my first beater z was a 1978 black pearl edition that i picked up for 500.00 and drove for six months, didnt smog it, register it, or nothing, just replaced some hoses, plugs, wires, coolant and kept up the oil, and drove it like a savage, and then sold it. my second beater z was a rustless 1973 240z with 2.4 and four speed, i drove it everyday without doing anything but replacing the distributor with a 79 280zx one with e1280 module and tune the carbs, ran like a champ, sold it on the street for double up once again.
my current beater is my 1987 toyota pickup truck, long live the 22r...