This 1971 Datsun 240Z is basically the epitome of the classic or vintage sports car you hope to discover before someone else does. The reason being is it’s offered by the original owner with a paper trail for this iconic Japanese sports car going all the way back to when it was purchased new. The seller describes the Z car as one you can restore or simply continue to use as he has, which is as a very nice driver-quality specimen. The paint scheme is excellent – we don’t see many of these in blue – and you love to see it riding on its original hubcaps. Find the 240Z here on eBay where bidding has reached $13,000 with no reserve.

Obviously, we all know the original Z cars have taken flight in recent years as one of the last vintage sports cars that came with a reasonable price tag. This was a big selling point in an era where even a tired Porsche 912 is potentially a $20,000 purchase. The Z was a watershed moment for Datsun, as a humble Japanese upstart built a two-door sports car that rivaled pretty much anything the domestic brands could produce. The 240Z also featured a gorgeous design with a lusty six-cylinder under the hood. Add in the racy cockpit with driver-focused controls and it was hardly a surprise that it became an instant icon. This 240Z looks shockingly nice for a car that hasn’t been restored, right down to its fragile dashboard that supposedly has just a few stress cracks.

This is a numbers-matching engine that benefits from a few sensible upgrades. Obviously, the valve cover has been chromed, and the seller notes the presence of upgraded carburetors. These are very minor deviations from stock condition, and they can easily be reserved if the next caretaker is even more of a purist than the original owner. The seller confirms there is no smoke and no odd noises emerging from the drivetrain, and given the generally robust qualities of this inline-six, the odds are in your favor that it will continue to be a reliable dance partner. Check out the gallery photos and eyeball the one with the maintenance records – it’s incredible, and I’d love to peruse those records.

As you can see, the Datsun does wear some battle scars, mostly insignificant blemishes that just come with regular use. The taillight panel is faded and the front edge of the hood has plenty of stone chips. The challenge for the next owner will be deciding whether you continue using it as-is or if you undertake a proper restoration of a car that would make an excellent basis for a proper refresh. Personally, I like original cars far more than restored examples, and I bet there are a few ways you can make the cosmetics better than they are now without stripping the 240Z down to bare metal. Cars like this don’t come along every day and I hope the next owner preserves as many original details as they can.