Opinions on this car.....

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Looking at all options, my little car has a feature on piston heads so now would be a good time to sell.....

Driven: GKD Legend - PistonHeads Headlines

I've got half an eye on this

1971 DATSUN RED 240Z RESTORATION CLASSIC | eBay

as something to take my time doing. Also been in touch with this nice chap about this...

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

with a view to get it mot'd(I guess about £1k being realistic by the time i've replaced all the brakes/seals etc?).

Looking into it where can i get new door seals/ARB bush's etc etc? I can't seem to find anywhere that supplies the parts needed to get the second car on the road.

 

[moggy240]

i would have said buy the 1971/1973 car for the parts etc and use them for USA car if needed and then sell the rest.

MJP Eastern Auto is good for parts and UK Based

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I've seen the Sheffield car. The guy has done a good job so far but still lots to do and it will always be 'patched up'. He's after £2.5k though but it does include all the panels.

The red car is attractive because it's a very early shell (shame it's not just the shell that's for sale) and it's pretty original. Funny carbs. However it's LHD and USA spec is not the best over here.

There has been a Silver 240 for sale in Derby. US import and converted to RHD - that looked good to me - about £8k.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

I've seen the one in derby and dropped him an email but not had anything back from him. Whats the plus points about an early shell?

I was looking at my kit car trying to work out if the m3 straight 6 would fit in a 240 engine bay!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I've seen the one in derby and dropped him an email but not had anything back from him. Whats the plus points about an early shell?

I was looking at my kit car trying to work out if the m3 straight 6 would fit in a 240 engine bay!

M3 engine into a 240 has been done as far as I know - 'racer' on here mentioned that swap to me. The Sheffield car would be ok for that type of mod and the engine bay chassis legs and front 'rad crossmember' are non-standard heavy duty box section - the guy was going to fit a V8 into it.

Early 240 shells are lighter, as far as I know it's the ones without the 'cubby holes' in the rear deck. The race boys like these shells - they must have a lower homologation weight I think.

 

[moonraker_tom]

You've probably looked, but there are a few Z's in various conditions on Classic Cars;
Datsun Classic Cars For Sale. Old/Used Cars on Car and Classic.

 

[kev64]

Hi everyone i nearly bought the derby car 5 years ago from fourways it wasnt good then ,2 years ago it was for sale in brighton for £6000 with rust so unless it has been done well.....? The dogleg problem was quite bad on both sides when i looked at it, drivers side door badly dropped, good hunting.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Maybe thats why he's not been responding to my emails!

Whats the dogleg problem? Is there any type of buyers guides I can see?

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Hi everyone i nearly bought the derby car 5 years ago from fourways it wasnt good then ,2 years ago it was for sale in brighton for £6000 with rust so unless it has been done well.....? The dogleg problem was quite bad on both sides when i looked at it, drivers side door badly dropped, good hunting.

Just proves yet again that you need to see a car in the flesh.

Dog-leg problem I assume is rust on the rear quarter in front of the rear wheel i.e. rear of sill.

 

[kev64]

The dogleg is the bottom of the sill after the door and before the rear wheel common rust area, can be a nightmare to sort out i'm sure there is many a tale bout this by fellow members on here,dont get me wrong the car might have been sorted just giving you a heads-up to how i remember the car,i nearly gave up on getting a 240z but i had faith and patience and a bit of luck .Take your time and ask advise on this website the knowledge here is sooooo helpful there is some clever people in the Z club. respect guys

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

I really need to find a buyers guide!!!

 

[kev64]

If my memory serves me right the reg no was AKE---J if you get in contact with the seller ask him what colour is the original airbox as he says he has it ,most are orange the one i saw was black,a little bit more info if it helps good luck!!

 

[moggy240]

Structure is everything.

It is easy to check bodywork and interior, but don't buy a Z unless you spend a lot of your time looking at chassis rails, floor pans, inner wing flitches, inner rear arches, rad support panel and bonnet support panels.
Don't expect to see many Zs without repairs in these areas, but look for quality of repair - have new panels been used or just patches with spots of weld? Have chassis repairs been made with long runs of continous box section or a series of little patches over many years? In other words, has any necessary restoration been done properly or just with a view to cheapness?

Engines are pretty bullet-proof and shouldn't be rough or noisy. Gearbox synchros are quite weak, so check 1 - 2 upshift and 4 - 3 and 3 - 2 downshifts carefully. Try selecting 1st, then selecting reverse to check for movement of gears on the shaft - this should be a noise free and non-traumatic experience.

Body repairs - do sills still show correct body to floor join and seam overlap of rear wheel arch repair?

Have rear wheel arch repairs been slapped on over the old rust? Were the inner arches repaired before the outers were added?

Did the subtle swage line along the rear body get obliterated?

Are replacement panels all lined up with good panel gaps?

Any fibreglass panels? All badges and stainless trim present?

Interior:
Most vinyl and plastic parts available for 240Z and some 260Z, but not cheap. Figure between £40 and £100 a piece for missing or damaged interior panels and over £200 a pair to sort out knackered seat vinyl.

Not obtainable:
Roof skin to replace the sunroof fitted in the eighties, inner wing flitches, rear quarters hard to get, front valence in original metal hard to get and expensive, new rear lights (expensive repros now available), wing repeaters. Door skins, radiator support panel, air tubes and rear panel now only available as expensive repro panels.

Anything can be made if you are prepared to meet the cost.

 

[moggy240]

i have a car that you can look round to give you some pointers of where to look. i am only at Crowle which is about 8 mile from scunthorpe if that will help

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I really need to find a buyers guide!!!

Have a look at a few, when you find one you like get back to us and someone may be able to view it with you.

Join the Club (Z Club member) at £15. It's the best way to get full support from your Club and a good investment.

 

[Ninehigh]

Nice Z, nice GKD too

Although this irked me (a little)
"The kit car world has, for too many years now, been clinging onto the venerable Ford Sierra as its single donor vehicle of choice. Fortunately, the ratty old Dagenham dog has become so rare these days, that kit car manufacturers have been casting around for alternatives."

It's been a few years since it was generally given up on. Most use the newer zetecs (available from Mondeos and Focuses everywhere) the MX5 (again cheap as crisps) or a Vauxhall one (c20-something?)

I know it's not the place but something like that aimed at Zs would be corrected

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Nice Z, nice GKD too

Although this irked me (a little)
"The kit car world has, for too many years now, been clinging onto the venerable Ford Sierra as its single donor vehicle of choice. Fortunately, the ratty old Dagenham dog has become so rare these days, that kit car manufacturers have been casting around for alternatives."

It's been a few years since it was generally given up on. Most use the newer zetecs (available from Mondeos and Focuses everywhere) the MX5 (again cheap as crisps) or a Vauxhall one (c20-something?)

I know it's not the place but something like that aimed at Zs would be corrected

They might use other engines but they do use the old gearbox's/diffs/uprights/brakes etc.

The GKD is the first to use most of the bmw donor, except the uprights as they're custom to get the geometry right.

 

[Ninehigh]

The gearboxes have been that popular some companies have started making them again, as for the diff I don't know..

I'll leave it now because we're derailing the thread!

 

[SeanDezart]

The race boys like these shells - they must have a lower homologation weight I think.

No, but a really early car can run in a different class.