A $100k 240z...?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

Maybe on the Left coast, but around the fly over states, no body would pay that kind of cash for a clapped Datsun. Sorry Charlie. With that kind of cash Id get a Ferrari, hell Id buy a twin engine beechcraft barron, Datsun lol!

Might want to make sure your calendar is set to 2020. $100k doesn’t buy much in a classic Ferrari.

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I’ve noticed this too Matt but there were many times more Zs built than 911s. But I think they were considered throwaway cars compared to 911s needing the same amount of rust repair. Still, you would think more be on the market than there are.

That’s what I wonder. Prone to rust, cheap for decades and largely unappreciated. I have a feeling that many were left to languish.

[Racerbvd]

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I’ve noticed this too Matt but there were many times more Zs built than 911s. But I think they were considered throwaway cars compared to 911s needing the same amount of rust repair. Still, you would think more be on the market than there are.

This. They made 21 million VW Beetles, but they are very rare to see today. Almost all of them ended up in the scrap yard. The more disposable a car, the fewer that survive. How many 1978 Corollas do you? Almost none.

[Ziggythecat]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Zig, do recall if your 280Z felt heavy? First, I'm surprised 240s weight as much as they do. The ones I had 30+ years ago (back when you could get a car that needs work for $500, yes hundred dollars), you could lean on a fender and push in the sheet metal easily. Crazy tossable my cars always were and so easy to drift or just push the back end out around a corner, let off the gas, correct your steering and then punch it to finish the turn. They all felt lighter than they really are. I asked on a FB Z forum if the 280 was much heavier than a 240 and many said you could get them down to 240 weight by backdating the bumpers and then of course backdate the tail lights.

What's your sense on the 280 in terms of weight if you recall?

That’s a trip in the way back machine.
Honestly, I never had much to compare it to, as the only cars I really drove were mine...and that was my 3 rd car...
My previous car was a 72 Capri (Mercury) which weighed nothing.
Those 75 bumpers were massive compared to the originals

[lgb240]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Zig, do recall if your 280Z felt heavy? First, I'm surprised 240s weight as much as they do. The ones I had 30+ years ago (back when you could get a car that needs work for $500, yes hundred dollars), you could lean on a fender and push in the sheet metal easily. Crazy tossable my cars always were and so easy to drift or just push the back end out around a corner, let off the gas, correct your steering and then punch it to finish the turn. They all felt lighter than they really are. I asked on a FB Z forum if the 280 was much heavier than a 240 and many said you could get them down to 240 weight by backdating the bumpers and then of course backdate the tail lights.

What's your sense on the 280 in terms of weight if you recall?

There's about a 400 lb difference between a 240z and a 280z....more than just bumper weight. The 280z had many pounds of extra structure and metal compared to the 240z throughout the tub, including heavy door crash beams. You would have to strip a lot out if a 280z to get the weight down to a 240z.

[A930Rocket]

I had several 280Z's, ZX's and 300's after my 240Z. Along with being heavier, the fuel injection seemed to be troublesome and/or the 240Z with the SU's was a breeze to work on. A simple car to DIY.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by lgb240

There's about a 400 lb difference between a 240z and a 280z....more than just bumper weight. The 280z had many pounds of extra structure and metal compared to the 240z throughout the tub, including heavy door crash beams. You would have to strip a lot out if a 280z to get the weight down to a 240z.

Good to know, as a certified weight freak, I always want the lightest car possible.

[slow&rusty]

I've owned them all incl. the low windshield Roadster.

A 240Z is around 2300-2350lbs

My last 280Z tipped the scales at under 2600lbs BUT it had steel wheels, AC and the heavier 5 speed plus the big front and rear crash bumpers. Remove the big bumpers and add some lightweight 15" alloys and you have a fighting weight equivalent to a 240Z. I've done it and even drove it in the Colorado winters in this form and loved it as well.

The ZX is the heaviest at 2950 but it is bigger car all around with lots of creature comforts incl. the heavy glass T-tops.

[KFC911]

I've always loved the early Zs.... used to drive a friend's '78 280 some back in hs. My brief looking around yesterday showed the 240s as being 2300+ and the 280s as 2875 ... that's bigly! I never knew....

[93097004xx]

These weren’t aspirational cars.. These weren’t cars that hung in school boys bedrooms like testarossa countach 930 959 512 bbi.

A young man driving a 512 BBi, 930, countach in the 70s had the world in his hand.

A young man driving a 240 Z in the 70s had something else in his hand..

Dreaming of success and the spoils that came with it...money, women and exotic cars.

Come on let’s stop this nonsense.. Most of us are old enough to remember the impotence these cars projected of their wanna be playboy (without means) drivers.

