gav240z

Thanks Alan, yes my heart said yes before my head could stop me bidding on it. I don't regret it and I'm sure I have a long journey. I don't think of any of my cars as investments although it can be hard to justify spending money on them at times. Non car people just don't get it, but my passion for these cars has only increased as the years have gone by, it's weird because I've tried to venture out many times - nearly bought an MX-5 project, but for me the experience the 240z gives you in terms of it's raw driving pleasure simply cannot be beat. I had a lot of regret after selling my first 73 240z I had stripped it down, but given up when I found my other 72 240z. The regret was not giving it a go (welding and rust repair etc..) this time I'm determined to give it a crack and see how it turns out. It is only metal after all (to quote member Ledge on here). I'm actually also really grateful to have an understanding partner and my mum and step dad (really in the last few years with him) who are supportive of my passion and my mum doesn't mind that I've had a car sitting in her garage for 6+ years now. So I count myself lucky like that. Mind you if I didn't have some control I probably would have bought far too many Z's by now.

Under dashboard there is some Japanese kanji characters on some components they often have date stamps on them which could give some idea of exact year. But post some photos of the car and we might be able to get a good idea of the year. No old rego stickers? So many components get changed over the years, but if we find enough components that indicate a certain year or year range we can narrow it down and be pretty certain of exact year.

Welcome sounds like we have another motivated member in SA to put the other states to shame in terms of build speed. Good luck.

No but many parts have date stamps on them. Does it still have the spare wheel? There might be numbers stamped on that to help us identify year.

Alan I was wondering when this thread might get your attention, I'm glad you responded - always something of value. I'm not so glad that I never visited you or saw your cars when I was in that part of the world. What a shame, would have loved to have seen the C10, PS30 replica and HS30-H cars. Mind you my original plan was to take the FD RX-7 on a road trip across Europe and in particular the UK and Scotland but as fate would have it the car was stolen and damaged and it took me a year to finally get it back on the road. I was going to try and make it to Goodwood in it as I know you usually attend with the cars. I have to visit that part of the world again sometime in the not too distant future. Anyway I digress. How far off is your PS30 replica now? It looks almost complete to me. I have to admit when this car came up I was thinking about your build and the other cars I mentioned earlier in this thread as inspiration for the build direction. I'm not expecting to be at the standard your car is, in less time than you've taken with your car mind you, but here's hoping to a good Irish tax return, I've been spending far too much money in the last few months.

Alan HS30-H on here might be able to provide some colour on why that happened. I recall discussions on another forum about this.

Awww it was a few years and values have started to creep up lately but still a great buy. I have to admit I don't check Shannon's that often, perhaps I should make it a more regular site to check for Zeds.

Peter any idea how long ago 151 sold for 17.5K? Seems like an absolute steal at that price.

Nice score, those wheel are awesome.

Hi Guys, So Lindsay from Zshop has kindly allowed me to share these photos with you all. This is the sister car to HS30 00150, it's chassis is HS30 00151. Which is also in Safari Gold. Note: Spare wheel date stamp. So Lurch's car HS30 00149, my car HS30 00150 and it's sister car HS30 00151 were all Safari Gold. Which I thought you would be interested to know. He also informs me that Lurch's car was owned by an old accountant who used to live in Prahran and there is lots of work that was done on that car at Zshop back in the day. He also mentioned that #151 It is the straightest cleanest most original 240Z we see through the shop.

Thanks for the encouragement fellas. I'm going to say I'm definitely jumping in the deep end, but the only way to learn is to just go for it, if I stuff it up I can call Lurch on speed dial lol... I don't think I can make the rust any worse and it's previous owners have allowed it to sit and wallow for the past several years so whatever I do can only be a positive thing for it I think. As I said to my mum (who doesn't mind me having the other 240z sit in her garage in Melbourne) it's better to buy 1 like this and know where the rust was, than to buy what seems like a great car for 20-35K and find out it's full of rust and bog anyway, just under a nice coat of paint. @KatoKid - No LIndsay wasn't the seller. It was a previous customers car which they asked Lindsay to sell on their behalf. Hence it was in his workshop for a while.

Lindsay also said it's 1 of the very few cars to have an Australian compliance plate fitted in 1970. Just an interesting factoid.

A few more photos I got from Lindsay at Zshop. I'm told it's had a minor tap in the front and rear but nothing serious. As you can see the bonnet is a bit creased. I do have a spare 240 bonnet which is good. Rusty sills, no surprises there. Anyone feel sorry for me yet? . My goal with this project is to tackle 1 thing at a time. If I let the sum of all things needing work get to me I'll feel defeated so it's a case of small victories to keep me going and motivated.

