[420BRB] 73' 240z

[420BRB]

Hi,

 

My name is Dat, before we get started, im just going to give you a little bit of info about myself and my journey so far with the Dattooo.

 

It is a very quiet day at work today... so enjoy the life story.

 

Ive always been into cars, I still have magazines from highschool stacked all over my room which my parents give me crap about  nearly everyday. as soon as i turned 19 back in 2009, i was able to save up for my first car, a chiraz series 2 s14, i loved that car quite a fair bit, unfortunately my wallet didn't feel the same.. since then, ive modified, broken, replaced, fixed this car.. and every other car that i've had since then. from that s14, i swapped/sold& purchased a s15, 180sx, 93 R32 GTR, another s14, 89 R32 GTR, 1981 Toyota KE55, 1978 Toyota RA28 Celica. until one day, posting up the petrolicious video on my facebook. This girl i just started seeing watched it and sent me a text knowing that this has always been my dream car. (i just couldnt get my hands on a nice & relatively clean example). SMS at 1:30 am on a Saturday night. "you do know there is one for sale at the moment right?" i thought she was being a troll... Then came the link... I couldnt hold my self. After looking through the photos and the description.. I had to make this happen somehow. comtemplating a call or email or text.. I dont want the guy to hate me... but i wanted to let him know i wanted this car.. i mean it was online for 5 days and had over 450 hits. I didnt know this many people would be looking for a 240z! So i sent him a SMS at 1:30am.  i asked him him to SMS me AS SOON AS HE WAKES UP!pretty much saying " MINE MINE MINE "  i couldnt sleep at all that night.. i was up until 3am, youtubing and looking up all sorts of google images for the 240, even though i've seen them all about a thousand times.  For somereason my body clock woke me up at 6am... this is very weird.. i usually don't get up until 7:30.. and given my lack of sleep i should have been fast asleep for a few more hours.. first thing i reached for was my phone...back onto the add... then youtube..then google. What sleep?

 

6:30am... i get a message.... " Hi Dat, its Me Steven, selling the 240z. Call me when you wake up". I called him straight away.. like speed dial. asked him a few questions, he sounded very honest and knew exactly what he was talking about. He knew the car pretty well. He advised me a gentleman was coming to see him at 12pm to look at the car. My heart sunk... I asked him.. "is it first in first served?" he replied "yes"... Brilliant. so i negotiated a price.. i couldnt knock off much, it was already a steal.. i told him I'm leaving in 30 minutes.. i woke my friend up.. told him i'm driving 2 hours north to look at a 240.. just like me he loves the fairlady...he woke up straight away.. and off we went.

 

We get to the address which he provided, which ended up being a warehouse, his very own warehouse.. where he restores and builds cars. The 240z sitting out in the sun, he just plugged in the battery (reminds me of the petrolicious datsun).  The datsun caught my eye...but the things in his warehouse actually caught my eye that bit more... in the warehouse I spy with my little a eye.. a 1969 comaro, 1967 mustang, oh my god.. I've always dreamed of having these cars.. and this guy has all three of them in his private workshop.. along with a charity Bus which he uses for events.

 

After standing there and admiring these pieces of art.. i walked back to the 240z parked in the sun.. me and my mate just looked at each other ..  i think this is the one. Like as if i wasn't already impressed enough with the condition.. while i am looking at the vehicle.. he tells me all the things he has done to it, to prepare it for targa tasmania.. starting from recondition of the engine, all bushes replaced, all belts replaced, coilovers, all ruber seals replaced.  "go on, look underneath the car... shes pretty much rust free", he was right. Considering the car is from California, such a dry climate really does help preserve such a classic. Thank you California.

 

We started her up... started first time, no issues at all, not the slightest choke. it started better than all the cars ive had. it sounded better than all the cars that ive had and it definitely looked better than all the cars that i've had.

 

I walked back to my car got my money and gave it to him. he says "so i guess we have a deal" We signed the papers, i am the first owner in Australia. At this point, it still hasnt sunk in..My friend comes up to me and congratulates me.. "dude...finally found one! congrats!". I could not stop smiling.. my face was numb by the time i got home... Luckily the guy who i got the car off, was well connected with a freight company. Which helped organise towing of the car back to mine for $150. TAKE MY MONEYYYYY! (by now im realising that work has been a complete bludge today)

 

In conclusion to my life story... ive been through a number of the new school JAP cars. mostly nissan.. with my last build being a big single 412kwatw R32 GTR..and still at the end of the day. ive come running back to a car made in the 70's.. i dont know why.. itheyre just so boss

 

 

[George]

Welcome and congrats. I'm sure a lot of the guys can relate to your story.

 

What's your plan with the car?

[gav240z]

I had to laugh at the fact that you said you couldn't sleep, man I can relate to that. You have the same addiction as the rest of us. Unfortunately there is no hope.

 

R32 GTR has always been a car that appealed I considered getting 1 when I lived abroad as they were quite cheap, but I went for an FD RX-7 when I lived abroad because it was the closest car to the feel of the original 240z and I couldn't find a Z in Europe. As refined as the FD is, the 240z just has so much more character and is a much more special car to be in for me. That's why I bought a second 1 - which is actually my fourth Z.

 

My first car was a 240z, it's funny they all have that same smell too. That old vinyl or something, it brings back memories for me each time I hop into 1.

 

The 240z is a very special car, a true classic car that's why you're so compelled to own 1. I once read a comment on Youtube that said "The 240z was the most famous Ferrari of the 70s" and I tend to agree.

