Mike B

Kats, Yes, the X would make sense for Oct, since it also means 10 in Roman numerals and Oct is the 10th month. I would also like to see what they used for November and December castings. Maybe they just didn't cast any engines in those months to avoid problems with their code, or they just coded them as October . Lonestreesteve, I am curious if your early engine with the later stamping had the early reinforced oil pan or not. Do you remember seeing a patch welded on the right side of the oil pan? -Mike

Its listed on ebay again now http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-240z-very-rare-1970-Datsun-240-z-HLS30-00231-/120629170772?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1c160f1254. At least there are more pictures this time. -Mike

Hi Kats, Here are some casting codes from some of my early cars and parts cars: HLS30-00032 10/1969 production: L24-2130 9828G August 28, 1969? HLS30-00210 11/1969 production: L24-2396 9901D September 01, 1969? HLS30-00331 11/1969 production: L24-2585 9X04C ???? HLS30-01590 01/1970 production: L24-3652 9X04F ???? Some of these were kind of hard to read, but I think the information above is correct. I'll see if I can post some pictures this weekend. Not sure what the 9X means. I have HLS30-00237 in storage away from my house and I may not get there again for a couple of weeks, but I'll post the casting code when I get a chance. -Mike

I would say insure it for whatever you think it would cost to build another one like it and I would error on the side of having too much insurance rather than not enough. The difference in premiums shouldn't be that much. Keep in mind that if you go with a collector agreed insurance company (like Hagerty) you will have to have another car to use as a daily driver, keep it garaged, etc. -Mike

Here is a blown up picture from the old craigslist ad. I don't see anything special about the headers, just another old set of 6 into 1. -Mike

It's the same 240Z that they have advertised before http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39121. If you look at the other cars they have posted on ebay, they are all listed for $10K. I think it is just an advertising scam. They post an ad for the cars with ridiculously high prices for the whole thing and then say contact them to buy parts from it. That way they don't have to list ads for each part individually. By the way, that is the same car that Wingzr0 had been posting about for 2yrs and the seller was trying to get $500 for http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30031. It looks like this Nissan wrecking yard bought it instead. -Mike

I think Nissan USA loans them the Nissans and Datsuns they have on display and rotates the cars periodically, so the museum doesn't actually own them, like their other vehicles. During the Zcon this summer they had the Bonneville 240Z, a 300ZX (Z32) convertible pace car, a 350Z (signed by a bunch of bands), and several Nissan protypes (non-Z related) on display. -Mike

Search on this site for vintage Z program and you will find a lot of information. Here is one thread to start you out http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15911. Whatever you do, don't refer to them as "factory" restorations, since they were done by a couple of Z specialty restoration shops in the US. Oh, and welcome to the site. -Mike

Yeah, that looks original to me. Many of the 240Zs I have seen still have the original voltage regulators, so I don't think its that unusual. John, you should put the original cover on the replacement you get, so you keep the stock look. -Mike

Nice find. You got the best color too . Too bad about the engine, but if you could find one in the same range as the month your car was produced, that would be pretty close. I think you are correct that the engine number wasn't listed on JDM cars, so I guess no one could really tell any way. -Mike

From the pictures of various early cars I have, it looks like it may be around VIN# HLS30-00500. I could be wrong though. I know #882 and #1590 had the later style on them, but they could have been replacements. -Mike

Too bad the buyer didn't get it in June when it was re-listed on the Seattle craigslist for $19.5K http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37705. Could have saved himself $5k. I think it was the posting of the orange ebay car and some of the values quoted there that got him to list it again at the higher price. -Mike

Instead of having a single tab that mounts to the inner fender, they have a metal ring that attaches with 2 screws. The intake has a lip that the goes under the metal ring. -Mike

I just came across these on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/240z-260z-280z-70-76-Fresh-Air-Elbow-New_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZalgoQ3dLVIQ26ituQ3dUCIQ26otnQ3d2Q26poQ3dLVIQ26psQ3d63Q26clkidQ3d5470755309962825120QQ_trksidZp3286Q2em7QQcategoryZ46094QQitemZ110589856445. I think they are $75 for the set of 2? They look pretty good from the pictures. Too bad they don't make them for the 1969 production cars. -Mike

Yeah, that machine has been discussed before http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33618. -Mike

Maybe the same guy that bought the yellow 71 also bought this one for their low mileage 240Z collection. They could just send one car hauler to pick them both up. -Mike

The seller lowered the reserve last night to $17,306. From the ebay ad: eBay Note: The seller lowered the reserve price to US $17,306.00 I guess only the seller would know what his reserve was before he lowered it and if he had any intentions of changing it or not. -Mike

Are you thinking of the 166 mph record set by a 240Z with a gnose in 1976, or was there another record in a different class set in 1985? -Mike

$25K for the yellow car still seems kind of steep to me. Two years ago you could have bought HLS30-00048 for $22.5K http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32495. It was totally restored and is now part of the "Z Mecca" collection. A big part of #48's value is its low VIN (at least to some people), so you could drive it and maintain it without decreasing the value much. The yellow 71 has most of its value based on the low mileage, so if you drive it, it would depreciate rapidly. -Mike

Sorry Arne, the yellow one is outside your mileage range at just 19.5k . Unless, maybe you get a three car garage, keep the red one, and then get the yellow and orange one too. Then you could split the mileage amongst the three of them. That would keep the miles on all three pretty low . -Mike

That's funny. We must be too scary to reply to or post a thread directly. At least there are some decent pictures posted of the car outside now. It looks good from the pictures. Apparently the price went back up to $1.28 a mile now too. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37705 -Mike

Also, I noticed the clutch master cylinder looks like it is not original. Here is a picture of the one on the orange car compared to the original on my 5/72. -Mike

Looking back at the ebay ad, the seller has added a few more pictures and comments. It looks like the windshield has a ding in it. Not sure if that could be fixed or not. There is also a rip on the back of one of the seats shown now. He also added a picture of the "original tires" and says the are "Delta" brand tires. Obviously not original. He also shows a picture of some Bridgestones that are on the car now with the slot wheels, which he says are not originals. Those Bridgestones are 175 HR 14s, but I can't tell if they are RD-150s or not. My 5/72 has a Toyo spare that is original, but I think the 72s could come with either the Toyos or the RD-150s. Bidding is up to $16,100 now. -Mike

Yeah, I was surprised to see both this one and the yellow 71 that was on the Seattle craigslist a couple of times with 19K I think? I had never heard of either one and that is just in the Seattle area, so imagine what is hidden away in some garages around the country. I almost wouldn't want to own a 6K mile car though. You couldn't really even drive it without bringing the value way down. I think I heard a commentator on one of the Barrett Jackson auctions say some people restore a car to 100pts, then drive it until it gets down to 80 or 90 points and then sell it and buy another. Maybe the same would apply. -Mike

Also, regarding the comment about low mileage cars not needing a repaint, just because cars are low mileage doesn't mean they are perfect or the interiors or exteriors can't be faded. Here are a couple of pictures of the white interior panels of Mark's 1972, to show how much the white interior panels can fade, even on a 4,400 mile car. Mark's car is also a Gold Medallion winner. -Mike