Hi Everyone, looking for some guidance

[JSpittle]

Hi everyone,

 

I am new to all this forum stuff but I thought I would give it a go. I have loved Z's for years now (which is quite a long time for me as i am still a youngster) and have always fantasised about having one to work on in the shed and someday drive. After discussion and negotiations with my dad (who is a mech eng) we have decided that it would be good to do a father son project and rebuild a 240z or possibly 260z. I assure you that I am not an ignorant teen who believes that this is going to be a couple of months work and then ill be driving around in my Z, I am looking forward to getting a proper project and working on it for a couple of years and doing a proper job.

This brings me to my question: could anyone give me some advice on how much it is going to cost to get a 240z shell with minimal rust so that I can get started? or tell me what I should be looking for to get started?

 

Cheers,

Jack

[dat240z]

Welcome mate, and good choice on car for the father son project.

 

General rule of thumb is get something as clean as the budget allows to start with and go from there.... Otherwise anywhere from $3-10k will get you a rusty shell to commence with. $15K+ and the body should be starting to be a lot better but "caveat emptor" when it comes to rust and the term "rust free" $25K + should be rust free cars... Goodluck, and go the 240z....

[JSpittle]

yeah I am looking to get a shell at about 4-5k and then work on it, I am part of the scouting movement and the leaders in my crew own a panel repair place so I can get some advice from them and I am more than happy to spend time on panel repair which it sounds like will need to happen. Is this a bad way to go starting out or is it just dependent on how much time i am willing to spend on it?

And I agree, Zs are where its at!

 

Ps. thanks for the quick and informative response/welcome

[gilltech]

Pretty hard to find just a 'shell with minimal rust' these days. Any decent shells get snapped up to re-shell a rusty or crashed car. You won't find shells just sitting around in wreckers' yards, they'd have succumbed to the elements long ago if sitting outside. Back in the '80s & early '90s yes, but very rare these days.

You would be amazed at the rusty horrors that some people on this forum are bravely rebuilding, because they've found there's little option.

Stripped shells are usually like that either because they are too far gone to economically repair, being very rusty, crashed or both, or commonly someone's pulled their car apart into a million pieces & gone "oh s**t, what have I got here, rust everywhere & everything's worn out" & given up on it.

You're more likely to find the latter, a 'project car', but just make sure all the bits are there - it can be hard finding missing parts, bits, fixings etc for 40-plus yr old cars that were never sold new in Aus in reasonable numbers in the first place. People are on this forum all the time asking for bits & pieces, it's amazing what gets lost.

As you don't know Zeds in detail IMHO you'd be far better to buy a complete driveable Z car to start with, & you will still most likely find plenty to do as the budget allows.

A good father/son project.

[chris240]

You need to re-think it thru... Forget the $4-5k dream, double your budget, and then you may find a poor to mediocre condition 2 seater "of sorts".  :'(

[reverendzed]

Once again - do a search, amazing what you'll find  http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,14774.0.html

[JSpittle]

So I am getting the impression that the general consensus is I should just hold off, save my pennies for a little while so that I can purchase a Z with a decent body and has all the bits and pieces I need. And that this is probably going to be someones project that they no longer have time to finish. Is this right?

 

I am just wary in that I don't want to wait too long because I have been browsing around the internet for a while now and have noticed a considerable rise in the cost of purchasing these beauties and don't want to miss out. Any advice on whether I should wait and save my pennies or try and get something soon and then just work on it for a longer period of time?

 

Cheers,

Jack

[pauly_adams]

if I where you I would consider a 2+2, I know there not the 2 seater but they drive beautifully and can look very nice, with a budget of 5k you should be able to get a decent starter for a project

[gav240z]

yeah I am looking to get a shell at about 4-5k and then work on it..

 

You and every tom dick and harry, have you seen prices on early genuine rotary coupe's these days? 20K buys you a rust bucket R100.

 

I'm afraid the days of finding a 2 seater project that cheap are becoming somewhat limited, but not impossible. You need to rely on other methods than just browsing the internet to find such bargains. Follow up on leads, word of mouth, phone around etc.. Find a car that isn't quite for sale but has been sitting a while and wave some cash under the owners nose etc.. Be creative.

