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My journey with a Euro '73 240Z


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Hello fellow enthusiasts! A family man from Norway here.
 
I got into full-size cars late in life and have been part of the vintage Porsche scene here in Oslo, Norway for around a decade. A project I recently completed is a 5-year nuts-and-bolts bare metal restomod of a 1985 Porsche 944. But now I got myself a 1973 Datsun 240Z.
 
For a long time, I've been Japan curious. Dreaming of visiting the country. Enjoying Japanese cuisine, Studio Ghibli films, various Asian art, the Initial D anime, and following Larry Chen and other Asian car culture YouTube channels. But being in my fifties I am not identifying with huge turbos, vivid car liveries or oversized exhausts. Eventually landing on an older icon. The 240Z.
 
I am a self-taught car restorer and mechanic. And everything I know I've learned from online web forums and old static web pages. I am establishing this thread on Hybridz as I feel a desire to give back and contribute to the continued hub of knowledge and insight in car culture in general, and to the Z-car community in particular. I want to share a full journey, that is readable as a full story. I find that the continuity is harder to do properly on Instagram, FB or similar. But I am planning on sharing updates both here and on Instagram.
 
The car I am now the owner of was first registered in Switzerland in June 1974 and has all the features of what is described as a "Final European Spec". I do not have any written documentation on the Swiss registration. But I -do- have what looks like an original dealer sticker in the rear windshield. And the letters "SWI" written with a crayon on the glovebox mount bracket. The car has lived in the Netherlands since 2001. And now it has moved to Norway.
 
I have little written documentation on the cars life, but the dealer told me it has been sitting for several years, before it now was put on the market. Tires were like hockey-pucks, hoses are dry, bushings are worn, shocks are shot, seatbelts are missing, and there are some rust issues. The car is now red, and the original color is orange 918. But the car is what I describe as "complete". Most the original components are there, apart from the front lip. And it has not been "wrenched to death". I am really looking forward to a long journey with this car.
 
Here are a few images of the car when it was delivered to me. And from today's visit to have the car approved and registered into the Norwegian vehicle registry systems.

 

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Edited by MrQuiet
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15 hours ago, calZ said:

Welcome! Always great to have a new member and another project. What kind of modifications are you planning? 

Thx! I don't really know at this point. I do enjoy restomod builds. But I am not sure where this 240z is going. Firstly I think I am going to get the car roadworthy and drive it a bit. And see where that takes me.

I just received a large box of parts, mostly related to cooling, fuel, vacuum and brakes. All rubber hoses are dry and brittle. And there are small drips on the floor, under all areas where there are fluids in the car :) And I need seatbelts. The tires are replaced already.

 

The import and approval process is going smoothly. From the road authorities I have now received a confirmation that the car is formally imported and entered into the Norwegian registry systems. For now linked to the VIN only. Next step is to get insurance and register the car to me, and getting the Norwegian registration number. The process is much simpler when transfering cars within the EEA (European Economic Area) system, than from US or Asia. As the EEA states are aligned and following the same processes and regulations. Hopefully I can have the first little test drives on the road within days.

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Congratulations on your new purchase, and welcome to the forum!  The car looks like a really clean original example -- interested to see how it unfolds as the project progresses.

 

Thanks so much for sharing; and I hope you enjoy your Z-car as much as we do ours!!  😜

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Welcome to the forum!

 

We visited Norway a few years ago: Oslo, train to Bergen, boat to Rosendal (beautiful place that looks like a Jurassic park :-) )

Norway is probably one of our favorite places in Europe.

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2 hours ago, darom said:

... beautiful place that looks like a Jurassic park :-) 

Hehe! I've been told visitors to Norway enjoy the nature and scenery. Living here I don't think much of it. And finding other places in the world more exotic🙂

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Welcome to the forum! I’m in a bit of te same boat with my 1977 280z which I’m trying to get back on the road. I would love to see every little step of your journey with the car. In my opinion all possible information is welcome online as some information is pretty hard to find.

 

O and as you have seen the Initial D anime you might also enjoy Wangan Midnight, might even give you some inspiration for modifying your Z. 😉

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