Newbie in Oxfordshire - on the z hunt

bluejon

bluejon

Club Member
Hi everyone. Just signed up to this great place having had an interest in 240/260Zs for well over a year now - it seems to be a bug that has got me and which I just can't shake. I'm increasingly a fan of older cars on the basis that new ones are generally rubbish, depreciate like billy-o and the manufacturers just keep on adding 'advanced' new features that they think everyone needs but which are a nightmare to repair and/or cost a packet. Don't start me on that. Anyways, I drive a simple-ish Swift Sport as a daily drive (fast, fun and cheap to run), but also own an increasingly rare and cherished V6 406 coupe which I maintain myself. I'm a very active member of the coupe club and forum over there so know how these things work, and the value and community that such a club can bring.

So I just keep finding myself looking in on the 240z ads on car-n-classic to spot one that will tempt me, so today I thought "in for a penny" and all that .. time to sign up for the forum and do some proper reading. I need that buyers guide doc - I have an empty garage I recently purchased awaiting a new resident.

While I'm thinking it may be a waiting game to find the right car to purchase (it took me 9 months to source the coupe I wanted), I recognise that 240/260s are not that numerous. My ideal I guess is a RHD 240z manual built in 1971 (my birthday) so here's hoping for that. Current thinking is that RHD outweighs the model for me, so I'd prefer a RHD 260 say, than a LHD 240 .. but I need to learn some more about the plusses and minuses of 260s versus 240s. I see lots of great LHD 240 imports but I'm not sure I'd get comfortable with it. And I presume 260s currently are more affordable to buy, but over time their prices will only be heading north towards 240 territory .. fair to say ?

Probably that's enough from me for now .. I'm pleased to be here and will be happy to take any newbie advice. And hopefully not soooo long until I am 'with car'. Jonathan.
 
tel240z

tel240z

Club Member
Hi Jonathon a 71 rhd 240 will be hard to find here and if you really want a 71 car then a 260 is out of the question they started around late 74 75

Terry
 
bluejon

bluejon

Club Member
pmac said:
Only 72 sold in UK so probably around 10 left
Click to expand...

Its an ideal, but I recognise not that realistic. I certainly won't be holding out just for that, while missing out on a potentially great other car. ;)

Best I do my homework and at least get to see some cars so I know what's what. The red on ebay could be solid and is keenly priced, but I'd find it hard to rock up in Watford as a newbie and do it justice.
 
S

Stockdale

Club Member
Seems that there are around 150 240z's currently registered here in the UK and about 50 260z 2-seaters. Chances then are that unless you plan to import you are more likely to find a 240z although I would imagine, statistically there will be a greater proportion of these being left hand drive. The first 260'z were manufactured toward the end of 1973 and were on the market in the UK in the spring of 1974.

Good luck with the search.
 
bluejon

bluejon

Club Member
So, I've spent some good time looking around the ads and reading posts on here about new listings. It may be a can of worms to ask the question, but I'm finding it hard to discern what is the approx right price for a car ?

Before anyone asks the question I'm not working to a particular budget, other than to say that anything like the shiny £35k blue 240 that's in Australia is not in the running nor probably anything over £20k. At the other end anything <£10k that needs some specialist repair work is also not really what I'm in this for. So a £10-20k range is most likely.

The new white 240 on car-n-classic is a good 'un no doubt, but advertised as £POA probably means >£20k. The red car in Watford that went unsold on ebay (although with sunroof), is a more likely candidate. And then I'm seeing selections of cars available at the classics dealers in Belgium/Netherlands .. pick a budget, pick a colour and they have something close to what you are looking for.

This one has caught my attention at around £14k, plus having to change the bumpers I think. What further costs are involved in importing ?

http://www.stolzeclassiccars.nl/aanbod/2658/datsun-260z/

Appreciate your views guys .. plus any other gems of wisdom around pricing. :thumbs:
 
N

Nmd14

Club Member
Hi,

For what it's worth, I'd concentrate on the underlying condition of the car than whether it is LHD or RHD. I started off only wanting RHD, got bored waiting and ended up with a LHD.

So far I haven't wished it was RHD once and that includes some driving around London.
 
Jake RAH

Jake RAH

Well-Known Forum User
Nmd14
Hi,
For what it's worth, I'd concentrate on the underlying condition of the car than whether it is LHD or RHD. I started off only wanting RHD, got bored waiting and ended up with a LHD.
So far I haven't wished it was RHD once and that includes some driving around London.
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree. I was very concerned about driving a lhd over here, but in reality it's fine, no problem at all. In fact I really like it now :D
My Z doesn't get taken out without me overtaking at least a few cars, would be rude not too ;) and it's fine. I really wouldn't worry about it. Buy a nice dry state car and leave it lhd ;) Well that's unless you've got a spare large stack of wedge and a rhd donor car.
Go lhd and get out and have some fun in it!
:driving:
 
2

240Z Man

Well-Known Forum User
I posted on here a couple of weeks ago, that i come across somebody who ownes a 240Z 1972 same owner since the 1980. he told be he intended to sell it, and i have been waiting to catch site of the car for pictures.

Seen as their are interest on here i decided to knock on his door today and ask what he was doing with hi car. He told me a well known z restorer had come down and offered him £9000 which was £2000 less then what they agreed on the phone. he tells me £11000 will buy the car anybody interested il will pass on his phone number.

Car is red i colour and k reg look at my previous post of the registration of the car. iw ould of bought it myself but I'm already into 3 different projects beside my z.
 
G

Guy 600N

Well-Known Forum User
Where in Oxfordshire are you from? I have a '74 260z in 'Mexican' orange... you could come and have a look at it when i've got it back on the road - see if it's the kind of thing you're looking for. Just refurbished the triple carbs and bought a new manifold and exhaust system so just putting it back together again now.
 
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