1972 240z Rebuilt

[Marine1342]

So in the market for a new Z, and looking around locally and found one about 20 minutes from my house.

It's a 1972 240z VIN HS30 54926

The person who owns it, has owned it since 1977 (2nd owner), it was his first car and has maintained it since. It has 90,821 miles on it.

He did a restoration of the car a little over 5 years ago (finishing last year) which consisted of new floor pans, new frame rails, rebuilt engine and tranny, replaced the hatch, hood, fenders. Any rusted area on the car was cut out and new steel was welded into its place.

The suspension was dropped, sand blasted and then powder coated. Hydraulic lines and fuel lines were replaced as well. New bushings and boots.

ALL of the gauges work (speedo, tach, fuel, oil pressure and the clock as well).

The interior is all new, even has the choke handle on the lever.

The bumpers are the original chrome (was dipped into acid and re-chromed).

He could not find a good replacement panel for the rear body panels and the rocker panel cover so he had some made out of fiberglass. Asked him how they were attached and they were glued and then riveted on.

Rebuilt carbs, new weather stripping and seals, rebuilt window arms and regreased.

Battery tray is clean.

He also POR-15'd the car and inside the frame rails.

All the turn signals, lights and heater elements work. He still has kept all the original parts of the car (dealership a/c and mags that came with it), currently has original tires with D hubcaps in really good condition.

It is a registered Antique Vehicle

He has a binder full of the receipts for any and all work done on it.

Oh and the dashboard is uncracked.....no cap.....

 

And now the bad:

Very small amounts of surface rust underneath the car, rear right light is cracked (not broken but you can see the crack running through the reverse light)

Windshield is not original, the corner chipped on him when he was pulling it out for the restoration.

Headlight scoops are not metal, but fiberglass, paint is in really good condition but has small scratches here and there.

Antenna does not go all the way down stops about 4 inches from fully retracting, radio is not original had it replaced in 1981 so it looks like it belongs.

While replacing the master cylinder (with a rebuilt one) he spilled brake fluid (cleaned it up) but caused the paint on the engine frame rail to curl up, metal is clean underneath)

 

The car drives like a dream, no unusual clanking, rumbling or rattling. Steering is accurate, there is no play or shimmy in the steering.

It is a 4 speed manual original.

 

He is asking 6,500 for it with the extra rims, carb rebuild kit and all the original pieces parts and panels, NOS oil fuel air filters and gaskets.

I am honestly mostly interested in getting a z with as clean of a shell as I can.

He said the price is negotiable, and that in just having the ad up for 2 days he's gotten 5 responses.

I was thinking of offering him 5,500 working up to a maximum of 5,800 maybe even 6k.

Any thoughts on the quality to price ratio? For a clean car that has been restored/refurbished/refreshed recently?

Sorry I don't have any pictures of it, camera died on the way to see the car.

Thanks in advance for the input.

[MikeBZ]

It's tough to give a ball park price without pics. But its sounds clean from your description. I think 5500 is a fair price, 6k might be as well. I know I would have gladly spent an extra 1-2k for a car with less rust...

[Iceman]

I think $5500 sounds fair, but I personally wouldnt go any higher.

I got my 1970 in similar condition but minus a few of those big things like the new frame rails, pans and POR15 everywhere and no new lines or bushings for less than $4000.

 

I guess it also depends on how willing you are to wait for the next opportunity. I dont know how common Zs in that good of condition are in your parts.

Might be good enough to jump on and spend a little more.

Edited August 18, 2010 by Iceman

[getoffmyinternet]

Yeah I even had trouble finding a z in decent shape. I went to see a bunch but most weren't even worth the effort, which was disconcerting. So when I saw mine I thought it was worth the extra money, although in retrospect I bet I could have gotten one just like it for half the price if I held out more, especially after talking to people on here who score killer deals--patience is the key.

[Nismo_Gizmo]

Yeah they are really tough to find up here in the north. I am flying to minnesota (from cleveland), next friday, to buy mine! (1973)

Good luck to you!

[Marine1342]

Yeah I was pissed off that my camera died. I should have charged it the night before. And that's the problem with any cars here in the midwest area. The salt they use is so corrosive, that here in chicago it eats away at the asphalt.

I guess I'm just worried because I hear of all these people from California, Arizona or New Mexico that find their cars for dirt cheap (relatively) that are 'rust free'.

But talked to the guy a bit ago and we'll talk again on Friday when he gets back to bounce prices back and forth.

 

Maybe start at 5,200 and work up.

I'll let you guys know how it goes, hopefully I'll get to post pictures on Friday (finger's crossed)

[260ruztmachine]

Good luck on your buy, looking forward to some pictures.

 

 

I'm from Cali and got my "dirt" dirt cheap.

I think the fact that you would be the third owner is awesome.

Mine has been thru owners like no other.