AussieZed Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 I've been a bit slow to start posting on here (scared of Lurch!!) but since I'm going to have a busy few months with the car thought I would start. I owned a 1975 260z shape Fairlady in NZ years ago. Had the injected L20 motor but was a beautiful car... fully kitted out and imported from Japan to Australia in the early 1990's and then flicked onto NZ in the late 1990s. Then I bought two 280z 2 seaters (one with a stuffed body, one with a stuffed motor) and aimed to build up a Jackson Player Special inspired 280ZX ... but work intervened and I relocated to Canada for a couple of years. When I moved to Australia in 2005, I knew I wanted to get back into cars (and have bought the insane Isuzu Vehicross http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VX3quarter.JPG as my daily runner). I dabbled with a TA22 Celica for a while but I knew I was going to end up back with the Z cars.... So about a year ago I spotted a red 260Z 2+2 on eBay, sitting in a field. I bought it (amidst the dire warnings of many in the Club!!) and over the last year have stripped out the interior and rewired it, checked it over for rust (nothing much, just a rusty dog leg), and started about the slow process of doing the body. I knew when i bought it that the motor was dead (blown head gasket), so bought and rebuilt Shans L26, and got together the parts for a manual conversion. So all was going to plan..... .... and then I saw this 260Z 2 seater on eBay. The price was certainly right so I bought it sight unseen. If all is as good as it seems that is a sound 2 seater body (the sexier shape, I'm sorry fellow 'bus' owners) and I have some running gear lying around .... I feel a 260z fusion coming on..... Quote
benny Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 when did you grab this 2 seater?? let me know when you want me to come round to help with the manual Quote
AussieZed Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 Hey Benny, Picked it up on eBay as a classified ad at 2am on Saturday morning (good thing that my job is so stressful that I don't sleep!!!). Bought it about 10mins after it was posted. $500, which looks reasonable, even if it doesn't have a floorpan at all, there are still $500 worth of parts on it that I need. I think the manual conversion will happen late Feb ... that work for you. Come grab the carbies anytime you want to. Cheers, R. Quote
benny Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 awesome...just found the ad....anymore pics?? have you going to go up and grab it?? Quote
NZeder Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 that is a paddock find if there every was one $500 bargain even if the motor is missing and most of the floors - it looks complete and is worth it in spares alone, 260z stub axles, R200 (if manual) etc. Can't want to see more pics and let the project begin Quote
Brabham Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Nice find - was the car in Melbourne? Is she an auto or a manual? Are you going to keep the light blue - it is my favorite zed color. Good luck with the resto, will be an awesome car once done. Quote
NZeder Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Nice find - was the car in Melbourne? Is she an auto or a manual? Are you going to keep the light blue - it is my favorite zed color. Good luck with the resto, will be an awesome car once done. Did some digging on ebay - and found the ad/listing it is/was an Auto, has white interior looks complete but states no engine or wheels. So perfect for a project car and NSW Quote
Scoota G Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 That's a great find, does anyone have the link for the ebay add. Having trouble finding it. Quote
benny Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 you have to tick classifieds!! http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Datsun-260Z-Coupe-Race-Drag-Drift-Classic-Collectable-/280619084586?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item4156336b2a#ht_485wt_1255 Quote
Moderators Zedman240® Posted January 25, 2011 Moderators Posted January 25, 2011 What a great find! looks to be a late one like my first 260Z; same colour combo inside and out. Maybe a late 76-77. Find out the chassis number when you can..should be around 15,000 and something. Quote
Wayne G Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 What a spectacularly luck b@5tard you are!!!! I am pretty sure that I saw this vehicle advertised some time ago on an auction as a package deal, sort of buy both and make one. Good luck and hope it is a good car! Quote
chris240 Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 what a great buy ! well done. I dont think youll find too much rust if its from Boorowa.. Quote
FLEXZED Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 What a spectacularly luck b@5tard you are!!!! I am pretty sure that I saw this vehicle advertised some time ago on an auction as a package deal, sort of buy both and make one. Good luck and hope it is a good car! hey wayne you are right it was advertised on ebay with a lc torana for 2k i rang the bloke and offer 1k for the zed only i called him 2 days later to go and see it and he had disconnected his mob also Ross when you go and pick up the car have a look at the merlin engine out of a spitfire plane Loui Quote
