Lynton

So here is a fine example of a 260Z 2+2 for $25K real dollars for a superb car!! http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=8464005&__sid=1273013CB75F&__Qpb=true&Cr=4&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&keywords=&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294966615%204294966410&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=7&silo=1011 Lynton

I think the brown 260Z 2+2 at the Throttle Shop is pretty much on the money although if it were me I would have tried to secure $20K and perhaps sold at $18K they are rare, especially in good condition even without all the frills of Air/FM.AM radio/cassette! The Coupe versus 2+2 does not come into it, "Classic" does The other thing is this, like me we are all getting older, so one can only be a custodian of a vehicle for so long, a few times I have considered selling my car (I don't really use it, currently sitting in the garage as normal with a flat battery) but I am not sure the money value provides any satisfaction in selling the car, it is more the personal nostalgic experience associated with these cars, selling it is a bit like losing a family member to overseas country? However me being much older now, nostalgia seems of less importance in the physical sense of actually owning and having the vehicle sitting in the garage gathering dust. I am sure there must be many people like me wondering and thinking of moving their vehicles on as we baby boomers move out of the work force or they will get rid of their modern car and hang onto the classic to use as a daily driver. Lynton

No Oz cars 240/260Z came with cruise control, we didn't receive the 280Z only the 280ZX I think I am right in saying the odd 280ZX car had cruise control, so rare. Lynton

Well the luggage rack on the coupe had adjustable slide/width 'L' brackets, so no screw/bolt holes, it was an aftermarket accessory I purchased that the dealer was keen to move, but it was never actually functionally used, I purchased it and the car from John Roxborough Motors in South Melbourne.........no longer there now! I see this Zed has come up, auto with no air though!! http://www.classicthrottleshop.com/car14.html This particular Z for sale appears to have modified carbies & air filters & airbox & oil breather pipe, a chromium grille, missing the plastic fusible link cover but has an original drivers door mirror, an excellent example and original uncracked dashboard by the looks of it!! My 260Z I purchased, I still visit the original lady owner (an old friend now) when I am down visiting in Melbourne. There was an original 260Z in NSW at the Nationals 2005 and I kid you not a perfect example if you could get onto this car I am sure it is one you would kill for? I have attached photos. Lynton

As the old saying goes, treat a person the same way you would like to be treated yourself, give the man your time and show some interest in his life also!! I am sure the business will be done correctly and professionally and to my way of thinking $750 sounds a reasonable price (is that a changeover gearbox situation?) When I was in Melbourne I had work done on two 280ZX's there a S1 & S2 he was thorough and willing, gave good diagnosis, knows his business Lynton

Personally I don't think the 2+2 is the ugly cousin, it is all a matter of opinion really, the number of sales of the 260Z 2+2 in 76 & 77 speak for itself, compared to the 2 seater coupe! The 2+2 in numbers today have now in my opinion diminished very quickly but the cars were generally better looked after from a history point of view because of the type of buyer back in the mid 70's that could afford one. I have posted a photo of my 260z coupe in 75' but I have no idea where it is, even if it is still alive!! Your comments about my difficulty of buying a genuine manual zed based on the time it took me to buy is similar right now today. I have a stock standard Nissan 200sx S15 R-spec the same age as my 260Z when I sold it, 9 years later it is still immaculate and an unblemished vehicle but look at what you see on the roads mostly heavily modified cars many with panel damaged and only a few running around left stock standard. The zeds I looked at during the 80's were already rust infected, carpets torn up from heater leaks, duco heavily oxidised, seats ripped and dashboards cracked, mags without centre caps, consoles cracked, still a bit the same today really but the coupe I sold was mine from new and still like new I just didn't know how badly other cars had deteriorated when I sold it. The other thing about the coupe is it was introduced after the Datsun 2000 sports and progressively put out of business the MGB, Jensen Healey, Triumph GT6 and TR6, Alpha Romeo Spider which were considered sports cars because of the thoroughbred 2 seater rag top being referred to as a real sports car, 240/260z were called tin tops not real sports cars until their racing debut helped them over the line to join the list of "sport cars" as with Porsche, Mustangs etc; Lynton

