New guy saying Hello (79' Fairlady RH Drive)

[the Chad]

Just wanted to say hello and get in the game here. I joined out of curiosity and nessicity. I recentley inheriated a car from my father inlaw. It is a 1979(or 80 he gave some long story about this confusion) Fairlady 280Z (or zx). It has RH steering. I am trying to decide what I want to do with this car. It needs a lot of help. The body is in very poor condition. Interior is useable but very faded and dryed out from living in Vegas for a number of years (and the dash pad is toast). It has a running issue starts fine but once warmed up starts missing very bad like it is dropping the #1&2 cylinders. I think this would be a very cool car once it is done but dont know if I realy want to embark on a project of this scale. Heck I dont even know what these car are worth. Some day I just wanna sell it and split the money amungst his kids other day I wanna be realy selfish and fix it up so I can have arealy unique and bitchin ride:knockedou. Any comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Chad

[beandip]

Hi Chad , welcome to he club. As to the value of a '79 as you described wouldn't be vary much in this condition. My friend recently bought a ZX with a freshly rebuilt engine from Nissan and the body and interior was in good shape . No rust issues or dents. The PO had started to remove the dash and realised he was in over his head and couldn't figure how to get things back together. He had taken the car to a Shop and the estimate for the repair of the electrical was more than he wanted to pay. My friend picked up the car for $500.00 . He wanted it for the engine and trans and diff. He sold some of the rest of the parts and recouped some of his purchase price and took the remains to the Bone yard. Another friend picked up a ZX that was running for $200.00 , it was in rough shape interior wise and badly in need of some paint. She is a great looking car now. these are both cars here in Portland Or. Because your car is a right hand drive there may be more interest and value , and or less. Others here may be of help there. The ZXs are great cars but because they are plentiful now the dollar, value suffers. So if you are not going to do all the work your self , you will in no way going to realize the money spent when you sell the car. Gary

[DeMoore]

First thing first, we need pictures! Right hand drive will raise the value, I think, but Beandip is right, there are quite a few ZXs around. I think it would definitely be a nice car to drive around once you get it fixed, but don't expect to try and sell it for more than it costs to fix it. I personally prefer the right hand drive, simply because of it's rarity, but my left hand drive 78 is great, too. You might get lucky and sell it to someone right now before you fix it, but once you put money into it, you should try and keep it. Just my opinion.

[the Chad]

yeah that is what I am trying to decide. If I start the repair I will do it start to finish. I work at a body shop so I have access to the means to do it. I just cant decide if I want to. Not every one has a right hand drive 280z so that is my interest factor in doing it. Other wise I will just sell it now and save myself the headache. I have pictures but dont know to put them in here

[beandip]

Now this is a whole different matter! You working in a body shop changes the picture. By doing any an all metal work your self and not having to pony up 3K for paint. Now it becomes doable. On the flip side of being one of many out there . Parts are readily available . You are 10 times more likely to find a ZX in a bone yard than a 240Z. Now it is weather you are a Z driver or not. I think to have one of these older cars you need to be in love with the Z. Otherwise they can be a pain in the butt. Just because of the age of the car. My Z is 35 years old and she does require more maintenance than either of the three other vehicles I own put together. I don't mind because She is a pleasure to own and drive , for me. I thinks it comes down to your own attitude toward the car and your ownership.

[Mr Camouflage]

2 seater or 2+2?

[the Chad]

2+2 thats the one with the back seat right. Dosnt matter looks like my jerk neighbor and the county code enforce have made the decision for me. I has to go or be registered (it wont pass smog right now) or be moved in side a garage (which i dont have) So looks like I will have to put it up for sale. can any one tell me how to post a pictue in here. Or I can email them to any one who might want to see them of know any one who might

[bigoak]

Put your pictures on photobucket.com and use the "img" links here. Photobucket will "right-size" the shots and they will post right up.

Too bad you can't keep the car. Kick you neighbour in the shin and good luck with the sale.

[hls30.com]

2+2 thats the one with the back seat right. Dosnt matter looks like my jerk neighbor and the county code enforce have made the decision for me. I has to go or be registered (it wont pass smog right now) or be moved in side a garage (which i dont have) So looks like I will have to put it up for sale. can any one tell me how to post a pictue in here. Or I can email them to any one who might want to see them of know any one who might

Welcome!

Double check the actual code, more often than not, it can also be parked on or parallel to an existing driveway(or behind a fence in the back yard)and covered and still be within code:laugh:. The parties interested in seeing it gone will often leave out the parts of the actual code that do not fit their view of what needs to happen with the car:eek:. If you don't check, and most don't, they win because of you believe their Readers Digest version of the code-I am just the sort to expose their game:p.

Will

[mazdatsun428]

Once tagged and w/current stickers the county can't say anything. In Md., historic tags start at 20yrs of age, and become exempt from the vehicle inspection requirement. I believe at 25yrs here, they become exempt from emissons testing also. Screw your nosy neighbor!

[e_racer1999]

cali's a lot more stricter than that^

not sure about oregon.

anyway, suxx to hear about that. do you know anyone who can store it for you for the time being?

[the Chad]

Yeah i have looked into all that stuff. i miss exemption my a couple of years. and I talk with code enforcement and he said only option i have is regester/license it, get rid of it of put it inside a "legal" structure. It realy suck cause I also have a mustang that i am not driving cause it is missing realy bad and has no tags. That one is along side the house under the car port and they are after it also. So i will have picts up this week in any on knows some one who may be interested.