78 Black Pearl Z

[Zrush]

Smokey

Sounds and looks like the real deal. Take it for a test drive and don't be shy about getting on it. After the test drive park it on a level surface and see if there are any major leaks.

If I lived up in NC, I'd be all over that car. Cash talks, so maybe if you show up with a wad of bills....say 8 G's, he just might let you have it.

Good Luck and I'm envious of your great find! What a way to start out the new year, with a super clean Black Pearl in your garage!

:classic:

[Smokey]

Thats along the same lines I'm thinking . Gonna go and drive it a week from Monday when I get back from Ga.

One more question. I have found that the production numbers for the BPE with the SAP were around 1200 for the year. Maybe as low as 850ish. Now the question, would the addition of the factory 5spd make that even more limited in production, or were they all equipped with the extra cog?

[2ManyZs]

According to the copy of the window sticker on ZHome, that was particular car was a 4 speed.

I'm thinking it was probably offered either in a 4 speed, 5 speed or automatic. Since it was a Special Appearance Package it probably was available on any of the models. If it were a special option package or had something to do with a performance package it might have had certain options that were only available with the package.

So, the 5 speed would make it more desirable in my book. Now, whether the dealers had a choice of which trans was shipped to them, or if they were able to pre-order the cars is something I don't know....Or, perhaps the whole number of cars produced might have been split evenly between the 4,5 and auto's?

What some of the manufacturers are doing today, when they have a new model on the market, every dealer will get a vehicle that is exactly the same as every other dealer gets, and the dealer had no choice of options, or color even...:cross-eye

[daddz]

:classic:

Smokey,

Thanks for the closeup of the louvers on the BPE Z. Those are exactly like the ones on my '78. I bought mine from the original owner a couple of years ago and in the receipts file was the bill for the louvers. I checked through my accessories brochure from '76 and it depicts the same type of louvers so it appears as though the louvers are genuine. The "5 speed" emblem looks like it is in great shape; another testament to the original miles theory. The emblem is also the correct type for the '78's as the '77 280Z 5 speed emblem used a different font. The matte black tail light panel also looks to be in pristine condition. If your BPE was 153k miles I am sure that the tail end wouldn't look as good. The taillight lenses (especially the driver's side) haven't discolored from the inside either. Usually the exhaust fumes do their best to eat the silver finish on the taillight surrounds and discolor the lenses on the way.

To answer your question on the transmission, I have seen them with 4 speed, 5 speed, and automatic (both BPE and ZZAP) so the 5 speed should help to raise the car's value slightly as the years go by. It's odd that back then the 5 speed was like $175 option yet so many Z's didn't have them.

Good luck and I hope she finds a way into your garage.

This BPE reminds me of one I let get away from me at the Import Festival at Carlisle about 6 years ago. The 2nd owners were selling a BPE for $5000.00 and it only had about 28k miles on it and they had owned it since '81 and had installed a set of turbine wheels. I didn't have the forsight and available funds or space to get the car and I hope it ended up in some careful hands.

[Smokey]

OK, just got back from looking at it. Must say, I am impressed with it. Very short list of things that need to be fixed.

1. Left front fender was used to jack the car up over 3 years ago. Just a little surface rust in the dent. Should be pretty easy to straighten out and blend in some new paint. The bare metal still shines through in a couple of places, so the rust is not bad at all.

2. The battery area. little surface rust, but mostly dirt. Fresh battery acid on the inner fender that has not gotten into the metal as of yet. Again should be a pretty easy fix.

3. The 5spd is sloppy and needs new bushings-no problem.

4. Strange bearing type noise from the rear of car when I lift my foot off the gas. I think it is the rear diff mount, and if so, another easy fix.

5. Only other rust on the car is on the inside of the front/rear bumpers. This is just minor surface rust, and is nowhere near going through the chrome.

Good stuff

1. Suspension seems tight

2. Everything works, even the clock

3. Carpet is in real good shape

4. Paint is excellent with some minor chips and scratches.

5. The stripe package is in good shape with some tears.

6. All original with no body work.

7. Interior plastic is in great shape, and no cracks (even the dash)

Sooooo, here's the really bad part. Time to go and locate the money. We have agreed on a price. Just got to convince the wife (no problem :devious: ). Looks like I will soon be the owner of a '78 BPE 280Z.

[Zrush]

Smokey

I was just going to ask about your status on the "Pearl". I am very envious of you. Tell the wife it's for investment purposes only, you really wouldn't be lying as it was a limited production Z.

Now go tell her that right now! :classic:

[Smokey]

Originally posted by zrush

Tell the wife it's for investment purposes only, you really wouldn't be lying as it was a limited production Z.

Well, it seems that it will be a good investment. I can't imagine that the car has 153,000 miles on it, but he is getting the paperwork together that might prove it.

I think she will let me get it, or she would not have let me go and look at it, or any of the others.

Of course, I am going to sleep on it for a day or so, but the owner says I have first dibs at this point. I really think I am going to buy it. The loan will not be a problem at all. The mortgage is all I owe right now.

[Zrush]

What a Merry Christmas! However will you fit the "Pearl" under your tree?

Excellent and I hope it all works out for you.

Happy Holidaz

[Bambikiller240]

It does sound pretty good Greg. I hope it all works out in your favor. Merry Christmas, indeed.

Get that fresh battery acid outta there ASAP though, it can migrate along seams and will be a bit*h to get out of them if it ever gets there. Gotta protect that investment for the future!

Carl

[2ManyZs]

Tell her you'll forgo any Christmas presents for the next couple years....

One caveat, those bumpers have a habit of rusting from the inside, so be sure to take them off and check them carefully if you do bring it home...The mounting place is welded insde the chrome outer "channel" and is open on the ends which elads to a lot of junk and water getting inside the bumpers....

When I was patching a rusted thru face bar (small hole) on my 75, I tipped it up on its end and tapped it on the floor, and was rewarded with about 1/2 pound of rust scale..... If you look, you'll notice the mounting plate is a double thickness.... sooner or later they end up being one thickness of metal plate, or less...:cross-eye

Looking at the engine pics, I don't see how it could possibly be over a 100K on the car.. it's just too clean. Unless the guy who owned it was totally anal about cleaning.... which is doubtful.

Have you been humming "All I want for Christmas is my Black Pearl Z"?????? :cheeky:

[26th-Z]

That's way cool, Smokey.

[Zrush]

Hey Smokey

That Black Pearl under your tree yet?