Wayne G Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 If the engine is missing from the z, get the merlin? Now that whould "fly"! Quote
AussieZed Posted January 26, 2011 Author Posted January 26, 2011 hey all, thanks for the encouraging comments - although the disconnected mobile makes me a bit nervous given I shelled out for the deposit!! I've been dealing with his daughter mostly... I think the actual guy selling it might be a bit of an interesting character. I'm heading up next Friday with rims and tyres off my 2+2 and a car trailer to load it on to. Excited as a little kid at Xmas!! Having totally planned for a red and black 'Sulio style' look for my 2+2 I'm seriously thinking again. I'll keep the blue on the 2 seater and do a blue and silver thing... have some bright work old style mags and some chromed bullet mirrors around here somewhere ... have always wanted to see some chromed vents on a Z bonnet too, so that's on the cards. I'll flick on the red 2+2 sometime March-ish ... so if anyone is looking for a good sound body complete with all interior, new badges etc, and with a matching numbers engine (needing a rebuild!!) let me know. The price will be right if someone in the club is going to save it and we can all see it on the road again!! Cheers, R. Quote
AussieZed Posted February 2, 2011 Author Posted February 2, 2011 Hi folks, Damn, my Isuzu is playing up and I had promised to drive up and pick up the blue 260z from Boorowa this Fri/Sat. Anyone know where you can rent a good towing vehicle? ... the prices where I have looked are shocking ($400+) and most don't have towbars anyway, or prohibit towing car trailers. I want to go get my new toy!!! R. Quote
AussieZed Posted February 5, 2011 Author Posted February 5, 2011 Picked the blue 2 seater up from Boorowa NSW yesterday and today ... that's a hell of a round trip in the current weather. The car is complete (panels, glass, lights and interior etc) minus engine and gearbox but has been sitting on the floorpan for the last 18mo and has been sitting outside since 1995. 1976 car blue from the factory, with factory aircon. Was automatic. The rust. The firewall and battery area looks ok, but the car has been bogged almost everywhere then painted... and the water has found it's way under the bog. So surface rust almost everywhere. Big bolted-in patches on the drivers and passengers side floorpans. The chassis rails back from the back of the doors are toast (you can push your fingers through the 'steel'). Passengers dog leg looks like it will be pretty bad under the paint. The rear hatch has rusted then been siliconed around the glass. Interior. Actually ok. White seats with blue velour insets - were these stock? The usual splits in the dash, but it is complete. Good roof lining. Stock steering wheel. Reasonable carpets bundled up and put in the rear. Air con unit from the cabin has been removed (but the engine bay components are still there). The jury is out on whether I can save this car or whether I should just pirate it for the parts I need (mainly the bonnet but some trim as well) and then see if there are any takers on the remains. I'm looking for a second opinion though (see my other message). All of a sudden my half-finished 2+2 is looking like a damn fine car.... Interesting bloke I bought it off ... a heap of other classics there too (incl. Triumph TR7 and Stag) also for sale on eBay. Merlin spitfire engine in the shed along with a custom built drop top car based on VW running gear. Seems like a nice guy, drop me a msg if you want to get in touch with him. NOTE: No other Z car parts or cars were spotted. R. Quote
AussieZed Posted February 6, 2011 Author Posted February 6, 2011 ... and maybe not. Too much rust for me. So I have taken the parts I needed and flicked the remainder of the 2 seater on to a secret buyer. At least that means my 2+2 will be finished .... by mid year perhaps... will load some pics of that project soon. R. Quote
Brabham Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 Is the secret buyer going to restore it? Did you let them know about the site/are they a member? Cheers. Quote
Scoota G Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 Is the secret buyer going to restore it? Did you let them know about the site/are they a member? Cheers. Just as a guess it will be cut into sections for rust repair panels! Quote
Brabham Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 Just as a guess it will be cut into sections for rust repair panels! :'( :'( :'( Scoota if you bought it you could add it to your auto zed collection BTW my zed is auto and I am leaving it that way in the resto so I will be honoured to join your exclusive club!!! Quote
AussieZed Posted February 6, 2011 Author Posted February 6, 2011 I won't ruin the surprise (and I've been sworn to secrecy), but the buyer is a club member who will most certainly restore it to its former glory... Quote
Brabham Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 That is good to hear . 240's and 260's are so rare now that we need to save every one we can. Look forward to following its build. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.