Guys, originality is an emotive subject. There are a few cars in the club that are 'quite' original, being membership sec I get to talk to some of the owners.
I have an 'almost' original car and a LHD conversion and modded car. They drive very differently and I think of them very differently. Nothing wrong with a non-original car however original ones are so rare it's a 'shame' IMO to lose that.
Franky your car will not be original even if kept LHD - Subaru Diff
Some cars on here (and even my old track car) are far from original. One day I started from the front and worked my way back noting changes/upgrades/replacements - it's an eye opener! How much of the car was on it when it came out of Japan probably 40%. And that was a matching numbers car.
I think the simple reality is that LHD cars are not worth as much because the UK is a RHD country. It's practicality and people's bias. I've had many conversations at car shows (e.g. a couple at Japfest last weekend) with people who have been interested and looking for Z projects who have completely discounted LHD cars. They don't want them and/or don't fancy converting. Therefore, for many, a RHD car, or one that's already been swapped decently is going to be preferable, which will have an obvious value benefit. It may not be logical (if considering the higher potential expense of fixing rust issues on UK project cars compared to Cali cars) but that's the way people think.
Anyway, I'm in Massachusetts right now - time to look at the local Craigslist and see what's for sale...
Is there now any such thing as an 'original 240/260z? Most had the awful pressed steel wheels changed at birth and I have yet to see a truly 'original' example. By that I mean that a carb tweek, a different steering wheel, installation of wing mirrors etc all render the car 'non-original
Yep. But still make a difference to originality. I suppose shoving some daft engine, drive train or suspension set-up into a Z are all bolt on/off but surely such things would mean the car was no longer original. Maybe i'm wrong! I for one would pay a great deal more for a well engineered LHD to RHD conversion than I would for a mega-engined arch-flared ultra-lowered pimp-mobile claiming to be 'original' cos its all bolt on/off
Yep. But still make a difference to originality. I suppose shoving some daft engine, drive train or suspension set-up into a Z are all bolt on/off but surely such things would mean the car was no longer original. Maybe i'm wrong! I for one would pay a great deal more for a well engineered LHD to RHD conversion than I would for a mega-engined arch-flared ultra-lowered pimp-mobile claiming to be 'original' cos its all bolt on/off
!!