Urgent advice please!

[Nigel Mulvey]

Today I have checked out 2 x 1971 240's. One was a a very sad example despite being advertised as an immaculate original and the second was in excellent condition with nothing but a little bit of bubbling on the passengers sill. The battery box and inside the wheel arches are fine.

However, there is a crack in the paint between the quater light and the rear hatch fairly close to the top of the hatch. There does not appear to be any distortion in the shape of the rear of the car and the area around the crack is solid. Could this just be a crack in the paint caused by age or is it symptomatic of something more serious.

If anyone has any ideas please let me know ASAP as I am 99.9% sure that I want this car and I need to let the guy know tonight.

Cheers,

[Dazza]

Hi Nigel,

Sadly I cannot offer advice as to whether what you have mentioned is symptomatic of something more serious. What I would suggest, as you are probably aware, is to factor a possible repair into the purchase price and if nothing is too wrong, you are in front. At least this way, you are covered for any future cost outlay. I hope all goes well for you.

Cheers

Dazza

[g260]

Nigel,

I think if you do some checking on the net you will find that the crack you are talking about is something that occurs as a result of flex in the body and is where the roof is joined to the body. Others know more about this than I but from what I have read it is not a serious problem. This join is lead wiped and I think the flex causes a crack in the lead.

Hope this helps

[Nigel Mulvey]

Thanks for the tips guys. Well I bit the bullet and have agreed with the owner that I will buy this car. It is a 1971 SII 240Z in excellent condition and very original, the only modification is an electronic immobiliser that the current owner had to put on to get insurance (he's 23). I have lost count of the number of 240's I have looked at over the past two years but this one is by far the best. Only problem is I was looking for a project car and this one is too good to start messing about with. What I might do is use the new 240 as my daily driver, sell the 260 and look for another 240 as a project. A lot of deep thought required.

Cheers,

[Royce]

There is a seam from where Nissan welded the quarter panel and the roof that often causes a crack in the paint. I am not looking at a car but I believe it is at the thin point between the quarter window and the hatch. It is pretty common for an old paint job to crack here and I don't think it is anything to be conserned about.

Always glad to hear of a series II that is still in good shape!

Have fun!

[chocobosteve]

i have also noticed cracks in my paint. i don't think it's a big deal. the paint jobs seem to be quite thick at some parts though!