Oh it is really good to see some genuine 2+2 interest on this forum. I was around and 25 years old when 260Z's were brand new off the showroom floor and I purchased a manual 260Z coupe in 1975 after trading in my 1969 Datsun 2000 Sports. 260Z's came out late 1974 emissions free other than the carbon cannister under the bonnet. The 2+2 came out standard with 5 speed manual or Auto, am/fm radio, hubcaps, steering wheel centre padded hub, no bonnet vents, vinyl covered transmission tunnel, open console, black armrests, $8550-00 on the road. Early 1976 they upgraded the Zed, adding mag wheels, carpet over the transmission tunnel, and in mid 1976 added pollution equipment to the engine, bonnet vents were introduced, air-conditioning and am/fm search radio cassette were now an options pack, steering wheel had a smaller stylish horn hub, interior of the 2+2 now had color co-ordinated armrests and carpets and vinyls. The interior colors were beige/white, bronze/brown and black, the centre console with a lid was introduced. The 2+2 was an upmarket stylish coupe in its day driven mainly by executives and/or their wives. With patience it is possible to find the car of your dreams but it took me 7 years to find the right car I finally purchased in 1989. Due to the age of these cars and their suitability or lack of suitability to a buyer it is likely the car will be modified for street friendly driving, this would include 240Z carbies, electronic ignition, new gas for air-conditioning and possibly replacement air-conditioning compressor, most Zeds would have had a repaint as the duco was not good for Oz sunshine, rust is an issue regardless, if you are local in Qld my car would be a decent car to view to get ideas of originality, I still have all the parts I have removed except exhaust. Dealer options fitted as extras were vinyl roof, chrome front nudge bar, perspex headlight covers, front and rear spoiler, lanbswool seat covers, mine has a cargo blind, mudflaps, pinstriping, towbar. I am the 2nd owner of my car. Lynton

I just took my sons 1988 Z31 Californian for a run down to the Mornington Peninsula, via Monash and Eastlink M1 motorway, I was down helping my son move house for a couple of days and also getting housemaids knee, what a great cruiser!! especially after Daniel Moore was able to put some articulate "oomph" back into its motoring, Now I am just waiting for a new AFM to be fitted that i have just sent down express to Melb and I am sure it will really make the delicate difference to his car...an understated car for the money that's for sure. Lynton

From my observation 2nd hand classics are a bit slow at the moment, doesn't seem to be a lot of disposable cash out there for toys, just ride the wave and be patient, it will happen lynton

So Steve, I know you are going to address the rear qtr windows and take them back to SS which I think will really top the look off but what will you do with the side front mudguard indicators that are still painted black? By the way don't lower it the car looks perfectly balanced(Picaso)!! Lynton

Yay Steve it looks fabulous you would have to be mighty proud of that, Lynton

Oh man what can I say, I am so sorry to see the carnage of such hard work and presentation, I am glad you are ok ........but hey, you have to drive and enjoy your car, you can't just leave it in the garage .....well I do leave mine in the garage sort of, so I shouldn't say that, newer cars are definetly safer inside though I often think of exactly that as I graduate out of my S15 back into the Zed for a sporting cruise. hope the insurance works out..............dam what a bummer.....Lynton

Any Zed is a good start, just remember even new Zeds become old Zeds especially when time is on your side of life. Put your passion into the car and life just seems better, don't listen to the knockers, enjoy the ride and the unique thoroughbred ownership of these Z cars, the communication and help available on this site with a rare breed of Japanese Z enthusiasts, all enthrilled with their cars for what ever purpose, you will hold this car over time close to your heart and become very protective giving it pride of place in the garage. You have to start somewhere and that is as good a start as any......go for it Lynton

I always thought it was the series2 late 1981 and 1982 onwards Lynton

I think Lexan is a trade name for an engineering plastic? a bit like polycarbonate I think produced by a plastics conglomerate in US called General Electric If you are in Melbourne perhaps speak to Martogg dandenong or polypacific the owners are related and someone in tech should be able to point you in the right direction for supply or an aftermarket manufacturer of sheet. Lynton

I am sure Gavin Strongman, before he sold his silver with orange stripes concourse modified 240Z, he purchased left and right re-manufactured door mirrors from AllZparts NSW? The difference is that the mirror swivel and face are chrome rather than stainless steel the stem obviously is chrome same as originals. Can anyone else verify this in Vic? Lynton

Nice car I kinda like the look Lynton

Living life is the dream, stay positive, you will get there in the end!

Hey Matt good to see another sunnycoast Z deviat has hit the forum. Classic 30+ YO Zeds regardless, are not new cars, they are always going to require some tinkering just by the nature of the vehicle. Depending on what you are prepared to spend $$$ will also depend on the level of vehicle available, example; improved modifications made mechanically and of course rust, brakes and suspension. As a daily driver here on the sunny coast don't forget 240z's normally will not have aircond as a daily driver ugh! Personally I use my 2001 S15 200sx, the best affordable and reliable current daily driver you could ever get to own and use, almost unbreakable and a magnificent drive up to Malaney. Good luck

I think you need to be prepared to pay around $150+ for an excellent RHD original door mirror ......not a reproduction.....just my 2 cents worth, if you can buy for less than that IMO you have done well depending on the condition of course. Lynton

That original mirror should have a rubber gasket under the stem for the topside of the door and an under-side door, metal gasket plate, to grip up onto when the nut is tightend up. Lynton

Ahh Stevo those bullet mirrors .....excellent!! as long as they door mounted. Lynton

Yes I sort of agree that a low Chassis no. is worth doing a resto on, although if you don't have original engine/box and other various bits & pieces then do the mods for sure Lynton

I have got a feeling the red one you are talking about Gav may have gone to the country, is female owned as I recall her name was Sue Scott by memory? Lynton

That was the standard color brought into Australia, the only other originals I have seen in Oz were, navy blue, and white, all with bone color interiors. Lynton