240 Z

[C.Costine]

Last night at a meeting a friend told me about this Z-car that he had found out in the woods. It is literally just a few hundred yards from my place, so I went and looked at it today. As expected it is pretty rusty, it has been there for over thirty years. It looks worthwhile. It had some floor pan patching done before it was backed into the trees, yet the spare tire chamber which is usually rusted away appears to be solid. It was built in Jan. 1970, most likely in the first five days, and it was sold originally in El Paso TX. I have known the property owner for many years so I expect to get it for little or nothing. I have done a little searching and so far it seems that parts are not as available as for the roadsters. Do you have experience with acquiring parts for one of these?

[todd lorber]

That sounds like a pretty early car. See if you can get the VIN. Some of the parts that are particular to Series 1's (as they call them) are tough to find, (mostly interior items) but anything that is common to later 240's should not be a problem.

There is probably a significant amount of rust in the unibody, under battery, bottom of hatch, and floor boards, but the hard core Z people love the low VIN cars.

[DAC21]

Heck just the original Hub Caps on an early car like that go for $1000+ for 4x in nice shape.

[jhayden]

Even more prone to rust than roadsters, especially when left out in the elements. "Spare tire chamber ... solid" is a good sign, but be sure to check the (unibody) frame rails. Then, check the VIN number, and that the motor is matching (keep your fingers crossed). If so, will it turn over? Overhaul is MUCH less expensive on an L24 than a U20. Some of the parts (e.g., rear hatch vents, which were only on the '70 model) not available in years past are now available from vendors, as is the case for some parts for our roadsters. Parts availability should be even less a concern for a series 1 Z owner than for our cars.
If the title is clear, you're gold. My car (a San Antonio car) sold about 30 years ago was VIN HLS3000327, and the production date stamped on the door plate was 11/69 (on the first boat over?). The Z you're looking at should be only a few hundred after.
"Little or nothing?" Absolutely worth checking out. Please keep us posted.
Jon

[C.Costine]

That sounds like a pretty early car. See if you can get the VIN. Some of the parts that are particular to Series 1's (as they call them) are tough to find, (mostly interior items) but anything that is common to later 240's should not be a problem.

There is probably a significant amount of rust in the unibody, under battery, bottom of hatch, and floor boards, but the hard core Z people love the low VIN cars.

I have the VIN: first week.

[jhayden]

Curious as to how you determined the week of production (only month/year are stamped in the plate inside driver's door frame), but willing to take your word for it. So, what is the VIN?

[mgmoreau]

There is no way to determine what week an early 240Z was built. The first 500 Z's shipped from Japan to CA were built in November and December of 1969. The VIN #'s of the cars arriving in CA were not always in sequence. I have a 1972 240Z that I spent 11 years restoring in phases. When I purchased the car in 2008 you could still get all the parts, many NOS, at reasonable prices. Over the last 2-3 years the value of these early Z cars has skyrocketed and so has the cost of hard to find parts. Parts are available but you need to know where to look. But expect to pay big prices especially if this car is a low VIN Z. If the car has been outdoors in NH for 30+ years it may not be worth restoring. As others have said if it is fairly complete, it may be worth a lot as a parts car. Check out Classic zcars.com which is an excellent site similar to this site. Good luck!

[redroadster]

download.jpeg

The 240 Z built to complete with the MGB-GT
According to Wikipedia



Here's a 240 ZG on road

[todd lorber]

There is a guy who bids a lot on Bring a Trailer that has a shop that restores virtually all low VIN Z's and the sells them. Obviously the more work that is required, the less he can pay, but some of the early Z's are going out between $100k-$200k. One of them went out for around $360k. Clearly you need 2 of the right people looking at the auction in order to get the number up there, but it has happened.

[C.Costine]

Curious as to how you determined the week of production (only month/year are stamped in the plate inside driver's door frame), but willing to take your word for it. So, what is the VIN?

The VIN is 01377.

[jhayden]

Thank you!
Seems my guess was off quite a bit: between 11/69 (nr. 327, my car) and 1/70 (nr. 1377 the "car in your neck of the NH woods") there were 1050, not the several hundred I imagined. Serves as a good measure of how quickly Nissan shifted resources and production in favour of the Z car after it was so well received.
Again, please keep the forum updated on what you decide to do with the car. And, without my sentimental attachment to the early Z, "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din" to make the decision.
Jon

[C.Costine]

Thank you!
Seems my guess was off quite a bit: between 11/69 (nr. 327, my car) and 1/70 (nr. 1377 the "car in your neck of the NH woods") there were 1050, not the several hundred I imagined. Serves as a good measure of how quickly Nissan shifted resources and production in favour of the Z car after it was so well received.
Again, please keep the forum updated on what you decide to do with the car. And, without my sentimental attachment to the early Z, "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din" to make the decision.
Jon

Well, perhaps I have a little sentimental attachment. In 1970I was a student at the University of NH, and driving a '67.5 311. I was very much aware of the 240 Z, as there were one or two around campus and they had certainly caught my eye. I was going to buy one once I graduated, but the job that I got included a company car, so I never did get one.

[Curtis]

Heck just the original Hub Caps on an early car like that go for $1000+ for 4x in nice shape.

What is a set of 5 wheels dated 10/71 taken off the day after the car was sold worth? Spare tire wheel doesn't even have hubcap marks.

[DAC21]

Heck just the original Hub Caps on an early car like that go for $1000+ for 4x in nice shape.

What is a set of 5 wheels dated 10/71 taken off the day after the car was sold worth? Spare tire wheel doesn't even have hubcap marks.

Some guy on eBay has sold 2 of his 5, well used April 70 wheels for $600 each.. Another listing for 4x Dec. 71 wheels received no bids starting at $2000. Certainly 5x essentially unused wheels would bring in 2-3k maybe more IMO. I understand early 240z restored can be 6 figure cars. A 1971 went for 310k on BAT two years ago, certainly an outlier though.

[Curtis]

Uh, time to sell to help pay for my paint job. My 'daughter' currently has her 83 280ZX T top GL parked at my house. Fun to drive. I fixed her radio wiring and stripped the stupid amp and sub-woofer out. They were using a 3.5 mini plug to input to it next to the console.

For the 240Z in the woods. She was able to get repro floor pans for hers.