cvp911t

Think this is a bad buy at $5k?

This is stuff I found snooping around in the engine bay. Some of it looks to be frame, but not sure. Most shots are taken looking down from the top of engine bay...so gray areas are pretty much floor. So this is all I could see. What do y'all think?

I've highlighted areas of concern. Pic 1 - wondering if this is just corrosion from the battery...looks like it. The other side of the car (in this area) has no such corrosion. Pic 2 - Drivers side door (lower) - what's the crap there? Pic 3 - between driver's side quarter panel and door. Just a spot there...at least on the surface Pic 4/5 - Rust spots right below windshield wipers. It's a separate panel, so severity isn't as same as the frame or something.

Here are pics of interior and the good shots of the motor:

So I went to see the car...here's the story. It has been repainted, reupholstered, and the engine rebuilt, all by a local Nissan dealership. Previous owner spent a lot of money restoring it. I drove the car...of course the suspension is soft, and the car definitely needs a tune-up. But other than that, it tracks true, and seems to go. Attached are the good pics:

I'm located in Dallas, TX - the car is in Louisiana - so these guys are asking $5900 for it. I'll be going out there this weekend to give it a closer look, although the rust bubbles (and the pics I've seen at zhome) make it a risky proposition. I'm thinking rust is an expensive fix....do you tend to keep the original panels, or just replace them? I'll take some pics and bring them back. Most of the $10k+ cars I've seen are restored 71-73 240z cars....most of the 280z's I've seen run between $2-7k...where the $7k is no rust, with all records. But I don't even see any here in TX. I'm thinking below $3k would be the value, but doubt that they'll go that low. So electrical/mechanical - on a test drive, what are the things I should look/feel for (for some reason, zhome.com doesn't work for me)?

What would be considered a steal, deal, and too much, assuming: -Has records -Minimal rust -New engine -Mechanically sound ?

Thanks for the replies, and for the link.... It turns out that it's a 1976 280 (is that a Z or a ZX)? I had a mechanic friend look at it - he said there was a rust spot right under the cowl, and another spot where the paint was bubbling a little. They say that they have all receipts, etc....but I haven't gotten a chance to look at it. However, if I do go see it, I want to have money in hand to just bring the car home. And is the difference in Z or ZX in nomenclature only?...or are there fundamental differences? Is the 76 a more desirable 280 than the 78?...and how much should I take with me? Thanks again, Lance

Hey guys- Very new to the forum...seen a lot of good info here. I'm trying to decide how much to pay for a Z I found - it's a 1978 280ZX, 114k miles. Body/interior are in mint condition. Engine has been either rebuilt or replaced, and has 10k miles on it. Clean title. Now, I haven't gone to look at the car yet for myself...a friend found it for me. It seems the pre-1974 cars are more desirable for weight/handling reasons. But considering all, what would be a really good deal on this car? What are the main things to look for (big ticket repairs, things that tend to go out, etc.)? Links to buyers guides are fine...no need to reinvent the wheel. But it would be nice to make sure I get a good deal if I decide to buy. Let me know, and thanks for the help! Feel free to email at cvp911t@hotmail.com. Lance