owned by Tom Faulkner. Tom said the 240Z was originally sent to "Europe" directly from Japan. Tom bought it from the original owner in Switzerland and brought it back to Chicago six years prior. (so around 1993).  Tom wrote: "It has a five speed transmission and left hand drive.  The two front turn signals are not the curved type but are mounted on the top of the front bumper.  It has a black air foil on the back door lid.  It doesn't have any air pump stuff like the 
previous 240Z I had."

It was on Craigs List in Tucon, AZ in 2015 having been inherited...

 

FWIW,

Carl B.

 

Edited January 8, 2023 by Carl Beck

[zed2]

What do y’all think of this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225337215457?hash=item34772509e1:g:CtwAAOSwAXRjPmvh&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoH7RT1tBkCJaUXIqepd3ll5wIAEviJ8Bfm69yKiSm7Ojfpr%2FGJ92nbwTyFzIXi0LxvbaTxELzdwoTxDybcoauz0dl4%2BogQEy9GbTdpUMWiRWRQEhy22rq7VKDbzn%2FTgmuSb0PY3Pl%2BUNAxR%2B59p6R7DAhd4C4Z7dPPtiai5GtOlt66abiPI6pwypQn38N6TVJoU%2BpuC6x%2FmJUTCuGFyEanY%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-ivjcqyY

Keith

[DatsunZGuy]

I'd personally stay clear of any 240Z that Beverly Hills Car Club has for sale.  

[Racer X]

8 hours ago, zed2 said:

What do y’all think of this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225337215457?hash=item34772509e1:g:CtwAAOSwAXRjPmvh&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoH7RT1tBkCJaUXIqepd3ll5wIAEviJ8Bfm69yKiSm7Ojfpr%2FGJ92nbwTyFzIXi0LxvbaTxELzdwoTxDybcoauz0dl4%2BogQEy9GbTdpUMWiRWRQEhy22rq7VKDbzn%2FTgmuSb0PY3Pl%2BUNAxR%2B59p6R7DAhd4C4Z7dPPtiai5GtOlt66abiPI6pwypQn38N6TVJoU%2BpuC6x%2FmJUTCuGFyEanY%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-ivjcqyY

Keith

That Z looks better than most of the piles of ferric oxide they have offered up, but yeah, I’d be skeptical of any car they offer up.  

[inline6]

9 hours ago, zed2 said:

What do y’all think of this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225337215457?hash=item34772509e1:g:CtwAAOSwAXRjPmvh&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoH7RT1tBkCJaUXIqepd3ll5wIAEviJ8Bfm69yKiSm7Ojfpr%2FGJ92nbwTyFzIXi0LxvbaTxELzdwoTxDybcoauz0dl4%2BogQEy9GbTdpUMWiRWRQEhy22rq7VKDbzn%2FTgmuSb0PY3Pl%2BUNAxR%2B59p6R7DAhd4C4Z7dPPtiai5GtOlt66abiPI6pwypQn38N6TVJoU%2BpuC6x%2FmJUTCuGFyEanY%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-ivjcqyY

Keith

I've found myself looking at that one a few times.  I think it has promise.  Price is high relative to current market in my opinion.

[Terrapin Z]

10 hours ago, Racer X said:

That Z looks better than most of the piles of ferric oxide they have offered up, but yeah, I’d be skeptical of any car they offer up.  

I completely agree with this statement. I does look better than all the other candidates they have offered up. 

You can certainly expect there is a whole lot worse you can't see. And this is just classic.....sounds like they are selling a new car. ..."lighter with an ashtray" "sun visors"

Amenities include air conditioning, driver-side mirror, manual-crank windows, analog clock, Hitachi vintage radio, center console, lighter with an ashtray, sun visors, glove compartment, and rear window louvers.

[siteunseen]

I get Hagerty's buy/sale magazine and Beverly Hills auto has ruined it just like craigslist. I know Hagerty's needs the ad $$ () but damn! All the cool cars, 240Zs & Porsche's are Beverly Hills ads.

[Patcon]

No interior pictures at all?

Might not have any floor boards...

[siteunseen]

33 minutes ago, Patcon said:

No interior pictures at all?

Might not have any floor boards...

Barely! I saw some interior pics somehow, maybe bevhills website? It's got a T bone shift handle and a down periscope rusted hole on the passenger's side floorboard. Pretty rough but mid teens money ain't bad I don't think?