 

As you don't know Zeds in detail IMHO you'd be far better to buy a complete driveable Z car to start with, & you will still most likely find plenty to do as the budget allows.

A good father/son project.

 

Agreed, any S30z is going to need work, it's just different degrees of work. You can find plenty to do on a decent 20K 240z. You're always always always better off buying the best car you can afford. You quickly spend a lot of money on a basket case with very little to show for it.

 

At this stage the only basket cases (really rusty cars) worth pouring money into are very early 240z's, that might change later (give it another 5-10 years) with 260z's etc.. but you can't go wrong investing in an early S30z.

 

Once again - do a search, amazing what you'll find  http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,14774.0.html

 

That's a project for a highly skilled individual, even if his father is a mechanical engineer.

 

You need to re-think it thru... Forget the $4-5k dream, double your budget, and then you may find a poor to mediocre condition 2 seater "of sorts".  :'(

 

+1 - Although just today I saw a relatively decent 2 seater 260z in quite original shape around 7.5k - Which wasn't a total basket case, so they are still out there. But this car isn't advertised on the "Internets". Where they disappear after 2 hours.

 

So I am getting the impression that the general consensus is I should just hold off, save my pennies for a little while so that I can purchase a Z with a decent body and has all the bits and pieces I need. And that this is probably going to be someones project that they no longer have time to finish. Is this right?

 

I am just wary in that I don't want to wait too long because I have been browsing around the internet for a while now and have noticed a considerable rise in the cost of purchasing these beauties and don't want to miss out. Any advice on whether I should wait and save my pennies or try and get something soon and then just work on it for a longer period of time?

 

Cheers,

Jack

 

Save 10-15k for a car that isn't a total basket case. You may find something suitable on a lower budget or you might need to stretch to get something a little bit better than that. Porsche's of the same era are mega money now, in my opinion these cars were far more interesting and exciting but I would say that wouldn't I? 16 years of S30z ownership and a irrational passion for them I can't seem to ignore. God knows my wallet would be better for it too!

 

At least I'm not an alcoholic or gambler I keep telling myself, although I sometimes think that might be cheaper.

 

FOMO right? (Fear of missing out), that's kinda driving the Real Estate market at the moment, I know the feeling house prices in Sydney are crazy and I'm just sitting back watching it in disbelief, but it's this global currency war of race to the bottom interest rates it's pushing assets (inc. classic cars) to stratosphere levels. Don't worry though there will always be someone who's given up on a project no matter how worthwhile it is to do. Don't rush in and buy something because you're scared of missing out. You'll know a good deal when it presents itself and be able to make the right decision. A good rule of thumb is that a great deal always shows up just after you've bought a car already, it ALWAYS happens. No matter how good a deal you get.

 

if I where you I would consider a 2+2, I know there not the 2 seater but they drive beautifully and can look very nice, with a budget of 5k you should be able to get a decent starter for a project

 

I'm starting to see 2+2 prices going up, rightly so as they are underrated. Same car for very little money just a slightly funny roof line. . Most don't notice until after they bought it though...hehe.

 

 

[gav240z]

Have you tried phoning this guy?

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mulgrave/cars-vans-utes/1971-datsun-240z-coupe/1073735893

[JSpittle]

Yeah i have had a look at possibly doing a 2+2 but i figure if i am going to spend a lot of money and time on this project then i am going to make sure that i am doing what i want. i would be stoked on either a 240z or a 260z but that roof line on the 2+2 is going to bug me the whole time i am working on it so i think i will just take on the advice that everyone has given me and keep saving my pennies so that i can get something that is more than just a rolling shell. if anyone does see something that might suit my budget and isn't too far gone for a father son project (and of course they aren't looking for a new project) then shooting me a link in this post or a private message would be greatly appreciated.

cheers for all the info everyone I'm super excited to get this adventure underway and can already see that this community is going to be a massive help!

Cheers, Jack