280ZX-Boy

I think I still like the looks of the old original Zs the best (whatever year that lime green one is on the trailer – 240Z?). As for the Mustang II, although they improved some handling issues with it, the Mustang community in general doesn’t really consider it a real Mustang. I think it was originally an upgraded Pinto but somebody slipped it in as a Mustang and the budget department rushed it through on a Superbowl weekend before anyone realized what had happened …… or something like that. There are hundreds of explanations including that an AMC Matador humped a Falcon. I’ll keep checking here to see if anyone bites.

Didn't mean to upset you. Thought your were trying to make an actual comparison between the engine outputs. My bad. However, I had no idea some Zs put out 472 hp in a car weighing less than 1400. Yikes - that thing has gotta move! But most classic 'Stangs do move along pretty good too, and those are cars that are about a half a century old using old technology. Each class of car has their own respectability and associated pride. Sorry if I got too high up on my high horse.

OK, you might want to check that: My ’70 Mustang's fully rollerized stroked Cleveland lifts its valves .576” for 284° duration, squeezing to 10.3:1 compression and sucks its nourishment thru a 770 cfm Holly 4 barrel all culminating to a healthy 520 horses and 535 lbs of torque pushing a 3300 lb Mach 1 via a 5 speed that launches to 60 in just under 5 seconds, having a .63 OD that actually could push the car to 194 mph (body can’t handle it, though) …….. all which pretty much blows any Z engine out the window. I know that hurts, but that's why I work on classic Mustangs. Plus – no smog! …but yes, its mileage sucks!

OK – I talked once more with him on the phone and got him to commit to a solid $600. He did say to me: “… or best offer”, so perhaps he might go lower. But he’ll definitely let it go at $600. I think it’s probably a decent deal. For a Mustang it’d definitely be a really good buy, but like I say - I don’t know Zs. So that’s it guys. I’m done with this. I’ll check the forum here for the next week or so and if anyone really wants this car for what he’s asking for (or reasonably close) and is serious about trailoring it out (its in Paradise, CA 95969) – I’ll then give you the guy’s phone number and you can talk to him directly and make arrangements. Again, thanks for everyone’s inputs. I love restoring cars (especially classic Mustangs) and I just didn’t want to see this car junked without giving some Z folks a chance at it first.

I’m going to see if I can get him to give me a definite hard firm bottom line price that he will stay at. I’ll post this on here and then that’s all I’m going to involve myself with this. I’m not putting any of my money down on listing this car and know he won’t. After that effort, frankly I’m done with my part in this – was just trying to give a heads up to anyone who might have wanted it. Thanks for everyone's inputs.

Anybody, please feel free to pass the word along to any other forums or friends you know. I’ve forwarded some of these replies to the owner to get him to possibly allow me to do some wrenching but he’s firm on “it all goes in one solid piece”. However, he now is realizing the car is worth something and is now wanting to have some bucks for it. When I asked him how much he was thinking he muttered figures like $500-800. I don’t think I’m going to forward any more online inputs to him. He’s not really aware of its full potential value and I want to keep it like that, otherwise he’s going to start asking for amounts nobody is going to pay. Had someone jumped right on this from my initial posting, they’d probably gotten it for free. So I’m keeping my mouth shut now with him and just hoping someone out there tells me they’ve got a trailer and are ready to pull this car off before he gets greedy.

I hear what you are saying. I have found discarded classic Mustangs and with simple hand tools pulled hundreds of dollars worth of parts in under an hour – of course I know Mustangs and what all the valuables are. There was a 1973 Mustang 351C coupe (in fair to poor condition) that arrived at the Chico auto dismantler last year and within hours several people (including me) were on it. The next day it was working elbow to elbow with others and by the end of the day there was just the bare frame left! I just can’t believe I haven’t gotten more responses on this free Z offer!! I really do hope someone responds that is able to come with a trailer and just load the whole thing up. The owner doesn’t want me wrenching on the car on his property. He just wants it gone – period! Either someone is going to take the entirety to the crusher or to a garage to strip, restore or whatever. Those are the only two options. I'm including some more pics. And those wheels you see are solid wheels, not hub caps. Owner told me they were a high dollar optional package. They alone would probably be worth a few hundred! I wish he'd allow me to wrench on this just for an hour. As I'm looking more and more at what's here I'm beginning to realize you're right - I could make some money on this if I just hauled it off myself. It's a matter of time and space for me. So it's still up for grabs!

Well, that's just the thing. He wants the entire car moved out, not pieced out. He doesn't like people on his property any more than they have to be, and its a gated property - that's why nobody else has ever known this car was there - just me. I'm not going to put much more time into this situation so I'm hoping someone will email me, arrange for a removal date and take it! Even if he wanted $50 or $100, its a rolling, all original car that if parted out could be worth hundreds at the very least. A desirable year & model Mustang like this would part out easily at well over $2000. On the Mustang forum this kind of deal would have already gotten dozens of responses - guess 'Stang owners are just more passionate about their cars. Bottom line is I'm not going to do any wrenching on this - just pictures - hands too busy on my Mustang. So hopefully I'll get some responses or it goes to the crusher! I'll be checking for responses here as well as my email. Ref Registration: I don’t believe registration is a factor if the car is parted out (unless you are using its VIN on another restoration '81 280ZX car). If you were going to completely restore THIS particular car, then it very well could cost you unless the owner has had the car on a “non-operational” registration (costs just a one time $10 fee).

I'm new on this forum and still have yet to get the hang of how it all works. I'm actually on this forum for one simply reason: I have a friend who has a non-running 1981 280ZX Turbo just sitting in his yard that he is about to send to the crusher. Has no interest in it at all and doesn’t even want to spend the time to try selling it or parting it out. It’s all original and the body looks good (with some missing accent parts), has a fairly in tact engine and most of the interior. I’m actually a Mustang restorer and if I saw a Mustang like this that was all original, I know that the folks on the Mustang forum would love to take it off the owner’s hands just for the original parts alone. However, I’m not familiar with the Z-car culture or very knowledgeable about this particular year and model to know if this is a real bonanza for any of your restorer types in Z-world. This car is in Paradise, CA and I believe it’s always been a California car (hence no salt damage). I believe the owner might even just give this car away if someone did all the transport work. I have many digital pics and can take more of whatever if any seriously interested party wants to better evaluate this car. I’m not going to put a lot of time in this “advertisement” because like I said, I’m not even a Z fan. But as a fellow auto restorer and know this car must have some value for someone restoring one of these. If no interest, then this car goes to the crusher. If seriously interested, email me at boeingboy@yahoo.com