Looking at a 78 280z need help

[stock-z]

O.k. I would like to drop the specs on the car the best I can and get some input on it's purchase price value. I know I don't have any pics yet, but thought the old time z nuts here could pretty much get an idea from description.

-Had new rear end welded on because of damage, but looks like it was done professionally.

-170K original miles

-Manual tranny

-After market speakers in door panels no original radio just a kenwood.

-Seats look like normal wear for the age.

-Rust- will eventually need floor pan kit, driver side has a hole about the size of a personal pan pizza, rails solid, has had patch work on frame under up near front tire. Rust starting where mudflaps would be on front both sides no bad though. Small spot on front under blinker.

-A/C needs new compressor?

-Will needhead gasket replaced soon,

-Valve Stems just replaced

-Rear hatch no rust

-battery tray good

-Paint still pretty good though not original I think it was silver, they painted it viper red.

-Good compression

-Full dash cap installed

-Weather stripping replaced

Asking price $2000

[zblythe]

run! i bought my 280 for 750 bucks! california car with no rust and no dents! original paint is great! and runs and drives like dream! 2000$ ? that guy needs his head examined! (the one on his shoulders, but it sounds like the one under the hood could be bad too....)

[stock-z]

Yeh I would if the selection was better here in Maine, but I would not even pay close to that amount. I was thinking more along the lines of between $1000 to $1200, is that too much?

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by stock-z

Yeh I would if the selection was better here in Maine, but I would not even pay close to that amount. I was thinking more along the lines of between $1000 to $1200, is that too much?

Sounds like too much. About 9 years ago now, I bought a '78 280Z in Maryland that was in a little better shape than you describe for $900. It had a bit of rust here and there, a few patches done previously, but no collision damage. Back then the "books" listed the cars value in average condition to be $1800, and I got him down to $900 by listing the things that would need to be fixed to get it to pass Maryland safety inspection (rear brakes, exhaust system, small [1"] hole in drivers floor pan). Unless you can do the work yourself, and like it, you're in for an expensive time if you want more than just a beater Z to run around in. Even then, the rust will accelerate if you don't fix it, and you won't even have the beater Z very long . I let mine sit for 9 years, most of the time in a garage, and it's now cheesecloth.

FWIW.

[stock-z]

Thank you for your help!

That's good advice. This State, with the salt water everwhere it's a wonder any Z can last here at all.

I'm not on a big budget so maybe I can work something out. It definately a Z that can be saved, but would need some immediate work done. I guess I'm used to looking at the price of 240's too long. What's with the 170 Hp stamp on the engine bay anyway? I thought it's 149 HP? It's that conversion isn't it.