 

Looking forward to pics but I get the feeling It's an orange 1 I saw on Gumtree a little while ago.

[420BRB]

Welcome and congrats. I'm sure a lot of the guys can relate to your story.

 

What's your plan with the car?

 

I plan on building this car.. slowly and properly. All my previous cars were just buy parts slap them on and abuse it.. but with this one.. i think it deserves a bit more TLC. It will definitely be with me for a while.. I mean its the only car that i've brought home which my dad would actually bother to look at all the finer details. where as the other cars he had the "oh boy" look when i would drive it home..

 

 

I had to laugh at the fact that you said you couldn't sleep, man I can relate to that. You have the same addiction as the rest of us. Unfortunately there is no hope.

 

R32 GTR has always been a car that appealed I considered getting 1 when I lived abroad as they were quite cheap, but I went for an FD RX-7 when I lived abroad because it was the closest car to the feel of the original 240z and I couldn't find a Z in Europe. As refined as the FD is, the 240z just has so much more character and is a much more special car to be in for me. That's why I bought a second 1 - which is actually my fourth Z.

 

My first car was a 240z, it's funny they all have that same smell too. That old vinyl or something, it brings back memories for me each time I hop into 1.

 

The 240z is a very special car, a true classic car that's why you're so compelled to own 1. I once read a comment on Youtube that said "The 240z was the most famous Ferrari of the 70s" and I tend to agree.

 

Looking forward to pics but I get the feeling It's an orange 1 I saw on Gumtree a little while ago.

 

I am contemplating swapping my r32 GTR for a series 8 rx7! in the process of selling my GTR atm, but if a rx7 pops up and willing to swap i think i would go ahead with it!

 

I know exactly what smell you are talking about. the mrs hates it. i love it.  one of my favourite things about the interior.. where the interior door handle is located. PERFECT.

 

In regards to which 240z, you have very good memory. it is the orange one. Have you seen that one anywhere else prior to that add? do you know the seller?

[gav240z]

I am contemplating swapping my r32 GTR for a series 8 rx8! in the process of selling my GTR atm, but if a rx7 pops up and willing to swap i think i would go ahead with it!

 

I know exactly what smell you are talking about. the mrs hates it. i love it.  one of my favourite things about the interior.. where the interior door handle is located. PERFECT.

 

In regards to which 240z, you have very good memory. it is the orange one. Have you seen that one anywhere else prior to that add? do you know the seller?

 

RX8 is a great car, a friend in Ireland had 1. Only thing about it was lacking power compared to the FD. Still 9000 RPM is pretty cool and the back seats are actually quite nice and comfortable on a long journey. I didn't actually get to drive it unfortunately, but the chassis on them is amazingly well built.

 

I don't know anything about your 240z, I just saw it on Gumtree. I watch the classifieds like a HAWK! It's a horrible habbit, but I suspect I'm not the only person doing it. Hence when I see a good deal I can usually spot it right away. I recall what your car was listed for, great price when you consider the cost to ship, import, customs, quarantine etc.. Man what a ball ache that was with the RX-7.

 

Some people don't like the idea of a LHD car on Aussie roads, but frankly I don't think it matters that much. Especially if it's a rust free car.

[Zedman240®]

Welcome..

Another story which I think alot of members would know all about...and yeah...pics!

[420BRB]

Here are some shots of the car, enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[C.A.R.]

Welcome.

Looks like a clean 240

[gav240z]

And that ladies and gentlemen is why I think importing a US based 240z in a dry state is a good idea. There is just so many Z's to choose from.

[420BRB]

Found some headlight covers

 

[420BRB]

These also came in today! They look beautiful

 

A little disappointed because the add shows the markers as orange.. but when they came in. they were actually yellow.. so im contemplating whether to put them in now or sell as Brand New.. hmmm

 

 

 

[sydney mike]

Welcome Dat,

 

congrats and I admire  your enthusiasm for the Zed. Looking forward to it's progress.

 

cheers, Mike.

[import monky]

Good to see Sydney representing with some new members. Ill have my Z undergoing major repairs in this year for the body then its off to get all the wiring done for the body and SR20 conversion.

 

[gav240z]

These also came in today! They look beautiful

 

A little disappointed because the add shows the markers as orange.. but when they came in. they were actually yellow.. so im contemplating whether to put them in now or sell as Brand New.. hmmm

 

This is just my personal preference but I don't like the autometer style gauges in a 240z. I prefer the OEM look myself.

 

You could look at Kameari Gauges if you're looking for something aftermarket?

http://www.zccjdm.com/catalog.php/azcarbum/dt0/pd882223/Kameari_Gauge_Kit

 

Or there is a couple of threads on here for Speedhut gauges. See:

 

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,3000.0/nowap.html

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,8201.0/nowap.html

 

Which I personally find less 'boy racer' in style.

[420BRB]

yeah i was contemplating leaving it as oem as possible.. but then i thought to myself. if i get bored of these gauges i can always go back to oem later. Its always good to change it up  i mean i dont plan on selling it anytim soon

[CroS13]

hey mate welcome to the forums! It will be good to go for a cruise when you get this old girl up and registered, we seem to be getting more and more Sydney members which is always good, and i actually just live around the corner from you, i'm just in Fairfield.

 

Rudolf.

[420BRB]

Thats awesome! the only other z i know in this area is a clue 280 or 260? with a rb26de in it. sounds nuts 

 

deffinitely meet up !

[420BRB]

L28ET

 

or

 

 

L28 with triple dellortos

 

 

or

 

RB26/30de

 

 

:-\