beefpatty

Thanks, guys. I'm not looking to do a ground-up restoration for the foreseeable future. This would be a driver I can enjoy and fix/modify little things here and there. Maybe years down the line commit to putting it on a rotisserie, or sell and buy one already restored.

Hey all, you guys have been very helpful in the past so I figured I'd see what you all think about this Z I found. Expired BaT listing here: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-datsun-240z-75/ Looks like it didn't hit reserve at $7,250, and the current CL price is $10,500. I actually like the look of the G-nose on this one, and I'm not too concerned with low number cars or originality. Obviously, the interior needs some work, but other than that is there anything that particularly stands out? What would a good price be?

Yeah no doubt. There's only so much you can get from pictures and talking to the owner, which is why I was wondering if a forum member had seen it in person, and if so, what their opinion is. In the first pic you can see what looks to be body filler near the front of the passenger door. Looks like it is also missing the chrome around the little mini window on the passenger side. But for what I'm looking for, those aren't huge issues.

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/1978-datsun-280z/6702585371.html Anybody had a chance to look at this one in person yet? There are almost no projects here on the east coast that aren't total rust buckets so I'm starting to consider shipping one from further west.

It's hard to balance excitement and prudence, that's why I come here so you guys can talk me down :).

The fact that he was originally asking for $9,500 and trying to hide all of that rubs me the wrong way. TheErictag's post also gives me hope I can hold out for a much better candidate for the same price. Now you're just teasing me . It's good to have additional data points, though, so thanks!

What would I do without you guys... Alright, looks like I'm passing on this one. Not all bad, though, as it was a great opportunity to learn some things.

The guy texted me today if I had an offer, so I took your advice and offered $5k. I honestly thought he'd tell me to take a hike, but he countered with an offer of $6,500, so now I'm in a pickle. I didn't expect him to come that far off his asking price of $9,500. As I said before, when I checked it out we almost got it to run on starter fluid. Other than that the body looks really nice. Here are some pictures I took. Unfortunately, I didn't take as many as I should have, but the rocker panels and floor panels looked great. It's an original single-owner 1972 240z, even comes with the (albeit beatup) original manual. The stock radio is out because he was trying to install a bluetooth radio. I told him I'd like to sleep on it and think some more, to which he said no problem. Then he sent me this, not sure if that's a red flag. The context is that earlier before I made my offer I expressed hesitation at trying to get a motor to run as a newbie owner. Not sure if it matters, but the garage they had it stored was attached to a huge mansion with a big yard. So, I doubt the guy is strapped for cash. He said they want to make room for more projects, especially for his son. What should I do? Try to talk him down to $6k? Pay to have it towed to a mechanic specializing in vintage cars to give it a once over and see what they think it needs to start? Or just walk away?

Yeah, I saw those, too! I had an alert for carsforsale, and like 5 different 240z's popped up as new listings on the same day. All of them are listed in Jacksonville, however, with the same phone number. I tried texting and calling that number but it wasn't a valid number. Then, I tried the dealership listed which looks like it's based out of New Jersey, and no one picked up there either. The cars look awesome, but something seems fishy. The yellow one had a winning bid on eBay two years ago for $11,200. This is that same car being sold now: https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/28590145

Yeah, I think in the future though I will just add my future finds to this thread, rather than create a new one every time. Mostly Craigslist and eBay. I check Autotrader classic every now and then but it seems pretty stagnant. I'll have to add bringatrailer to my list. Thanks!

Thanks for all the help. I may pass on this one as well after more thought. Not sure yet. I think there's a club near me that has monthly meetings, might check them out. Yeah, maybe waiting for a 240z is best. I looked at one today that is single owner, rebuilt floor and rocker panels and looked very good rust wise. Only problem was it wouldn't start. The engine would turn over, and for a second sounded like it would start with starter fluid (tank was empty), but no dice. I'd feel better about it if it ran out the gate but that, combined with his $9,500 OBO asking price has me thinking it might be too risky as a first time owner.

