Well, I went and checked out the "No Rust" '72 240Z and it had Z cancer in several places. Even my dad, who went along just to look, noted that it didn't look as good as the pics. There was even rust bubbles coming up from under the paint. I can see $2500, but not $4500. The donor car, was ROUGH, but with lots of money could be put back on the road. If the car had been as pristine as was noted in the add, I would have gladly given full NADA value but I was just not even close enough in my mind to make an offer......I figured I might insult the poor fella. I did give him a "tutorial" on WHERE and WHAT to look at when buying an early Z, and after showing him all his cars flaws (very graciously, I might add), he started seeing what I was talking about.
He truly seems to want ME to have the car, since I have connections to his extended family, and the deceased Datsun mechanic that was my friend's dad, so I think that I will just sit back and wait. If someone wants to pay him $4500, great for him, and I am happy that he got what he was asking. If he doesn't sell it, I have a gut feeling that he will call me and tell me to make him my best offer. Either or, my 280Z needs almost as much attention as the 240. Oh yeah, one last comment.....it was an AUTO tranny. YUCK.