Vintage Racer

A 1970 Datsun 240Z is featured in the recent (Nov. 2008) issue of Classic Motorsports. It is part of a long article about classic cars and their "descendants" (i.g., they test a 1970 Porsche 914-6 and a 2004 Porsche Boxster). The 1970 Datsun 240Z happens to be owned by the owner of the magazine (Tim Suddard). The yellow Z is basically stock but has a 280ZX 5-speed. They compare it to a 2007 Nissan 350Z. They corner-weighed the 240Z: LF 579 lbs. RF 598 LR 548 RR 581 --- Total weight: 2312 lbs. They suggest that the value of the car today is $6,000-$22,000. They also think that the 5-year projection value is $12,000-$30,000. http://www.classicmotorsports.net On p.145 of this issue, I noticed a nice looking 1971 Datsun 240Z race car (red). It has logbooks, a Slover engine, a 5-speed, fire system, coilovers, and $2000 worth of spare parts. Asking $13,500. (614)-527-4743 (OH).

Not yet. I did make an offer on one car that was later declined, and I towed my trailer to Alabama to pick up another car that turned out to be "less than advertised". :stupid: I did receive a good lead at a car show last weekend. Have any of you local GA people ever attended the car show at The Avenues Mall? It is located in east Cobb County (Marietta, GA) and is scheduled for the first Sunday in every month (it was the first Saturday in every month). This car show has every make that you can imagine (and it's free). I park my car and start to look around (100-300 cars depending on the weather). I am looking at one of several 240Z/280Z's in attendance when a guy walks up and asked me if I owned this particular 280Z. I told him no, but I was looking to find one. The guy knows of one FS. I gave him my card and told him to have the owner (his widowed cousin) call (or email) me. An older lady did call me Monday. Her husband owned the car but had a fatal heart attack. He wanted his son to have the car (they have two daughters, she likes to talk). The son is not a car guy (he probably likes drugs more from what I could gather). Anyway, this nice lady is going to let me see this car after she talks to her daughters.... It's a one-owner (with paperwork) 1972 240 with 20,000 miles.....

The Post Office wants us to keep our Atlanta mailing address, and Sandy Springs isn't even on a map yet. You work about a ~mile north of my house (office in home since 1997). We are almost neighbors. :classic: Oh, I agree. I've re-read two books that I have on the early Z's. I have three folders on my hard drive from information gathered on this and other sites. I have also logged about 200,000 miles on three Z's that I previously owned (see sig). I can adjust the valves in one in 30 minutes. I've also replaced a few clutches in those cars (I only had one job I didn't tackle, rebuilding the transmission in my old 280ZX after the reverse gear chipped and sent particles of metal into the main gear cluster bearings). Like many cars of this era, they are really easy to work on. I know the mechanicals are very reliable. Rust is the main issue (but all 1960's and many 1970's cars suffered from this). I do have the diagram from Zhome.com showing the trouble areas. I understand dry west coast area cars are the better choices, but there are a few of those here. Northern east coast cars are awful compared to deep south east coast cars (since we have no salt on the road). One of the folders I mentioned has recent price information. I not only need to know all I can about the cars, but I need to be the "expert" in the market prices. I use several data bases including the data base at Sports Car Market. http://www.sportscarmarket.com He should post it. I have googled for 240's and found many FS (many on personal websites). Nonetheless, I consider shipping and towing expenses part of the purchase price. I don't want a car that I have $16K in, and it may only be worth $12K. :eek: Cool B. I've always liked those old British cars. I had a 1959 Austin Healey Sprite ("Bugeye" in the U.S.,"Frogeye" in the U.K.) for many years. I raced it in the '90's then traded it in early 2000: If an old British car isn't leaking oil; that probably means it is out of oil. On a sad note, that car in the background was owned by Mike Cammarata. I raced with him for many years. He was one of the nicest guys that I've ever known. That 1970 240Z has a very important history. It was one of the first 240Z's made and has always been a race car. RIP, Mike. http://www.hsrrace.com/HSR/HSRHome.nsf/weblinks/EJEN-7GDGVB?OpenDocument

