Z's on BAT and other places collection

[SpeedRoo]

17 hours ago, zspert said:

I'd find it hard to believe that this poor chap had less than 80K invested in this 240. Perhaps he had to sell for any number of reasons. My romantic side would like to think it had to do with a woman/man.

However, all of those chimers who were oooohhhhing and aaaahhhhing over this restoration and planning to use it as a model for their effort are and will be off by a country mile. I didn't spend too much time looking it over but a lot of his mistakes just jumped off the page at me.

1 - Lifting eyes should be clear not yellow

2 - The rule of thumb is that bolts with hex and Phillips heads are clear not yellow, ditto for machine screws.

3 - Too much use of yellow assembly marks. Not every suspension fastener got one.

4 - His yellow plating is flat and dull. I've had to reject my share of plating loads for this problem and then wait and wait for the plater to make things whole. That's the price one sometimes has to pay. 

5 - Original, now brown, electrical connector housings. Damn, he had to remove the 5 wire connector for the wiper motor to fit my firewall grommet but what did he do - reinstalled the original!

6 - No detailing of the engine compartment wiring harness.

7 - Old original nasty looking rear window defrost connectors.

Now for the good news

1 - He used my all but perfect engine paint and as per my instructions painted the right motor mount bracket satin black. Can't remember if the pan was satin black with yellow fasteners as it should be.

An interesting detail that has intrigued me for a long time. Early cars, at lease until about 5-6 /71 perhaps a bit later,  secured the heater and blower assys to the firewall using 6mm bolts -  hex and Phillips head so they should be clear - with captive lock washers. After about that date or so they added non captive flats.

My opinion about the future of Gold Medallion 240s. There will be almost none, if any, from here out.

That's enough. 

I think you just scratched the surface with what's wrong. Obvious ones like blue calipers, plastic grease reservoir missing off the steering rack with an open hole left, later hood etc.

[HS30-H]

1 hour ago, zspert said:

Good morning HS30-H.

While I understand and respect the Japanese Industrial Standards as a member of the SAE I'm expected, no required, to reflect the prejudices of that organization. 

Diplomatic and pragmatic. However I've got a hunch that a stickler like yourself would have a nice set of JIS screwdrivers in a secret compartment in his toolbox. Your secret's safe with me... 

1 hour ago, zspert said:

Do you know Len W? He lives near Tunbridge Wells.  Currently he drives a red left hand drive 240.

I've known Len for something over 25 years at least. You'll be pleased to hear he's in fine form but still getting used to the peculiarities in character of his recently restored HLS30U, which he says were something of a shock to the senses after 40+ years of S30-series Zs with their steering wheel on the right side...   

🙂

 

[Gav240z]

On 8/29/2024 at 7:36 AM, zspert said:

My opinion about the future of Gold Medallion 240s. There will be almost none, if any, from here out.

So bearish.. global uncertainty, high interest rates and a weak classic car market are all factors driving lower prices right now.

I think long term S30z's appeal to multiple generations, in part because they were cheap for so long. So many people got to experience and enjoy them.

I think you'll see prices jump back up again once inflation is tamed. Rates go lower and global geopolitics improves (fingers crossed).

[Zed Head]

Not a bad starting point for a Z that looks pretty nice and will probably be up and driving with just a little bit of work.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-datsun-280z-91/#comments-anchor

[Zed Head]

The collector/investor car market is a strange place.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2010-honda-element-22/

 

[Patcon]

1 hour ago, Zed Head said:

The collector/investor car market is a strange place.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2010-honda-element-22/

 

Yeah it is!!!

[siteunseen]

You could get a good price on that Boeing Starliner that just came back empty???? The cartels have a new mule. They having a party on the space station.

 

 

[Gav240z]

On 9/8/2024 at 5:51 AM, Zed Head said:

The collector/investor car market is a strange place.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2010-honda-element-22/

 

That's about $16k too much for the K series under the bonnet or hood as you folks call it.

[xs10shl]

it seems to me like the supply of decent cars is rising. You really cant get a decent 240z for under $20k anymore, but $25-30K will get you your choice of a really nice one. There appears to be enough good examples out there to meet demand at that price point, with the occasional true collectable eye-popper that reaches well above the average.

BaT's own graph of 240Z sales shows that since 2016, most examples are entrenched in the "Under 50K" range, with occasional outliers for exceptional cars.  To my eye, the trend has looked flat for several years.

 

 

 

[zspert]

OK HS30-H you were indeed right. Also found some Witworth tools from my days servicing Rollers for the local club. Nice picture of Len's green car on my web site @ zzxdatsun.com.

GAV240Z - when I made my comment about Gold Medallion Z cars I was referring to the scarcity of the NOS parts that one would need to be in the running for that trophy/award. 

 

 

[Zed Head]

Low number 1970.  5201.  Interesting blend of old crustiness, new paint, new parts and lack of critical information.  Not sure what to make of it.  No engine number mentioned or shown so can't tell if it's matching numbers.  Wonder how it will do.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-datsun-240z-123/#comments

[Gav240z]

It looks like a fairly honest car. Good starting point.