Hello..an intro..and a project!

[mbo285]

Hi everyone. I thought I would take a few seconds to introduce myself. I joined the site to gain the insight and knowledge to learn all about the Z's. Here's a little background on my project...

My dad heard about the 240z while serving in Vietnam. Upon his discharge (honorable) he came back to the Chicagoland area where he was raised. He went into the local dealer in Oak Park, IL and put money down on a 1971 Red 240Z. The dealer didn't even have it yet but assured that the one they were getting in would be his. Just as promised the red 240 came in and he got it...although part of the deal was that he couldn't take it home for 3-4 months as it had to sit on the showroom floor. The dealer roped off the car for him. He tells us how he would regularly visit the showroom and just sit in his car.

When the showroom time was up he drove it home. It was one of the first in the Chicagoland area and quite a head turner as he tells us stories. This car was his baby, washed, waxed, cleaned, polished...the pictures he has are still unbelievable. He still has the original sticker and bill of sale for the car framed in his office. Sadly, as he got married and had us kids (4), the z was sold for a more family friendly car. All I know is he sold it to a woman that lived in the area.

So now comes my secret project. I am starting a search....thats right...a search for my dad's 240z. I realize there is a good chance that it has since been crashed, trashed, rotted, or junked...and although that would make me sad I understand it is a good possibility. If it is destroyed then I will search for another Red 1971 240z....but....If it isn't.... I will find a way to buy it from the current owner. My ultimate goal is to surprise him with his baby, his Z!

It would be nice to give it to him fully restored however I'm taking this one step at a time and first would like to just try to track his baby down. So here I sit, about ready to start my search, armed with the VIN from the car and the internet. Any insight on where to start or how to look would be a great help. And so the search begins...

[cozye]

Interesting story. Seems to me that the best place to start would be with a good police friend who can look up the VIN for you to see who the current owner is ? Odds are definitely against you though that the car is still around.

[Gary in NJ]

Check the Zcar Registry to see if it's listed there. There were about 150,000 240Z's imported into the USA (another 10,000 in Canada) from '69 through '73 and about +90% of the 240's are gone for good.

[mbo285]

Cozye-

I have had that done. Unfortunately the vin search does not work because it is not a 17 number vin like modern cars and the search program will not recognize that format of a vin.

Interesting story. Seems to me that the best place to start would be with a good police friend who can look up the VIN for you to see who the current owner is ? Odds are definitely against you though that the car is still around.

[Carl Beck]

List the VIN here - and I'll see if I have it in my data base.

A couple years ago - I found a friends 71 that he bought new. He has it back now... There are a few others here that have found their original 240Z's as well.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[mbo285]

Carl-

The vin is:

HLS30 15744

thanks for your help.

[spitz17]

Goodluck with your search! I hope for your sake, that the car was moved to the west coast at some point in its life!

[Carl Beck]

Hi Matt:

Sorry - I do not have 15744 in my data base. I'll keep an eye out for it.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Galaxybj]

Matt,

I too felt that my Z was long gone, trashed, and in a wrecking yard (sold it in 1984). But low and behold in 2008 Carl sends me a mystery photo - Just the front left fender showing the headlight bucket and side marker light. One look and I could not believe that it was my Z. She is now in the midst of a refresh. Hope to have her completed for her 40th birthday in May. Good luck in your search. -Bill-