daddz

Professionals? I would first consider Mike McGinnis, owner of Banzai Motorworks a "professional". He has commented to me regarding this car however, I would refer any potential interested parties to contact him through his website at: http://www.zzxdatsun.com/ To give you an idea regarding his background, Mike has been servicing Datsuns since 1970 and a few British makes since 1968. Mike has also campaigned a few cars in the past and understands the Z cars from both the restoration aspect as well as the maintenance/ upgrade aspect. I wouldn't recommend someone as a "professional" based on their ability to sell cars such as the Z when they were new and in the present being a defacto hobbyist. This car seems to have generated alot of animated responses from all sides and maybe if we're lucky it will end up in the right hands. Given it's history and condition and it not having been painted a more desirable color at the factory it may or may not sell. As seems to be case with this unusual post...let the games/flames begin :tapemouth

Carl, The fish you're smelling is probably on the dinner table?:classic: The owner in not wanting to disclose his true identity to a message board at this point has been working in Washington,D.C. as an elected official for the past 30 years---maybe that would explain the Alaskan plates? Washington, D.C. being the strange city that it is often bears witness to this type of story; a person comes to work here and personal hobbies and interests take second place to the career or assignment at hand. It is not unheard of for cars to sit for years in parking garages in Washington. Last week an investment client of mine who works for the U.S. Senate told me of a 1956 Chevrolet Belair 4 door sedan that has been parked in such a garage since 1959! The car has only covered a little more than 6,000 miles since new! It may not be a desirable car to most people but there is a term in the classic car world known as "provenance", the definition of the word is as follows: "the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature"--Merriam Webster dictionary This car definitely falls into the category defined by the word provenance as this car has a unique history that is as interesting as the car itself when judged from the perspective of who has owned it. Unless 240Z's grow on trees in California or are spontaneously reformulating from FeO2 I suspect that attrition and entropy will continue to dimish the numbers of available Z cars that are worth coveting. If you want a usable classic that happens to be a Datsun Z then buy a cheap old 280Z and molest it to your hearts content.:devious: As I recall from my meeting in Fairfax with Mr. Moore, the caretaker, the ignition assembly was disassembled so that the key wouldn't wear out the switch not to mention the acids from your skin coming in contact with the surface of the switch itself. As it sits the car can be started with a simple flathead screwdriver. The biggest problem in bringing the appearance of the car to its present state is the lack of dedication on the part of the caretaker and possibly the period of time it sat in a garage (1974-1990). Anyways..your fish are probably cold now after reading this post?

Hey Joe, Thanks for listing this ad ; I wasn't sure how much longer I could wait before "spreading the gospel" about this car. I sincerely hope it ends up in the "right" hands. It might have been fun to see the reaction it would have generated via ebay. In any case I now have seven of these cars and not a proper storage facility for this car. It would also be fun to imagine it going back home to Japan to live out the rest of its days.:classic: BTW: The 350Z had a good workout this weekend (went to Tampa w/ Jim--what's another 2k miles?), talk to you later..

Lance, I don't have the parts you are looking for but, B & M King George Auto Parts in Brandywine has an automatic trans. 1971 240Z that just came in a couple of months ago and is still there including the transmission and interior parts. B & M King George auto Parts is located at 11700 Brandywine Rd. Clinton, Md. 20735 http://www.kinggeorgeautoparts.com/ check them out as they specialize in older foreign cars

I like the "sumo" reference for the Z31; my '86 was named by its original owner (a middle aged woman of English extraction) and as such it's called "Lady Clara". I don't much care for it but it is an aging plump and somewhat slow handling car. The '78 S30 must be named "Godzilla" only because it's fun as hell to drive while playing the Blue Oyster Cult song of the same name:classic: and it's a period song (one that you might have heard while cruising with a cold can of Budweiser in the late '70's--who said DUI?) The other Z's in the collection haven't earned names just yet--need some additional behind the wheel time to reveal their personalities--kind of like dating women--you don't see all of the flaws the first night out. check out the cars and give us your opinions: http://www.240ztt.com/nissan.html (anything with the name "Rob" is unfortunately mine)

I live in Southern Maryland (about 25 miles South, South east of Washington, D.C.) and if you see a Z you would be scared to ride in it! I have tried the strategy of getting firends into Z cars and that seems to be working:classic: I am now up to 7 of these fine cars (humble collection) and that's about my limit. Managed to convince my father to take two off my hands since it's his fault for getting this hobby/obsession started when he bought a 1978 Datsun 280Z finished in code 611 (wine red metallic) brand new. Another member of the No. Va. Z Car Club owns ten Z's and he's doing his part in helping to preserve these great cars and his stash of Z's isn't far from Patuxent Naval Air Station (look out for the Open House car Show this year--we should be able to corner the show between the two of us). (anybody know of a secure place to store these beauties?) Cheers.

Maybe not quite what you're looking for but check this out: http://www.240ztt.com/orig240z.html (this will probably get me into a spot of trouble (sorry Joe) since it is not officially for sale just yet.) :cheeky:

How about this for starters: http://www.refdesk.com/ Alot of s**** in one handy spot; check it out.

I think that the early 90's Capri was an Australian based car and it's such a shame because it was front engine and front wheel drive whilst the Miata was a true sportscar albeit an attempted rehash of the much fabled Lotus Elan (a truly sensuous machine). It's a shame because the Capri II was continued and continually developed in the U.K. long after its cancellation in the states. I think at one point Cosworth had come up with a special package for the Capri and it was quite the bargain racer.