40 Years Of Diggin' Z's

[WABZ]

Hey boys & gals, new guy Wab here. This is my story, hope you'll enjoy it!

My first encounter with the Z was way back in 1967 at Montreal's international exposition also known as Expo 67. I was only 9 yrs old then, but very interested in the car world. Gee dad! That little car looks awfully fast!! i remember saying. I dunno son, my father replied, it's just a japanese car. A few years later, in '71, there was was one of these who would zoom down the road behind our house everyday at 5:15pm and i would stop wathever i was doing in the back yard just to watch it go by and listen to it, just wishing to get one, once i'm old enough to drive. Many years later, in '84 i bought my first Z, a very nice '72 Burgundy colored, black interior with wire wheels. It was beautifull and was a true pleasure to drive. By then i was working in a car specialty shop selling headders & mags & carbs & hi-perf. stuff and reading everything in sight car related, and getting very handy with tools & cars. Then after 3 years of pampering my precious z, it got stolen !!!

A few weeks later, i'v found another one, a '73, in a half finished state of restauration, but running. That Z wouldn't go 60 mph and held the road like a dump truck The bodywork was well done, with new factory frame rails,inner fenders and floor panels, Straight & solid! But whoever did the handling and mecanics on this Z shouldn't be allowed within 10 yards of a tool set ! So i started scrounging scrap yards for bits & pieces and ended up with a shed full of z parts for my Z, i've even bought 2 z scrappies just to pick 'em clean and learn everything about how this car is assembled and works together. So 20 years ago i started work on my '73, but with kids & wife, the process slowed down to a crawl. Now the kids are adutls, living their own lives, and the Mrs is now my Ex, so i can now work on my z as i please. Last year it was diff/axles/bushings/suspension/bars

this year tranny/hood/deck, heah, installing a vintage duck tail on the rr deck

will be cool. Next year ? engine and ignition. Once the car feels like it should, then it will be time for it to look good. For the past 10 years, i've been busy restoring bikes , cars , snowmobiles and turning my 100 years old 18X36 stable into a superb back yard garage, 2 stories high; the 2nd floor used as storage of all Z parts. So here i am today. 48, with a wealth of knowledge about the Z, all the tools i'll ever need, a lifetime supply of parts, a spacious heated garage, and a new girlfriend who likes to tinker her own car, and good at it.

So i ask you, my fellow Z'ers, does it come any better ?

Now i just need to learn how to post pics. on this site..

Wab

[Darrel]

welcome to the site.

[=Enigma=]

Welcome to the site Wab. Sound like you're in for some fun. Good luck on your project.