Finally taking time to introduce my Z - long story

[het976]

OK let me introduce my Z and my story...

I have a 71 that I bought in 1976 or 77, not sure anymore. My Step-father had an early 70 and I loved it...so I sold my big-block 67 GT Mustang (BIG mistake...should have kept it no matter) and bought the Z.

Drove the hell out of it. One early morning I was going on a camping trip and had the Z loaded with the camping gear with a canoe on top. All the weight caused the 60 series tires to rub on the inner fender lip, so at 4 am, I am using vice grips and a hammer to “flare” the rear fenders so we can head out.

Months later an idiot backs into me (Bigger idiot took off the front bumper) and I take the insurance money and buy real fender flares, air dam and spoiler. I did them in 1979 or so. I drove it daily while I did it, one flare at a time…two weeks with one fender done…then two…looking back it was comical really….Three fenders done…one stock and 7 inch wheels…must have looked like a clown car.

For years I towed a small ski boat (anyone ever seen a Z with a trailer hitch??), and the Z did a great job doing that, even at speeds twice the legal limit. (more on the hitch later)

Years pass and she drops a valve seat and sits for a few years, gets rebuilt, I get married, have kids...and it the Z sits...I get transferred to Colorado and it was just not in the budget to move the Z, no one drove it much and the kid up the street kept bugging me to sell it.

I sell it in 1997 (20 years of ownership) and always regretted it...so did my kids who where always counting on it being their first car.

Years pass, my dad gets old and I move back to the NW to help him ease out of life. I have some disposable income, a shop and start thinking project car...end up with an MGB (GF wanted it, I wanted a Z, but we all know who really runs the world). Anyone want a ½ done MGB?

Then one night about a year ago, after a week in China, I can't sleep and think, have not looked for Zs on eBay in a while...and "Wow that looks just like my old Z". And it is just 10 miles from me. Some things are different, but man it is close...then I see a picture of the spare tire well and low and behold, there are the bolt heads for the trailer hitch...BINGO...then I look at the VIN and compare it to an old registration and...YEP it is my old car...

Long story short (through a miracle really), I got her back, as a shell (the PO was going to do a SBC). I am slowly bringing her back to life. I know some of you will cringe at the flares, but I was younger then and she was not "rare", just another car. Would not do it again, but I DO still like the looks of car.

I am keeping it old school as it was back then, just as a time machine. I have the L28, 5 speed and R200 from a totaled 78 in and running...now on to the interior...Very little will stay stock, but that is OK with me...it is the personality of this car to be modified, but still retain the heart of a Z...

It's my story and I'm sticking to it...

[mdbrandy]

For years I towed a small ski boat (anyone ever seen a Z with a trailer hitch??), and the Z did a great job doing that, even at speeds twice the legal limit. (more on the hitch later)

I put a hitch on my '75 280Z (long gone...) and towed a trailer back and forth between Illinois and Los Angeles. The first time I went west (1983), as I came down I-15 from the high desert into LA, the front brakes started making grinding sounds. Ends up that if you want to tow a 900 lb trailer with a Z, you'd better start out with really good front brake pads, because they wear down quick going through Flagstaff and the mountains around LA! Changed the pads in a friends driveway in LA, but left the grooves in the rotors!

Ah, days gone past... .

Mark

[Sailor Bob]

Good story, I wish I could get my old Z back too, but a front end loader sealed the deal.

Hope you get what you need out of her (in the satisfaction department). Could you post some pics?

[het976]

Here are some pics in the gallery. The stripes are gone...I will get some updated photos on in a bit.

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=13985

[EdMo]

I pulled a 16 foot ski boat as well for years ... and it did great! Friends would say from behind, you couldn't even see the car only the boat going down the road....

[het976]

I got stopped more than once questioning if I could see in my rear view mirrors (really could not, but always faked it). My boat was only 14 1/2 ft so it was small and light. It did have an 85 HP Merc on it, so it was also fast. Boat ramps were always fun...kind of like the bleach box at the drags...

[Bonzi Lon]

My car had the hitch already instaled when bought in 77, so if its there it can be used, right? Moved back from college (750mi) pulling an enclosed U-Haul very well balanced. It was a slow and interesting trip.

The hitch will be reinstalled as part of the refurbishment, with a smaller than normal ball.

Bonzi Lon

[240ZX]

Great story Goug! Sort of like meeting an old girl friend you really had the hot's for. At one point in my Z's life I had a hitch fabbed up so I could haul my crotch rocket to the track......the guy that did the fab and install on the hitch kept giving funny looks, like......are you nuts or something! He had never heard of or seen a Z with a hitch before I quess. Anyway, great story and welcome aboard....like your Z!

Tom

[het976]

240ZX....thanks...It was an amazing meeting when I went over the owner's house. It was like meeting an old friend who had changed but still looked the same. There are times when I still don't believe it is in my garage.

It is funny...as I work on it...I will find things and think...I remember when I did that or when that happened. The down side is I now see what a hack job I did on the poor girl in the past. Youth and inexperience...

[Galaxybj]

Talk about being a lucky individual! When it is meant to be it happens.

I would give most anything to find my first Z - HLS30-30855. Bought her new in Spokane and 13 years later sold her in Kennewick, Washington. If I remember correctly she had about 70,000 miles on her when I sold her off the showroom floor of the Datsun, err, Nisssan Dealer. What a beauty she was......

[het976]

Even more amazing was that I was on a flight back from Denver when the Auction was to close. The PO told me there was a guy who was bugging him to "Buy it Now" and was willing to pay anything to get her. I put in a max bid like $350 more than his last bid, got on the plane expecting to be shut out. When I got off the plane in Portland and fired up my PDA, it said "congratulations...." Turns out the guy who wanted it got confused on the time the auction ended and missed out. He called the PO all upset and said..."If the guy who won it does not come through...." I guess it was meant to be. Sure is expensive though...but I can see the end from here...just a few more months.

[DougN]

Doug,

Neat story, congrats on getting her back! You're right, some things are just meant to be! What year is your B?