Villeman Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Hi all, i´m browsing craigslist etc. for the last month trying to buy a Z (without luck). My Question right now is this. I want a -280z -2+2 -ideally with 5speed original -with spare tire (if i´m right later ones didn´t have a full tire) - this is to hide a LPG tank to make it driveable here in germany without crying when i´m on an autobahn. -not repaired (most Us repairs on frames i´ve seen won´t pass german inspections, so better rusty than dead-repaired. the problem, was the 5 speed availible on full spare tire cars? I just read that they increased tank volume on later years (77, 78) and that 5 speed became availible in 77. ....and if this car exists, anybody want to sell one ? Thanks you all, i promise pictures once i get a car (will be my second vintage, first really own vintage car) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pac_Man Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I'm almost positive that the 77/78 2+2 had an option for a manual 5 speed. I recall something about the fuel tank size being changed in '77, though I'm not sure how this affected the spare tire. I have a '76 and I can fit the original size wheel and inflated tire in the spare compartment. Good luck with finding it, the 2+2 is not a common one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Pre - 6/76 280Z 2+2 The larger tank kills the spare tire well, the post-6-76 have a raised floor above the metal floor...lots of wasted space inside. Have you spoken to Jochaem Kaphengst or Frank Poll? They are usually shipping cars in April from SoCal... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillar Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Tony-D is correct. 280Zs after 6-76 had a larger fuel tank so they switched to the 'space-saver' spare tires due to the raised rear. And of course the 5-speed wasnt offered until the 77 model year. I would suggest finding a pre 6-76 280Z and then swap in a 5-speed. Swapping in a 5-speed is relatively simple and is ideally the only way (that I know of) that you can get the exact combination that you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villeman Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 hey, thanks, i only knew that 77 had the raised back..... but 6\76 sounds like there is no stock one ^^ original plan was to combine a roadtrip with a purchase, e.g buy a car then drive it to a port over 1-2 month. But yeah, very few 2+2, but here they make more sense (longer wheelbase and 2 spare seats ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillar Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 No problem. Good luck in you search. A road trip purchase sounds like an adventure for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) From the port of LA it's $1,100 if you drop it at CFR Rinkens on the way to LAX... If you book ahead of time in Germany, it's €1,100.... What a deal, ja? Driving across the USA can be done leisurely, it will cost you (brace yourself) around $600 in fuel costs to take a roundy-bout journey of 3,600 miles and suck down around 170 gallons of petrol at say, $3.50 a gallon (€0.77 per liter) premium 91 petrol is much higher, around €0.79 so nobody wants that extravagance... In several months, you could easily drive 30,000 miles! I did so in the Midwest from June to November, around 6,000 miles per month. In my Z I would regularly dash to ZCONs and stick 15-18,000 miles on the car in three weeks! Advice: buy your car, then buy your parts and install EVERYTHING then and there. New Ball Joints, Tie Rods, Brakes, EVERYTHING. The car WILL NOT pass TÜV as you buy it even from the most reputable dealer or individual in the USA.the parts are cheaper here obviously, and your invoiced price on the purchase does not need to mention the several thousand in new parts you put on it in the week after you got it! Saves on import taxes if applicable... The biggest issue you will have is finding a place to do the mechanical work yourself. If you pay a shop to do it the costs increase quickly. A rental in LA, and a good international data roaming plan will get you your car within a week or two if you do groundwork beforehand and BRING CASH. That leaves you a week to bring the car underneath up to,proper specification, and then plenty of time for a leisurely drive through the countryside! Pack it on a boat in Bayonne NJ, should be slightly less shipping from there, and in a couple of weeks go be reunited at the port again with your purchase! Edited November 1, 2014 by Tony D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Or you could just buy this one from the Netherlands and be done with it. http://www.marktplaats.nl/a/auto-s/nissan/m854632242-nissan-240-260-z-2-6-sportcoupe-2-2.html?c=a2384ef0ece270f44503df9f8598c624&previousPage=lr Nice interior too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 (edited) Oh, if you want to be like that, then.... http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/cto/4739422471.html Maybe buy this one as well, since it's "Big Tank" and swap the five speed in from the one above? http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/4738461877.html I don't know, that's $4,500, plus $2,200 to ship... I don't know if that leaves enough to get inspection registrations, and all that done compared to that Dutch Frau Xander found! Bah! I'll just get the one by my house in Riverside...it looks just like what he wants anyway...what did this take? Three minutes on SoCal Craigslist to find it? http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/4719746443.html Xander will look at the Map in that last advert, recognize street names, and go "DAMN TONY D!" ;P I'm not sure how or where you were searching on Craigslist... These were just basic quick searches I did and found almost the exact car you say you want within a 5 minute drive from my house, WITH a spare high performance engine thrown in! Then again, as Xander can attest..."I'm like that!" Edited November 2, 2014 by Tony D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 DAMN TONY D! That is right around the corner isn't it? It's been more that eight years since I was there. A lot has happened since then. And It's still impossible to get a decent rustfree S30 overhere . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Yep... "As Usual!" LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villeman Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Hey, yes, the last one of your cars is really interesting for me, i tried contacting them this morning and some time ago. Would somebody want the "performance engine" if i get it? (no chance shipping it). As is i´m quite afraid of bondo-bombers (it´s almost never done here). I will see what they will tell me. Regarding Xander, don´t even think about buying it before me I´m quite familiar with the dutch Oldtimer-traders (we had several snooks and live at the dutch border on the height of Groningen) and i´d like to get "my" car (apart from the one you linked being a 2.6 and i want the Jetronic and it being well over 20.000$ ) edit: i actually live 60 km away from the Marktplaats one, and i think my father checked it out already. We also checked one in Maastricht a time ago but virtually EVERY PART looked decent from 10m away but was broken. Edited November 3, 2014 by Villeman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villeman Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 this one is also on my list once i find out why it´s labeled "not running" http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4741616410.html but the exterior picture looks VERY nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Why not ship it? Drain the oil, lay it down on cardboard and ship in the back of the car! It will fit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Oh, and as Xander can tell you... Unless it's in an accident..."Bondo" is not an issue in SoCal! I prefer original, unrepainted cars, as all bodywork is usually visible and you don't get surprises. Rust is not an issue in SoCal, and inland empire cars are generally rust free as can be expected. In fact, the last time Xander was around my place, we loaded a few cars to go over to Rotterdam! It wasn't just two cars in that container...they kept on piling in! Edited November 3, 2014 by Tony D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villeman Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 hey, thats what i heard as well, somebody in another forum said that cars from up north may actually be better, but since i don´t want a dozen and only have to find one.... Shipping with a motor inside is not possible (i guess) since no shipping company i know will accept the car for insurance ( bad weather while shipping and you have a motor tumbling around in your car). I would acutally pay them to remove everything from the engine block and leave the block there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) CFR Rinkens has no issue with it shipping out of Long Beach. You strap it securely so it doesn't move, or crate it... A crate big enough to hold a full size motorcycle is about $500 additional, but stuffing the car with parts is generally the easier way to do it, and at lower cost! We shipped a T56 transmission in the trunk of a 380SEL two years ago! Edited November 3, 2014 by Tony D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villeman Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) 380SEL, sweet i will put some thought into it. It may still be that i will just directly ship it to Germany.... many if´s right now. Just Pm´d Xander since he´s apparently living 200km away from me Edited November 3, 2014 by Villeman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsommer Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) In your initial post you said LPG "hidden" in the spare tire well. What would the fine be for getting caught with that? Just wondering, would it involve jail time? I was stationed in Germany for 2 years back in 90. I had an 86 trans am, I put some aftermarket exhaust on the car and the TUV went nuts, had to explain to them the exhaust tips sticking out slightly past the rear bottom of the bumper was how the system was designed. They let it "slide" because I was PCS in 4 months. Edited November 3, 2014 by dsommer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) There are "spare tire" systems that piggyback the petrol system available that meet TÜV specs...it's basically an independent fueling system and you can flick over at the switch of a button. Now, defrauding those station owners into thinking you're filling one of those spare tire tanks when in fact you are filling an illegally imported US-Spec Propane tank for the big American Stainless Steel BBQ Grill in your garden... That, THAT might get you busted! Yep, pristine 85 380SEL with hard top, the chrome factory wheels, and the wooden steering wheel option. Was a whole $4,250! (Plus shipping...) I got photos someplace, probably on the other iPad... Nice gunmetal car with 36mm thick maintenance records off original owner... Now a summer cruiser in Amsterdam for picking up Gay Escorts near the red light district... Did I just say that? It's not Xander's car...but we don't judge, just don't let any splash on me! Edited November 4, 2014 by Tony D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.