I wish no I don't own it. It is in very good condition but I will check it is OK to post photos of it here first.

I have photos of another car #151 I think in same colour details to follow shortly.

Yeah that's right mate, note also the front fenders have indicators in them. I don't think 240z's released in AU had those. Perhaps 73 only but not before. It wasn't until we got the 260z that they put the indicators in there. I'd guess that someone didn't like the fender mirrors and decided to move it to the door. Note it's only on drivers side. It's also possible the original front wings rotted out at some point hence they were replaced.

Lindsay from Zshop was nice enough to forward these photos of HS30 00150 Check out that original Hitachi radio. Drivers Door Card Looks Flogged. Battery Tray Is Not Rusted Out. Floors are rotten. Typical spots really. Passenger Door Card looks clean. and finally the eBay listing photos - because at some point the listing will be removed for good and we won't be able to see these photos anymore. I'm told it appears that it's never had any major accident damage also. So pretty straight, just those areas of rust to really take care of.

Almost forgot about this car, some further inspiration in terms of where this build may go . http://www.speedhunters.com/2010/04/car_feature_gt_gt_office_tomitaku_s30/

@KatoKid - That guy and his father are absolute Z-car maniacs and true automotive enthusiasts. Safari Gold has definitely grown on me over the years. You really have to see it in new condition to appreciate it. The faded look isn't all that flattering for sure. @Mick - I'm sorry you missed out, but you already have 2. I'm sure I'll be asking for advice from experts like you when it comes to body work though. I really like your lime 240z. I have to say part of me would like to paint this car that colour but I'm not sure I could do it. Even if she's not numbers matching original. We will see though. @Evan - those mirrors are a pet hate (but it only has 1) in what appears to be the stock location. Although I'm pretty sure this car was originally delivered with fender mirrors. The fenders look like non originals because they have the indicators in them and I don't think AU delivered S30's had them until the 260z. You have clearly picked a wife with good taste, my partner said she didn't like the colour when I first sent her the eBay listing. I then sent her the pics I used in this thread and the bimmer forum restoration thread and she has taken a liking to it. It's been a few years since I last saw Dale's car, would love to see it again. @Brabham - Yeah I hope it's not a leaking sunroof that way I can tackle it when I'm ready. As opposed to right away. Here's hoping we get numbers for the TAFE course. I will need to chat with the seller and Zshop to Lindsay Drife to see where the old L24 might have gone. Slim chances but you never know right? Also 1 of the rego stickers is for Oakleigh which is near where I lived in Victoria (parents are in Caulfield) so it was a car that looks like it spent time in my neck of the woods last time it was in use. Who knows maybe Rob at Zfactory knows the car etc..? It wold be funny to try tracking down the original owners. Well I paid the seller today, so now about $5k lighter but looking forward to seeing it when it shows up in Sydney. The neighbors are going to think I'm crazy. They've already been checking out the RX-7. 1 of them came around when his son's ball went over the fence and we were talking about the RX-7 and he mentioned it's very quiet for a rotary. I told him it's all standard exhaust wise because I didn't want it to annoy the neighbors etc.. He said he loves cars and didn't mind. So hopefully he'll be cool with all the noises that are going to come out of the garage . It's a welcome change from my old place (parents) where the neighbors always complained.

Just how many L24 blocks do you have? I might give them a call and see what history they know of it. Yeah if I can find out a bit of history I'll do that. Dremel lol.. it's tempting but couldn't do that. Next best thing is to find another L24 and slot it in. But stranger things have happened maybe someday I'll find the original motor?

You had me wondering... It looks like I'm in need of L24-015253 ? I can't make out the numbers from the photo. The 1 on eBay is L24-039269 I would have lost my mind if it was the engine for this car haha.

The sunroof will stay for now. I'll take care of the structural stuff first. Unless the roof leaks badly. Hopefully not though. I'm sure a 2 seater roof will show up at some stage. By that time I might even be a competent welder? Sunroof's so easy to install, so difficult to remove. Just going through the garage here at my parents place in Melbourne. I've gotta clear out a bunch of Z parts I've collected but I've got plenty of spares here too.. As for inspiration, yeah I love that video. But this 1 here I keep watching over and over. and this still makes me happy every time I see it. Dimitri also took me out for a spin in his 240z and let her rip and man the sounds out of that thing were unreal. I'm not sure what was louder the induction or the exhaust.

I did mate, would have loved to have gone for a spin also. Just so much going on and so many people to talk to I didn't get a chance to even ask. Next time .

Yeah certainly needs some persuasion I've been stuck on it for a couple of hours. Makes me feel defeated haha. Will give it another go. Hope the battery is charged on it also so I can fire her up .

That is 1 wild looking restomod Z-car.