There are days when I feel like my garage is truly too small. Well, it is – when it doesn’t have too many cars jammed into its 2.5 car footprint, it’s over-stuffed with parts I might need “someday.” This seller clearly has an answer for this problem, which is to go vertical. The seller has a collection two desirable Series 1 Datsun 240Zs and a later ’73, all in need of total restoration and listed here on craigslist for $10K as a bundle.
The cars are a mixed bag in terms of completion, with one a numbers-matching Series 1, right down to the original radio still being with the car. The seller has it disassembled in prep for a rotisserie restoration that never happened, but he’s even including the rotisserie with the sale. Apparently, all the parts are bagged and tagged, too.
The second Series 1 is another project, with a non-matching engine and apparently in need of bodywork. Obviously, when you specialize in one type of brand and model, spare parts are in abundance. The seller notes he has everything you could possibly need to rebuild the cars listed here, including doors, bumpers, engines, transmissions, and more.
I’ve heard a lot from Z car enthusiasts about the importance of tracking down a Series 1 car versus a later model, even if the looks are largely the same. The early models are the ones that you can still rebuild and not be under water halfway through – the question is, does three cars (and piles of parts) for $10K put you in a good place to recoup your money later on? And remember, if you’re not dead-set on a Series 1, check out the Barn Finds Exclusive listing featuring several Z cars for sale.
Datsun ice find! (Say it quickly).
”Numbers matching” is not relevant with these types of cars.
That’s no longer true if one is considering a full restoration. A complete and matching 240Z is worth a lot, these days. Note the $68K price a restored, early 240Z fetched on Bring a Trailer just last week. This is a far cry from the 2000s, when the world’s best Z might have been worth $25K to $30K.
If not going for full restoration and maximum value, however, you’re right. Non-original carbs may very well improve value on a 1973 240Z or any 260Z. And..as long as you don’t want a $40K+ price, an L28 and 5-speed swapped into a 240Z doesn’t seem to hurt.
The cars in this sale are early ones, however, and, if truly complete, could be worth a lot when restored.
That looks like a pretty expensive stack of scrap metal.