78 Black Pearl Z

[Smokey]

OK, I was just farting around looking for some more Z's for sale, and came upon a 1978 280Z that is "apparently" an original Black pearl edition. Color code is 638. It also has the 5spd tranny. The owner has had it for 3 years, as the second owner. Supposedly it has been garaged all its life, and only drive on sunny days (by a little old ladyLOL ). Never been wrecked, with no body work. Everything is original, and no cracks on the dash. Only problem stated is a dent in the (sounds like) driver's side rocker panel from an errant jack. He is selling the car so he can buy a motorcycle. Asking price is $10,000. Oh and he says it has 53,000 miles on it, no proof yet.

I'll post some pictures. What do you guys think? Is the car possibly worth the money since it is a late 280Z and not a more collectible early 240Z? Does anyone know this car (resides in Apex NC)? All opinions and suggestions welcome.

[Smokey]

nuther of the front

[Smokey]

paint code

[Smokey]

interior

[Smokey]

nuther interior

[Smokey]

The wheels are off of a '82 ZX and are not original. The antenna is also not original. The rest is, so I hear.

Engine shot and finished

[Zrush]

The carpet by the seats looks kind of reddish, you know like when black interior has faded. Maybe it's just the photo.

[2ManyZs]

Is it worth it? Looking at the pics, I'd say it's worth a lot more than a plain 280 in the same condition.....

It's one of the few true "limited editions" from the factory that were sold in the US....Shame it has some damage to the rocker panel, but overall, I'd have to say it's worth close to his asking price. If he's asking 10K, wonder if he'd settle for 8500 or 9K....

I believe the Black Pearls had standard 280 hubcaps on plain steel wheels.

OK, it's not a 240, and if the mileage is correct and he can prove it.....I'd be tempted if I had the money.:cheeky:

[Smokey]

Yeah, the carpets are a bit faded. I am under the impression they are original. Louvers have been added at one time or another to curtail some of the fading.

As far as the dent in the rocker goes. This is how he explained it too me. It don't sound bad at all. "There is only one very small problem, the previous owner placed the car jack in the wrong place and on the underside of the car he slightly bent a piece of the lower body quarterpanel (on the drivers side behind the front wheel). It is not even noticeable without looking under the car..." Don't read out loud as you will get out of breath.

I am tempted to consider it, but the electrics on a FI Z give me the willys. I like simplicity.

attached is the back carpet.

[2ManyZs]

The FI and electronic ignition can be a pain, but if you have a Factory Service manual, it is fairly simple compared to todays electronics....I'd rather work on a 78 than I would the Z32 or Z33....at least with the early cars, they don't have a multitude of programs in the computer working in tandem with other systems.:cross-eye

Sounds like it might only be the pinch weld at the bottom of the rocker that got bent... as long as it doesn't show in the rocker face, it could be something that could easily be repaired.

I'd make a list of what the car needs, and try to negotiate a lower price on the car..who knows, he might go for 2K less when/ if you offered it...

[Zrush]

Smokey

Check out the info on zhome.com on the Black Pearl. The color code matches. It seems to be the real deal but I would negotiate the price due to the ding on the car.

[Smokey]

Thanks for the pointers. Its been for sale for at least 3 weeks now. Will be talking to him more as the weekend gets close. Still gotta figure out if the milage is accurate. So far, the only turn off of the car is the prodigious decal package on the car. Haven't seen so much vinyl on a car unless it was a fully marked police carLOL . Hmm, might be right up my alley then.