Most of them hairdressers...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[onewhippedpuppy]

Not all of us choose our cars to compensate for a small penis. Some of us make do with what we have!

Besides in a world where a nice early 911 can go for $300k and a classic Ferrari can easily be seven figures, a mint 240Z for $100k seems about right.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Not all of us choose our cars to compensate for a small penis. Some of us make do with what we have!

Make do? Is that what it's called now ?

And in my hs back in '78, one of the richest kids drove a 240 ... back then Jeeps (and other 4x4s) ruled .... At least I had a new CJ5 (that I paid for),
... which is why I drove my friend's 280 some. We'd trade cars for a day .... I didn't think she'd go off-road.... and I sure don't know what she was thinking . I never really pushed her Z tho ....

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

This. They made 21 million VW Beetles, but they are very rare to see today. Almost all of them ended up in the scrap yard. The more disposable a car, the fewer that survive. How many 1978 Corollas do you? Almost none.

Very true, but how many 1970s vehicles do you see on the road of any make? They are all rare now. Same thing for 1980s cars. Rust is part of it, most people want a newer car every few years, and the old poorly maintained ones get pushed into service for the kids, and they virtually all have wrecks. Totaled cars get a trip to the crusher.

I autocrossed against many 240Z back in the day with my 74 914 2.0. I even made friends with some of those drivers. They loved their Datsun car as much as I loved my Porsche, and that was all that mattered.

When people will pay $48.4 million for a Ferrari 250 GTO is is mostly about dick measuring or more accurately wallet size. The same thing applies to art sales. Paying mega millions for oil paint splashed and thrown on a canvas is even more nuts, but it ain't my money so I don't care.

[Ziggythecat]

I think the early cars did not have AC as well.
It was an option in ‘75

[fintstone]

There are almost always a few decent 240z on Ebay for around $25K. Some more and some quite a bit less. It all depends on condition and how much the owner thinks his car is a commodity. The one posted here seems particularly well cared for and original...so that is a car that I would like (and might be worth the ask) if I did not already play with 911 toys that cost about the same (and if my garages were not already full).

When these first came out, the local VW shop had a hot rod beetle that the owner would often street race with these on a local curvy stretch of highway...claiming he never lost. I never drove one or was particularly impressed as muscle cars were the rage where I lived and were very inexpensive comparatively...and my girl drove a VW. (911s and 240s were probably more rare than Superbirds and Thunderbolts)...and late 60s/70s GTOs and 454 Chevelles were the rage. When one could buy a used Mustang or Impala for a few hundred, no one had the money for one of these new cars.

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by 93097004xx

These weren’t aspirational cars.. These weren’t cars that hung in school boys bedrooms like testarossa countach 930 959 512 bbi.

A young man driving a 512 BBi, 930, countach in the 70s had the world in his hand.

A young man driving a 240 Z in the 70s had something else in his hand..

Dreaming of success and the spoils that came with it...money, women and exotic cars.

Come on let’s stop this nonsense.. Most of us are old enough to remember the impotence these cars projected of their wanna be playboy (without means) drivers.

Most of them hairdressers...

There were not many young men in the '70s driving a 930, Countach or 512BB I guarantee that. Most if not all were bought and driven be an older, very affluent clientele. Also the BBi did not come until '81.

Your reply and /or opinion on the Datsun Z, is simply ridiculous and short sighted.

Originally Posted by Ziggythecat

I think the early cars did not have AC as well.
It was an option in ‘75

All Datsun Zs sold Stateside from late '69 were available with AC, installed as a DEALER option. The bracket is a bit crude but works. 48 years later the AC in my neighbor's AC still works on the original R12, it is not icicle cold but when it is 100F and 99% humidity and you're sitting on Vinyl seats, it does a fine job of making the driving experience much more pleasant.

[lgb240]

I'm glad I bought my 240z 35 years ago and even more glad that I've kept it. Going on 35 years now. I've built it into a fast street / track car... hot rodded motor, coil overs, adj. shocks, big brakes, big sway bars and bushings. It's a absolute blast, and I have less money in this car in total than I will in just the motor I'm building for my '80 SC hot rod.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

There were not many young men in the '70s driving a 930, Countach or 512BB I guarantee that. Most if not all were bought and driven be an older, very affluent clientele. Also the BBi did not come until '81...

Yep. I was driving a car to work that cost me $100...and could barely afford that. I had never even seen one of those cars in person...including a 240Z.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Turns out I'm not going to Dallas so I won't be able to meet Yasin and see the car. One of my friends I was seeing there tested positive and that was enough for me to postpone until late March-April.

[slow&rusty]

Sorry to read this Shaun. Hope your friend recovers and catch you next time for sure. You have my number, so feel free to contact me anytime.

Al the best, Merry Christmas and a great 2021

Yasin