Howdo Everybody

[nealkeith]

I have owned about 130 cars, sports cars, hot rods and trucks, I don't remember any of them being as much fun as this Z. I bought my 74 260z off of ebay for $975.00. I was in China at the time and bored. I put the car in my watched items, and when the auction came to an end I had bought the car with the first and only bid of $975.00. The car was in New Mexico, and I live in Houston. When I told my wife that I had bought this car, and that we would have to go get it, I was kind of worried, as I allready own 4 vehicles, and she doesn't drive (no prob?). I have always wanted a first gen Z, but had never owned one. The seller said the car ran good and went down the road good. When we got to NM I drove the car and it ran like Shi*, missing on at least 3 cylinders, and made all kinds of knocking noises. Since we had driven all that way, had paid the money, and the car had lots of new parts on it I took it anyway. The seller threw in a spare block, head and 2, 4-speed trannies. When we got home I changed the oil & filter, adjusted the clutch, stuck a set of plugs in it, low and behold it started right up, no misses, no smoke. I drove it around the block, the engine pulled great! It handled great! What fun! Everthing works on the electrical system except the low beams on the head lights. It needs a paint job, brake work, valve adjustment, and interior redo. After messing with the 2 BMWs I own I can't belive how cheap the parts are! I believe these cars will rapidly increase in value. We should all buy as many as we can afford right now.

[zbane]

I, too, feel your M induced pain and share in your unabashed love of all things Z (although in my case ZX).

I know how pricey BMW parts can be, especially M gear, and while Z parts may (at times) be cheaper, they are nowhere as easy to come by.

Regardless, enjoy your Z, now that youv'e got it, and share some photos while you are at it.

[=Enigma=]

Great story. Welcome to the board. First thing to do is check for rust in all the problem area for these Z's. Go here for a run down.

http://zhome.com/Classic/CommonZRust/RustPrevention240Z.htm

[nealkeith]

Thanks for the welcome! New M stuff is readily available, but not 1988 M stuff. I believe they made less of these M6s the whole run than 1 year of Z production. Only about 316 88 M6s were imported that year. The only rust I have found on the Z is the lower rear left front fender panel, and not much there, and the drivers floorboard, which has been patched.

[Jackhammer]

Welcome neighbor. I am just down 99 from you in Pecan Grove. I have a similar story. It was in October of 04 and I saw my 260 on ebay and watched it for a couple of days and it stayed on $650.00 until the last few minutes and then went to $900.00.... it got down to less than a minute and I bid $1100.00 with less than 10 seconds and won it at $1025.00. I only had to travel to Granbury near Ft. Worth to pick it up. Mine was not a driver. It was a mess. No rust just lots of bondo and fiberglass in the floor boards covering up where the rust used to be.

So now a year and half later and $$,$$$.$$'s later I am 60% finished with a frame up resto-mod. I would be closer to completion but in January I had the brain burp to do a SBC V8 conversion. That course change required more time, modifications and more $,$$$.$$'s. I have all the parts now.... it is just a matter of getting the time to do what I can do and the money and patience with the engine and upholstery guys.

Drop me a PM if and when you need some help with Z parts locally and the name and number of a well respected Z specialist in town.