It’s a rarity these days when a seller is direct and doesn’t beat around the bushes about the state of their vehicle. Oftentimes, we’re subjected to sellers who either still believe in their own ambitions or simply have decided to entice potential buyers to visit the car in person by sugarcoating reality. Whatever the motivation is, the seller of this 1971 Datsun 240Z is the claimed original owner and clearly doesn’t have interest in wasting his time or yours. There’s rust, the brakes are locked up, and it doesn’t run – but it still looks like a highly deserving project. Find it here on craigslist in Lake Tapps, Washington for $5,000.
Being the original owner of a car like this isn’t totally surprising, as driving a 240Z when new in the early 70s was likely quite exhilarating. At the time, there wasn’t much out there outside of the Porsche 911 and the BMW 2002 Tii if you were a gearhead looking for a car that tickled all the senses. The interior alone could get your blood pumping with those racy gauges, the three-spoke steering wheel, and the manual gearbox tucked neatly between two bucket seats. The seller seemingly moved this 240Z to his current home 25 years ago with plans to work out it, but those goals sadly never materialized.
To own a car like this and be able to hold onto it versus trading it in is a special opportunity. Being able to buy a sports car new and then drive it for several years while being able to keep it for a future restoration is a bit of a life goal. When I was growing up, a house my school bus regularly drove by had a green TVR Tuscan parked at the bottom of the driveway near the mailbox, and I suspect the owner of that property always had similar goals of someday fixing it up. The Datsun shown here actually wears a very similar shade of green paint, and it was actually referred to as Racing Green. Under the hood is the familiar 2.4L L24 inline-six making 151 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque.
The seller notes that the front wheels are free but the rear brakes are locked up; at least you can lift the rear up and steer the nose where you want it to go. The bottoms of the front fenders are rusty, and the seller notes that the floorboards where your feet tend to go have perished as well. Neither is a big deal in terms of old Z car restoration; in fact, I’d wager far worse has been restored. While not a Series 1 car, this is still an early Z and quite desirable, so the asking price seems more than fair to me for what looks like a highly original example. No attempt has been made to start it, but these engines are fairly robust and easy to replace it it’s terminal. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
Beware, if the floors are gone so are the mounts in the core support for the radius rods. I briefly owned a 280 back in ’84 that I purchased as a winter beater for $100.00. Stout drivetrain but after driving it for a week or so, I sold it for what I bought it for due to the previously mentioned unsafe condition.
I have also seen rust in these cars in the floors and body mount areas in the past too depending what climate they are in.
I don’t know, this car appears to have rust in every nook and cranny. The “original owner” (very dubious) seller only mentions the rust-through, but these cars tend to be rust magnets in certain climes. Plus stuck brakes , and an engine that doesn’t run (stuck too?). This Z is probably only good parts material, especially if the frame is also rusted.
It’s located on a Lake . It’s going to have rust issues. Is the concrete block holding the car up included with the purchase ? That could be a deal breaker.
Hard to accurately judge, but there is one item that leapt out at me – an un-cracked dash pad ! Maybe on the shady side of the house in a cloudy Washington neighborhood ? Regardless, that is a rare find in an old Z.
Had a ’72 this same color, bought from the original owner in Shreveport LA when I was there on a business trip. Bought it a set of tires and drove it home to the far northeast. No drama, only coughed once in a heavy rainstorm outside of Nashville. A few years later sold it to a good friend who did a rotisserie on it and still owns it (it’s silver now, a good change from the “dead iguana green”).
I would be real worried about rust in that rear hatch area. Very rust prone area.
And seeing that the hatch actually has bondo all over it would say that an accident has happened further compromising that area.
The most valuable part of this Z is the uncracked dash.
I don’t get all of the negativity. A 1971 Zcar in need of complete restoration for $5K? If it was in NC, I’d be there with a trailer and cash in a heartbeat.
I have a full complete dash with gauges, wiring and innards for a 240 if anyone is interested, excellent condition, has been out of car for years and kept well.
@Daleone3 I’d be interested in that dash. What year is it? How can I reach you?
Thanks.
just to move it you have to deal with rust. i would pass unless you are 240lb z lover.
My Lake Tapps story. In the mid 70’s I was living in Tacoma and had a rather rowdy aquaintance by the name of “machine gun Bob”. Bob was mostly harmless, but always at odds with conventional thinking. He was a body man and always swapping for work and somehow came into possession of a drag boat with a big block chevy motor. Well, if you have a drag boat you need a lake and Lake Tapps was the closest. Off he went, launched his boat at the public dock and proceeded to make several 150 MPH passes. On returning to the dock he was met by the Sheriff and a number of outraged residents, since Lake Tapps is a quiet residential lake with a 10 MPH speed limit and noise restrictions.