I've been able to look at two so far, the second being just today. You're right, the ads are much different than in person. These two threads I've posted have been enormously helpful as an aspiring Z owner. This is honestly one of the best communities I've seen. I'm hoping I'll eventually find a car that I just know is "the one".

I'm definitely in that conflict zone, although I will always lean toward "what I want" versus "something now". I'm in the Mid Atlantic area, so that one is definitely closer. The ad is off-putting, though. It's located in Apache Junction. Honestly, I am right on the bubble with this one, leaning towards no. If it were in my area, I think I'd be more inclined to a "yes", but the hassle of transporting and buying sight unseen are negatives. The general vibe I got from the guy is that he won't budge much from $5k as he is content with keeping it and fixing it himself, although that could just be a negotiating tactic. $4k would be tempting.

Hi again! I posted about a week ago asking for advice on a 280z as this would be my first S30 as well as project car. I got some great advice that led me to not pursuing the car. I've applied that advice and now, I've potentially found another and was hoping I could get some more advice. My gut tells me this is a good one for a first project car, but I'd love to hear expert opinions. Link to owner pictures. Description by owner: The one major issue is that this car is a couple thousand miles from me, so I'd have to pay someone to inspect it and, if I bought it, deliver it. Aside from that, this seems like everything I'm looking for in my first project: a running, driving, intact, mostly stock car that I can fix/improve over time.

This was a great read, thanks! It helped narrow down what I'm looking for. As I've looked more and more I've decided this is probably the best idea for me. Get a running car that I can enjoy while I do work on it on the side. Nice to see someone with more experience feels the same! Sometimes, I feel like I missed out on the golden age of buying project Z's. It seems like they've only gotten rarer and more expensive, but I'm still just a newbie so I could be wrong.

This is all great information, thanks a bunch! I'm in the Mid-Atlantic so at least some minor rust seems unavoidable. I think one day when I have more space to work in I would love to do a complete restoration of a Z. For now, though, a driveable one that I can fix here and there is ideal for me. Yeah, I probably should have done that from the beginning. My current situation is such that I can't do body work, or any heavy mechanical work that requires taking out the engine. That should hopefully change when I move this summer to a place with a garage. So, I'm looking for Z's that can be driven today (or with minor mechanical work) that I can maintain until I'm ready to take on bigger projects. I fell in love with the classic shape of the 240Z so any early model 280Z or a 260Z are fine. If I can find one like that, then eventually I think I'd like to do a full restoration on it.

Thanks! I ended up passing on it. Just for future reference, what do you think would be a reasonable price? I found another 240z that looks much better with an asking price of 8k OBO but as I'm still new it's hard to judge prices and I don't want to look like an arse with a lowball offer.

Thanks for the advice you guys, exactly what I was looking for. I would have never noticed the 280z vs 280zx fuel rail. After reading your replies I've decided it's all just a little too fishy so I'm going to pass on this one. The hunt continues...

Hey all! First time poster here, looking for my very first S30, as well as project car. I've been scouring a lot of ads and came across a potential hit. I think I'm familiar with the major things to look out for (rust, rust, and more rust), but could use some advice on a particular car. I am patient enough to wait for the right car, but at the same time I don't want to pass up a great car due to inexperience. Link to pictures taken by owner. Asking price is $4k. Basically, I need advice on whether or not this is a good specimen for a first project car, or if I'll be in over my head. Owner claims there is minimal rust with no rust in the floor panels and it is still "structurally sound". Some "minor rust" on front right fender. Obviously, I would have to verify this in person as I think extensive rust damage would be too much for a first project. They also claim they are 3/4 of the way through a turbo conversion and that the car runs but needs tuned. The key was lost so they have to hot wire it to start it. They also claim some of the engine wiring needs some work. Also, it's an automatic but for the right car I'm willing to do a manual swap later down the road. My goal is to get a car with a sound body (at least sound enough I can put off repairs) so I can focus on mechanical stuff. Is this car worth seeing in person, or should I run for the hills?