Mike B

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What happened with this auction? It was bid up to $740, then 8 bidders cancelled bids within 2 minutes of the end of the auction and then they sold for $595 after the last second automated bids came in. I wonder if the seller was trying to cancel at the last minute because they still weren't high enough for him?

I agree. Looks good. Do we have an idea of what the price will be? It sounds like it is time to crank up production then. -Mike

Yeah, I noticed that before I bought the car. I've already bought a replacement series one speedometer and some other parts for it. The car ships on Monday so I should have it by mid-March. -Mike

I've got one at home. I'll take a pic and send it to yo tonight. Mike

Arne, I also have some Shelby Libre style wheels (labled Viper) and I just measured the backspace and is it 3 3/4" on both the ones marked ARE and on the Shelbys. The Shelby's also have a center spine, although it is not as deep as the AREs. The AREs spine is about 1 1/2" deep at the deepest point in the spoke and the Shelbys are about 3/4". The Shelby's, however, do have a cross piece in this section that is perpendicular to the spine and is about 1 1/2" deep. The ARE pics are first, then the Shelby's. In the pic with the front of the two wheels, the ARE has a weight on it and the Shelby does not. I figured out the problem with loading the pictures. The resolution on the camera was set too high and didn't meet the height/width limits.

I have two 14 x 5.5 Libre style wheels that I think are Amercian Racing. They have A.R.E. cast on the back as well as Auto Works and 00311-934-U.S. I'm not sure what Auto Works means, and I guess the number is the part number? They have the center "spine" in the four spokes and a full circular hub in the center of the back. I can't get pictures to upload now for some reason, so I'll have to try again later. So are they genuine ARE Libres? I seem to recall some other ARE Libres that have American Racing cast in the backs in script. If so, is this just a difference in production dates?

Carl, No wonder the car you referred so was well photographed. It looks like this was sold by an editor for a car magagine (Sports Car Market). See the paragraph with a picture of the car and a link to the eBay auction towards the bottom of the following link. http://www.sportscarmarket.com/newsletter/ Here is the text. SCM's Affordable Classics Editor Puts His Money Where His Motor is Rob Sass has long maintained there is money to be made buying cars on Craigslist and reselling them on eBay. He recently bought a ’71 Datsun 240Z on Craigslist, and after cleaning it up and putting some miles on it, he's listed it for sale on eBay—and his investment is certainly less than the current amount bid. Click here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-DATSUN-240Z-SURVIVOR-ORIGINAL-PAINT-CALIFORNIA-CAR-N-R_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQhashZitem250082065254QQihZ015QQitemZ250082065254QQrdZ1) to check out his description of this original car, and to follow the progress of the sale. I wonder how much he bought it for, and if he made a profit flipping it.

http://www.badgerrubber.net/size3a.htm It looks like either BG152 or BG153 might work as replacements. I just emailed the company to find out about cost and minimum order size. I'll post whatever response I get. -Mike

I'll take one for #237. I guess that makes 16 now. -Mike

I have a dealer accessory brochure from 1972 and sales brochures from 1970 and 72 I can scan and send to you.

Well Stickerman, I am happy to say that you are wrong and #237 will be heading toward Seattle soon. The Local bidder declined to increase his offer, so the car is mine (and still at less than the asking price). You are right that I took a risk in posting the ad, but I wanted and received some valuable information/opinons that I otherwise would not have. I think most people could have found the ad anyway with a quick internet search and it was the quickest way to try to get help in evaluating the car. Thanks to Carl and everyone else that provided information and support. I'll post some pics when it arrives and I'm sure I'll have lots of questions for some of the 1969 Z owners.

Thanks for the clarification about the engine range Carl. I was probably just reading too much into it, but I wanted to be sure. I should have actually checked my 72 before posting the comment about it being pop rivited to the engine bay. It is not, so I guess all 240's must have used screws. I was just relying on my faulty memory and was too lazy to go check in the garage. Anyway, back to #237. Apparently after I made my offer yesterday a local buyer also offered the same amount. Rather than just sell me the car at that price, the sell has now asked for our "best offers" and will decide tomorrow based on which is highest, so I am less optimistic that this will work out.

Well, I made an offer on #237 today & will hear back in the morning. Hopefully it works out.

Here are some additional pictures I requested from the seller. Tomorrow will be decision day. I'll let everyone know what happens.

I got my vintage Washington state plates on eBay about 2 years ago. In WA we can register classic cars using a vintage plate (only a rear plate is required). My 1972 was built in May and originally sold in Alaska in Jan 73 and I was able to find a brand new period plate with the paper tab in new condition on eBay. A few weeks after I bought it the seller contacted me and said he found the second matching plate and wanted to know if I wanted it. Initially I was going to pass, but decided to buy it because I wanted to have a spare and I didn't want someone else to have the same plate on their car (if that is even allowed given that mine was registered first. I think I paid about $20 each for them. -Mike

I would agree. I think the "restoration" mostly consisted of a new exterior paint job. As for getting it for $6,500, it might be possible (it was listed as OBO), but it then it opens it to someone to make a full price offer, which still seems pretty reasonable to me. The seller said that he has had several inquiries and someone came out and test drove it this morning. He said they made an offer and he would present it to the owner (orig owners sister) and it would be up to her to decide. I asked him if it was a full price offer and he said it was not, so I think they will wait to see what I am willing to offer tomorrow. I think they will go with the first full price offer, or what ever is closest in a reasonable amount of time. -Mike

So what do you think now? The underside was in worse condition than I thought it would be. The exhaust is shot. Rust on the floors and the bottom edges. Repair patches in the floor. Why do some of the floor areas appear to be red? Rust and the originality of the engine are my biggest concerns. I agree with Steve that most of the other sub 1000 cars I have seen are in much worse shape, but given the pictures, how bad is this one and how much is potentially hidden by the new paint job?

Last group of photos (so far)

Fourth group of photos

Third group of photos

Second group of photos

First group of photos

I received a total of 48 pictures from the seller. I will try to post all of them in several posts so that I can get as much feedback as possible. I told the seller I would look the pictures over tonight and ask for additional photos of other areas tomorrow morning. I plan to ask for photos of the hatch, the inner floorboards with the carpet removed and the battery area. Let me know if there are other suggested photo areas. Many of the ones he sent are kind of blury. Carl - Your comment about the engine range has me a little concerned. He says it is the orginal engine and the data plate lists the engine number as 2848, which is higher than your range of 23xx - 24xx. There are photos of the engine and VIN that agree with the data plate, but he did remove the engine bay data plate for a "better photo". He said it unscrews. I think the one in my 72 is pop riveted in. Where the early ones screwed in? The fact that the owner wouldn't give you the number previously also makes me a little nervous given the ranges you mentioned and the "unscrewed" data plate.

Thanks for all of the good feedback guys. I'll post some more pictures later on tonight. McCrack - you mentioned that you know of this car. It looks like you are located in FL but the car in in the NY/NJ area. How do you know of it? Have you seen the car in person or has it been listed for sale before?