1963 fairlady

[gnob]

So i guess this is the spot for a "build" thread. I posted in valuations but ill keep this one a little more comprehensive.

Ok so story begins at birth. Lol. No, really. Doomed car guy from the go.

So my old man, in his 20s owned an orange 73 (i think) 240z. I always thought the Zs were sexy. So my first car ended up being a 72 240. Got it for a G, and beat it for a couple years, swapped motors, trans, rear ends etc.
I retired that car to my younger brother as i got into splitty vw buses for some years. Owned a euro 65 slammed 1641 yada yada.
After that i got into toyota trucks, been there for almost 20 years.
I was all good with going slow, until i got the amazing opportunity to build the Ariel Atom. During that time i started as a line builder and ended up as the service manager. Which meant i did service and repair, as well as quality control and vehicle test and break in. Well needless to say, got bit by the boost bug.
After that my wife and i owned an 09 WRX. Although a fun car, not quick enough.
Power to weight ratio.......hmmmm

So i decided to build something small and light, enter the roadster bug. Figured this car fit my needs well. My plan is/was a 2.0 turbo setup. Really originally planned on the LSJ ecotec like we used in the Atom.

Well the other day i was BSing with my buddy, telling him my plan. Later that evening he sends me a Craigslist ad for a fairlady.......a 1963.

So after some texts and a couple calls, i made a deal and arranged a road trip. My buddy felt bad for feeding my addiction and loaned me a flat bed.
So i live outside of Medford Oregon, car was in Bend.
Kind of a treacherous trip but a couple pics.

[gnob]

The owners were really neat people. The woman's mother had bought the car new. Sounded, and looks like, she took great care of the car. The original owner passed and the car was passed on. There it sat in the garage for nearly 20 years. The current owners started a resto but were in the middle of a house sale and weren't going to have room.
Here are the pics they sent me originally.

[gnob]

We spent an hour and a half or so bolting wheels, hood and hard top on. Filling it with parts boxes and getting her loaded up.

She was barely wide enough to fit the trailer. Lol

[gnob]

After a looong day we got her home and unloaded. Pics next to her younger brother. Lol

[gnob]

Not really holding my breath on making any shows this season. We will see though. I really want to make Shasta, and ive been wanting to hit Hot August nights since the bus days.

All ive done is unload some boxes, remove the minty hard top and test fit the tonneau.

Ill get some more pics for the weekend

[GeoffM]

Cool, can't wait to see where the project goes!

I can tell you have ingenuity based on your home made shooter tutor.

[gnob]

Shooter tutor?

[gnob]

Oops double post.

[GeoffM]

Yeah, for practicing NOT hitting the goalie.

[spl310]

Neat story, and a neat car. IF you still have the speed bug, resist modifying this car. There were so few single carb cars made, and very few exist in this condition. Put this one back stock, and find a newer roadster to modify.

[gnob]

Yeah, for practicing NOT hitting the goalie.

Lol no, thats an inversion table for my old man back.

[gnob]

Neat story, and a neat car. IF you still have the speed bug, resist modifying this car. There were so few single carb cars made, and very few exist in this condition. Put this one back stock, and find a newer roadster to modify.

Ya, i realized the rarity, thats why i jumped on it. This one is going back to stock. I was really just looking for a complete car without motor and trans to build. So i guess im still looking for that one. Lol

[Toptech360]

X2. Very few meaning likely double digits for a single carb 63! You may never see another one in person.

Oh and nice lookin 4runner!

[gnob]

Thanks. That 4runner is 3.4L swapped. Dual cases 37s.


So any legit idea on value of this car? I mean, obviously theyre only worth what someone is willing to pay but.....

[Toptech360]

Ive always thought a 2rz/3rz would be a fun swap in a roadster. Except the exhaust is on the wrong side...

Anyway to answer your question on value, its hard to estimate. A clean well sorted correct car could go for probably 20k to 50k? They are rare enough that nobody really knows i think! Im sure someone else here has had or has one? The 64s are a little bit more common, and ive seen them sell north of 30k but average is probably more like 15 to 20k. I have mine insured for 35k right now. Probably high compared to market value but it is a family heirloom with good documentation.

I think the value of these cars has increased alot over the past 5 to 10 years. My bet is the older they get the more valuable they will be.