I prefer to pick up the car since I can give it a personal inspection. I have a truck and trailer. I'd probably prefer a car on the east coast (or southwest). I towed north and bought one of my cars near Buffalo, NY. It was a 2100 mile (30 hour) round trip. I'd consider a nice west coast car if I could find someone here to look at it (I'd pay their expenses). I'd ship it, but then I'd have to consider the shipping costs as part of the purchase price. Thanks Steve. I live in Sandy Springs (the new city, thankfully now separated from the corrupt bureaucrats in downtown Atlanta ). I have owned three, but I am sure your help would be very valuable to me. Thanks Doug. That sounds interesting. I like the idea of a 5-speed in an older car. It makes it more economical (with less stress on the engine) on highway drives. BTW, my #1 favorite "cruise" is a 175 mile trip from my house, up 400 to Cleveland and Helen, then over the first mountain to Brasstown Bald Mtn., on to the second mountain, over to Suches (a popular motorcycle area), then to Dalongega, and back home. It has beautiful views and some great mountain roads. Brasstown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasstown_Bald

No, Arne. I own a fake so I do not care about the numbers matching thing (but most of my friends do, and some other people here, and I respect that). I really do not want a "project car". At this time, I prefer a nice "already streetable" 240. In GA, we do not have to certify any car to the "sniff test" after 25 years. I do not care if it is "period correct", but the mods need to be properly done. My Porsche carburetor has nothing to do with being "period correct". But those PMO 40 carburetors are really easy to adjust and allow more horsepower. Then I had to add a 1973 Nurburgring commemorative plague (from eBay) to the 1973 Porsche. It would really be exciting to see a well-persevered 240Z with a few Webers hanging on the intake side of the block. You may guess that I am a big sucker for any 1960's-1970's sports car. :lick:

The car that I previously mentioned may now go back to its original owner. I had an inquiry about it and sent the contact information. IMO, a real car guy always wants this to happen. But yea, I am interested in a 240Z (of any kind). I am sorry, but I can't state my price range on the public forum (I may get offers for a Samsung TV :stupid: ). I'll submit a clue. The 240Z will be parked next to my Porsche. My Porsche is a "fake" RS. But I sourced all of the original parts to get it to today's condition. I am in no hurry to buy that perfect 240. But I do seek one with the proper paperwork and owner "babied" condition.

I agree. That is my plan. It's been in his barn for years (he said he drove it in without problems) so it can stay there. If I can't make a deal on it, I'll post it here and see if someone else is braver than me. Thanks for the heads-up on the shops. I remember a guy that owned a shop inside I-285 (Buford Hwy. or Peachtree Indus). I think it was called the Z-Shop. Please kill me if I buy another race car. :classic: It's like riding down the road and throwing money out the window. I was just looking for a 240Z. This one was maybe supposed to be a 1970. Yea, a weekend driver car is all all that I am looking for.

I have set of steel wheels (TOPY 8-80 5 1/2 JJ X14) that came on the '81 280ZX that I purchased new. I've searched, but I can't determine if this wheels will fit a 1971 car. I believe the wheel will fit under the wheel well (?), but I have no idea if the offset will be different? I assume the luge spacing is the same? Thanks.

I finally got the owner on the phone. I got the serial number: HLS30 30855. It seems it must be a 1971 Series 11 car. I was hoping that it was a 1970, but so be it. He also raised his price. I am beginning to think that I should just buy a car that is already restored. I've rebuilt too may cars and know it always cost more to rebuild than one thinks. Although I am slow, I can do decent mechanical work. But I am a terrible painter, and the car needs a complete paint job.

Mike, Thanks for the link and good tech. That should help me distinguish whether it is a '70 or a '71 (he said it was a '71 and his wife said it was a '70 :cross-eye ). I decided I'd better find out what the factory thought it was rather than trust their paperwork. Your red car is very nice. Thanks for mentioning the door data plate. I also noticed that the above link said that a '70 has an oil pressure gauge that goes to 140psi (I realize the gauge could have been changed). BTW, this car does have a 4-point roll bar in it. There are no signs that the car was ever raced (SCCA tech stickers, etc.). It also has about the ugliest aftermarket wheels (mags) that I've ever seen. :sick:

My first post is a plea for help. I found a 1970 (or 1971) 240Z in a barn. Can someone tell me what digit in the serial number tells me if the car is a 1970 or 1971? Anyone have a good link to specifications on the 1970 car? (I searched but couldn't find a pure spec thread). Thanks, Doc (former owner of a 260Z, 280Z, and a 280ZX).