Found it - 1972 (12/71 build) 240Z stock condition. Car for sale near me in the Chicago area. $2,000. This is the car - blue with white interior, 4-speed manual, looks to be original blue.
Here's the issue - it's sat for 21 years and the drivetrain and interior is scattered all over a barn needing rebuilding plus it needs some body work although not a ton. Every component need to be gone through.
I'm ready to pull the trigger but my financial goals are to get my daughter through 7 more semesters of college debt free plus I am limited on garage/driveway space with 3-4 cars here now. At this point I am debt free and I'm not sure I'm ready to put $5-$15,000 or more into a car due to the college plan.
It's hard to pass up.......ever been there?
Buy it, chip away at it a little at a time, drive it a bit, sell it at a profit?
I haven't seen a 240Z worth putting together for less than 5x that in almost 2 decades. I'd buy it!
That's going to be a bunch of work. Cool color combo though.
Is it rusty? Why was it disassembled then abandoned?
Damn, I know I want that. I've been half-looking for a Z car, and that is a good deal. Anything under 10k is usually half disassembled and or incomplete anyway.
In reply to mikeatrpi :
The rockers and rear tire dog legs are crunchy. Surface rust on floors, frame rails are pushed in from years of jacking up. Rust bubbles on the bottom of the front fenders.
The engine is toast and he pulled it out to redo it and it sat - guy is 74 years old and started on Z's when he came back from Vietnam. The last one was his focus and he said it was serial #117. This car was something he called a parts car now selling it as a car.
Sounds like most of the usual spots to find rust. Like others have said it's probably a good price; if you change your mind you could get it all back easily I'd think.
Looking forward to the build thread.
Are you able to fix the rust yourself ?
if not , buy it , bolt the parts back on and sell , use the profit for your girls school...
Lots of 240 z rust repair videos on youtube ...
good luck
Here is a Japanese You tube making patch panels for a 240 Z Fairlady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9WNF2OgpPc
Buy it, spend 3.5 years chipping away at the rust/body repair while daughter finishes school, then you can finish it off when most of the $$ is needed for it. Rent some space from Chris and Sara if needed?
If its truly your goal to restore a Z and not just HAVE a Z, it sounds like a pretty good rig. If its exactly what you want, and not just what you want right now, buy it, catalog everything, and then you have 3.5 years to do all the small dollar stuff. Clean everything. Get a tumbler and tumble all the hardware and recondition it. Clean, powercoat, and put new bushings in all the suspension stuff. Rebuild the brakes. Plenty of time to find the missing stuff without paying "I need it now" money.
Once all the little stuff is done and 7 semesters have elapsed, then you can get the bodywork finished and install all your shiny new parts on it.
Buy it. Absolutely buy it.
They are getting more and more difficult to find and pretty soon, that market will dry up.
I paid 3500 for mine last summer and routinely get offers of 10K for it, which tells me I made the right decision
If you buy it for 2000, I'll buy it from you for 2500 this coming summer. 25% ROI in 6 months
Me already looking and then finding this thread really made me find a complete and assembled Zcar in same price window and now I wanna get it. Man, buncha Enablers!!
In reply to classicJackets (FS) :
This enable anyone????
We're going to hold off for now - it's a bit more than I can take on my plate right now as my job is leaning heavy on my time.
Here is the lead if someone is interested.
https://www.windycityzclub.com/Forms_html/ZsforSale.html
preach (dudeist priest) said:
Buy.
Please.
Deposit dropped off - picking up in 3 weeks - lots of mouse poop.
Awesome! I totally hear you on not having money, but there are so many hours that cost little more than elbow grease to tide you over until you need to buy parts.
Wow, way to revive a thread!
"for now" is officially about 21 months.
Use the measure of time wisely. Or recklessly, it's up to you.
imgon
HalfDork
9/23/23 2:51 p.m.
Cool car, bummer on the mouse poop, they are nasty creatures. That will be gorgeous when you are done.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
The kid in college left her beater home for 2 years. Now I have a spot in the garage to park it.
Seller once owned serial #117 - next guy restored it.
Awesome! I'll have to keep my eye out for you cruising around town. That will be a sweet ride
