Datsun 240Z?

[javadog]

Run Forest, run!

Offer to pay the guy $10k to not sell it to you.

Money ahead, in the long run.

That's not even a decent parts car.

[Tim Hancock]

I had a '72 240z in college. It was an auto and I swapped in a manual. Loved that car and auto crossed it often. Being an Ohio car it had rust issues that I was not equipped to handle properly at that time. I eventually let it go cheap after buying a newer car to commute with. Mine had worse rust at the hatch opening and the more serious rust in the unibody front suspension mounting points. Wish I had it now as metal can be easily cut out and replaced. All that said ... that car for sure has rust that needs to be dealt with properly. If you can do that go for it.... If not pass.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I did a quick search and it looks like nice 240Z can be found between $30k and $50k. Unless you can DIY every aspect of restoring that car, you would be exponentially better off purchasing one that’s already done. Or at least a nice driver on the low side of that price range and spruce it up over time.

[Cdnone1]

My bad he did disclose before he sent pictures a "small spot of rust on the rear hatch lid. I will inspect it closely when I view it. I can do almost anything but body and paint.
I'm thinking if there is structural rust passing on it, otherwise 6K

[Shaun @ Tru6]

New repro dashes are beautiful and bad but not horrible to pull out and replace, make sure the heater core is done at the same time. But if dash is cracked, I'd start at $5k. Then it's nickel and diming to get it running, driving, wheels, tires exhaust... Starting at $5K you'll be at $10 soon. But at least you know what you have.

The rear hatch entry rust has to be the only rust on the rest of the car, or any other disappears with a red scotchbrite. Definitely poke around the frame rails with a screwdriver.

[Cajundaddy]

Too many unknown unknowns. I’d pass and look for a nice 944 S2 instead.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Too many unknown unknowns. I’d pass and look for a nice 944 S2 instead.

Have you looked at prices recently? It’s hard to find a nice S2 or 951 for under $25k.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I drove my friend's 89 S2. No thanks. 200 hp in a 3000 lb car. I don't care how well it's balanced, what a dog that car was. But then I am biased toward ultralightweights with a sub-2200 lb 911 with a 230+hp 3.2.

A 240 is tossable, lively and fun even with its meager 150 hp. Definitely a perception car vs actual real world performance. Like a doing 80 mph in an Austin Healey Sprite feels like 130.

But for this car, it should make the OP want to see what $10K+ buys you in SoCal, AZ, etc.

[Jeff Jagusch]

about 300 horsepowers makes them a lot more FUN

[A930Rocket]

When I had my 73 240Z, I was thinking of a V8 conversion.

I need to find the pictures of me sanding it down to bare metal. What a nasty job.

[MBAtarga]

It's been posted on other 240z threads on this same forum. Owned it during college at Ga Tech.

[rattlsnak]

I've had 2 240s, 2 260s and 3 280s.. (71, 72, 74, 74, 75, 77, 78.) The 280s were the most refined with a 5 speed trans and fuel injection, etc. but they were heavier and big fugly impact bumpers on them. The 240s were the most raw and the 260s were a basket case when they switched to the different carbs that most people put triple mikunis or a Holley 4 bbl on them.

I've often thought about getting another one but then I realize its just the nostalgia from my high school days talking. It would be a fun 4th car though.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I drove my friend's 89 S2. No thanks. 200 hp in a 3000 lb car. I don't care how well it's balanced, what a dog that car was. But then I am biased toward ultralightweights with a sub-2200 lb 911 with a 230+hp 3.2.

A 240 is tossable, lively and fun even with its meager 150 hp. Definitely a perception car vs actual real world performance. Like a doing 80 mph in an Austin Healey Sprite feels like 130.

But for this car, it should make the OP want to see what $10K+ buys you in SoCal, AZ, etc.

Well weight/hp actually favors the 944 S2 by a bit and they are a lot more car IMO. I do like the original 240Z but this particular one looks like $25k in unknown unknowns. If I had nothing but time and liked to get real dirty it would be an interesting project but this one is too far gone for me.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

It's been posted on other 240z threads on this same forum. Owned it during college at Ga Tech.

I had a friend that went to Georgia Tech and he had a 72Z that was bright yellow, with the same wheels as yours. He graduated in 81.

[carreradpt]

Just saw this 72 today. A beauty.

[Jeff Alton]

We currently look after 2 beautifuly restored ones. Amazing cars. Would love to own one. Just understand what you are getting into when you buy one...

Cheers

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Well weight/hp actually favors the 944 S2 by a bit and they are a lot more car IMO. I do like the original 240Z but this particular one looks like $25k in unknown unknowns. If I had nothing but time and liked to get real dirty it would be an interesting project but this one is too far gone for me.

Yeah I did the spreadsheet myself for power to weight ratio which is why it's a perception car. After a few days with the S2 I gave it back to my friend and said "it's nice for a Buick." I've never understood why anyone would drive a NA 944.

If you can do all your own work, it's hard, if not impossible, to spend $25K in unknowns for a 240Z. Used engines are dirt cheap, transmissions are dirt cheap, brakes, suspension, etc... As long as it doesn't have serious rust, which isn't an unknown, there are only two major costs: paint and a dash, both of which are known, neither of which are necessary to enjoy the car.

But as I said, it's worth the OPs while to see what $10K buys you in the 240 world.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I will never know if this car was one of mine, the final one actually, as the seller was going through a tough time with his wife in the hospital, me being too understanding (the guy who got it wasn't) and weather was insanely cold back in December 2018, but it's the same, year, "fireball red" the painter had extra of after doing a Camaro, mags, Webers, etc. are all the same so it probably was. I've looked for it since getting BaT Z emails, FBMP regularly, never seen it since. Would have been amazing to get it again.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I think the better question with this car is what else you find once you get deeper into it. I’m always suspect of half-finished projects, did the seller just find something they didn’t want to deal with and are trying to dump it?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

That's a good question to ask but for $5K, and rust is limited to what we see, it wouldn't matter. The only thing that wouldn't make this car a good guy at that price is finding it was in a major accident, but that's easy to find.

But a $10K driver will be a better option if you want to buy something and drive it. This car may take months to get on the road without futzing with the auto to manual conversion.

They are incredibly simple cars. I could dismantle one down to a body shell in a weekend when I was in my teens.