1971 240Z - to cut or not to cut? That is the question.

As an investment: Resto-mod or JDM

  • Update the stuff that matters and won't hurt the value - Restomod

    Votes: 10 90.9%
  • Forget the value - Go crazy, go JDM

    Votes: 1 9.1%
  • JDM can still be a good investment - if done right

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    11

chrisvega

Well-Known Forum User
Freek de Kok has hoovered up most of the 240Zs that were around in South Africa for his Heritage Museum in Free State.
I bought a 1971 example out of a barn in Gauteng a few years ago (undergoing restoration at the moment) and that is the only 240Z I have ever come across in South Africa outside of his museum.


As (nearly) everyone has said, don't cut the arches if you have one eye on selling it at some point in the near future and want to retain the car's value and integrity
It is worth at least £25k 'as is' over here and probably quite a bit more than that, dependent on structural originality and condition.
 

Mr Ex Jnr

Club Member
My 240z I bought is a project I have plans to.make it a nice Rhd Z that has some nice mods

There A very wide market out there lots of younger generation are liking the old datsun Z cars Jap classic are really still been appreciated modded or standard

I found it cool with the arch and wide wheels it interesting have u ever noticed qhaybgeta attention at shows I noticed at oulton park

The samuri get attention but the resto mod Z get.alot of attention too


Me personally I am going down the Jdm look too
 

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Speedtripper

Forum User
Freek de Kok has hoovered up most of the 240Zs that were around in South Africa for his Heritage Museum in Free State.
I bought a 1971 example out of a barn in Gauteng a few years ago (undergoing restoration at the moment) and that is the only 240Z I have ever come across in South Africa outside of his museum.


As (nearly) everyone has said, don't cut the arches if you have one eye on selling it at some point in the near future and want to retain the car's value and integrity
It is worth at least £25k 'as is' over here and probably quite a bit more than that, dependent on structural originality and condition.



Hi Chris, yes I have seen the pix online too. Unfortunately the museum is a fair way from me, so never been. I did see a 240z for sale (pretty sure it was from the museum) about a year back. I think it was a LHD, and no price indicated. Might be a good idea for someone to contact the museum to at least touch bases in case something becomes available.
 

Speedtripper

Forum User
My 240z I bought is a project I have plans to.make it a nice Rhd Z that has some nice mods

There A very wide market out there lots of younger generation are liking the old datsun Z cars Jap classic are really still been appreciated modded or standard

I found it cool with the arch and wide wheels it interesting have u ever noticed qhaybgeta attention at shows I noticed at oulton park

The samuri get attention but the resto mod Z get.alot of attention too


Me personally I am going down the Jdm look too


Howzit! That looks like it is going to keep you busy! I guess if you are in lock-down, there's not much else you can do! Interested to know why you want to change to RHD? Is it to make it easier on the road, or to increase it's desirability in the UK should you come to sell it? I see a number of companies in the UK that do that conversion when rebuilding.

There must be a shortage of good RHD dashes by now?
 

Speedtripper

Forum User
Just build the car you want.
I never did mine as an investment, I got it because I liked the shape and modified for extra performance and sound.


I hear you! Got it for the same reasons. However that was 10 years ago, and circumstances change. Having to be more "grown up" about it with a view to bring it back to the UK. I want to enjoy it but at the same time it will be an investment. By the time I convert our banana-republic money into real money I might need to sell it and it could make the difference between living in a tent or a static caravan! :)
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Get it over here first and then decide what you want to do with it. It'll fetch big money here (bigger if you hadn't drilled the wings for some reason - do you not have double-sided tape in SA?!) ...

I guess if you went that far, you know what you're going to do ... in any case, decide it when you're here, cos it's defo coming over ...
 

Speedtripper

Forum User
That's going to be quite something. I remember an SA guy posted about a V57 build on hybridz.org - was it you? it was part of my inspiration.
My build (so far) is here: https://zclub.net/community/index.php?threads/ld32-engine-build.26902/
It's "only" 3.18 with 84.27 X 89.5.


It may well have been. There have been some life-changing things going on and my build pretty much came to a standstill. It has been moving again (slowly) and I recently resumed the build by having a an N42 head welded up. The water galleries in the block and the head don't match up completely, so will try match to the block as much as possible.

The fact that you are attempting a similar build must give you a great amount of satisfaction. It's not everyone's cup of tea and can be frustrating when you rely on others for the machining. Wish I had a machine shop in my garage!!

Thanks for the link. That looks like a good read. Will chug through that tonight.
 

Speedtripper

Forum User
Get it over here first and then decide what you want to do with it. It'll fetch big money here (bigger if you hadn't drilled the wings for some reason - do you not have double-sided tape in SA?!) ...

I guess if you went that far, you know what you're going to do ... in any case, decide it when you're here, cos it's defo coming over ...

I have to be honest..... never occurred to me. Seems logical now. :)

But in my defense, I did move them about 50 times to get them to where I was happy. The shots you see, is with the car fresh off the jacks so suspension had not settled which also contributed to the problem. (That's my excuse and will be sticking with it for now).
 

Speedtripper

Forum User
OK, so the verdict is in.

The people have spoken and a resto-mod it will be. I will upgrade as much as I can while trying to keep it as standard (visually) as I can.

I guess if I were going to the States it would be a different story. So the plan now it to find the right wheels and ditch Rotas and the flares. I am sure selecting the right wheels will also open a can of worms. 15? 16? 17?? etc. Don't want to start a war over that (just yet).

Thank you all for your feedback. I nearly started cutting a month or so back, but it just didn't feel good. Looks like my hunch was right.
 

Mr Ex Jnr

Club Member
I have a bit of.work cut out :)

It's the price you pay tho

I paid £4.5k Not seen engine start etc

I'm.going down L28 fast road car that can be tracked

I want it to be fun to drive So Rhd it is

Also if came to sell it would be beter at selling

I have a Rhd dash so all good have a rack and heater box and blower
 

Speedtripper

Forum User
Then I'd say just leave it as-is, flip it once you arrive and move onto the next project. I and I'm sure other members would offer you money right now for the un-cut car. Once that step is taken, for me at least, the appeal of the car drastically drops.


Totally agree.


I've been convinced. The angle-grinder has been put back on the shelf.
 

Speedtripper

Forum User
I have a bit of.work cut out :)

It's the price you pay tho

I paid £4.5k Not seen engine start etc

I'm.going down L28 fast road car that can be tracked

I want it to be fun to drive So Rhd it is

Also if came to sell it would be beter at selling

I have a Rhd dash so all good have a rack and heater box and blower


Ok, that makes sense. Can't be much fun driving a LHD on narrow roads!
 
OK, so the verdict is in.

The people have spoken and a resto-mod it will be. I will upgrade as much as I can while trying to keep it as standard (visually) as I can.

I guess if I were going to the States it would be a different story. So the plan now it to find the right wheels and ditch Rotas and the flares. I am sure selecting the right wheels will also open a can of worms. 15? 16? 17?? etc. Don't want to start a war over that (just yet).

Thank you all for your feedback. I nearly started cutting a month or so back, but it just didn't feel good. Looks like my hunch was right.

Build exactly what you want.

just make sure it has a nice Japanese exhaust and 14" wheels. :)
 
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