As soon as I looked at the ad for this 1973 Datsun 240Z, I knew it had to be an automatic. That turned out to be true. How did I know? Because the lack of a stick shift would hold down the value on this sports roadster, and the price reflects just that. If you want it, it’s here on eBay for a current bid of $10K and a few days left in the auction. Your treasure will need to be shipped home from Johnson City, TN once you complete the purchase.
The car is short on description, so we’re going to have to see what we see in the photos. First off, the wheels are way off correct, and I frankly don’t like them. They remind me of the ones people used on tubbed (read: “ruined”) GTOs of the 1970s and 1980s. (Barn Finders, feel free to weigh in on both your opinion of these wheels and my attempts to fix them to an era.) Second, the color, while perhaps original, is not exactly what you’d probably order if you could walk into a dealership and grab a new one. And there’s no word about body work or any previous rust repair, though shots of the trunk floor from inside the car look spotless. Of course, if this is the factory spray, all is forgiven.
The 6-cylinder engine is original, and at the mid-mileage point with just about 90,000 rolled by. The problem as confessed by the ad is that the Z has been sitting, which necessitated a recent carb cleaning. The ad indicates the further fiddling will be necessary. Is that, “It needs a tune-up?” as in plugs and wires etc., or, “It’s not running right and needs messing with?” In either case, you’re not going to be on the road for ten grand, though many of you could probably do the sorting-out in your own garages. Note, however, that the internet does warn that the original carbs are difficult to tune and often changed out. You might be on the hook for that expense, then, before you can zoom carefree down the road in this car.
Once you get the car home, what you’ll have is an automatic-equipped car, very original, with a immediate need to replace the seat skins with the new ones provided and perhaps some work under the hood, aside from the tune-up, to get rid of the high-school mods that include a blue upper radiator hose and other non-standard bits. With transport, you could be into this for close to $15K by that point. That’s if the auction doesn’t creep above its current mark. Those of you who are marque-expert eagle eyes will no doubt weigh in on other needs as revealed in the images. Then, the prospective buyer will have to decide if this transaction is about price or seizing a rare opportunity.
Looks like the eBay seller is a man of few words.
Too bad it has those wheels
Sometimes it’s better to buy an automatic in good condition, instead of hunting endlessly for a manual. Most manuals of this era have already been through 2 or 3 boy racers by now. Converting to manual is easy enough to do. I’ve done it on a 1978 Z28 and a friend has done it on a 5.0 Mustang.
There missing the chome baskets.
I owned a 73 like this in “Pumpkin Orange”. Most fun car I’ve ever owned. It had high shift points, solid shifts with no “slide”, and could be manually down shifted to help slow before curves. But they are right about the carbs. A real pain to keep tuned.
Wire basket wheels without the baskets. Straight out of the late 70s, early 80s.
I think the wheels used to have (should have) wire baskets on them. . . They are unfortunate looking on this car. Put on a set of MiniLite copies ASAP!
Replacing the auto is not a huge expense and is a good time to up-grade to a 5 or 6 speed.
The color is geico green and there is not much that can be done to fix it and the value is in the original color. . .Maybe a wrap!!
My first car was the 65 Impala SS with a 396 engine, and I bought the automatic transmission vs the manual transmission based on the cost of insurance. As a first year teacher, I had to watch my money closely (low pay) but I still loved that car.
Actually it was a smart decision because I could put a pillow over the shifter so the girls could sit closer to me. Having that choice of “being cool” with a manual or having a young lady sit next to me with the auto was an easy choice…lol
Those wheels are “faux” wire rims from the 70’s. They were three or four pieces that you could take apart and just leave the chrome rim.
I believe Appliance made these wheels.They had a wire –
basket that fit around the hub.
I detailed cars,specializing in Z’s back in the day,& would
go driving them around.I once lost one of the basket parts,&
couldn’t remember where,but I was just a Teenaged boy,& I
got a way with it doing that back then.
A bunch of years ago I purchased a FIAT 124 where the PO had put these faux things on… IIRC they were made by “American Racing”… 3 piece, heavy, with no air flow provisions for cooling… first things I replaced on the car…
I realize that the manual transmission is more desirable than the automatic. However, I have reached the point where I don’t want to deal with shifting. I guess I have gotten lazy in my old age, I did learn to drive a manual on my Aunts 240Z. I would do a through inspection I would take it to a mechanic that works on 240Z to get the engine straightened out. Then find some period correct wheels.
Bingo! I say the automatic is the cheese, as less and less people have no interaction whatsoever with a manual transmission. It’s just not part of driving like it used to be. As a truck driver, I’ve shifted gears all my life, so yes, I agree, even though, my YJ Jeep, and hopefully last vehicle, is a 5 speed, but shifts so easy, it’s not like an old cabover. Even shifting the squarebody was a PITA, might want to take note of that.
Another fun fact, as we age, things like legs and ankles don’t move well, and in some cases, can’t push in the clutch, it deems the vehicle useless. Something I never thought of as a younger man.
Sorry, but the term “Roadster” as you use it in the beginning of your description does not apply to this car in any way, shape or form..
I’m actually wondering how this person got a job writing for a car site focused on old vehicles, considering that he apparently knows jack-squat about cars in general (roadster? ROADSTER?!?) or specifically about old cars. Sure, not recognizing the base for 70s-80s fakie wire wheels doesn’t mean you know *nothing* about old cars… but it sure as heck isn’t a *good* indication of the author’s general fund of knowledge. Not knowing what a roadster is, though…
Everyone wants to bash a 240Z with an automatic tranny but I bet not one of those people ever drove one. I had a 72 240Z in 1980. It ran great and the auto gave it very long legs on the highway. Unless I was going to autocross there is no need for the auto. Especially when sharing the car with my girlfriend.
Oh well that it explains a lot(your last line). lol
Nice car. Wouldn’t worry about the carbs as they aren’t the originals everyone says are a problem. The originals are simple to maintain and tune. Agree, the wheels are bad enough with the spokes in them and even worse without them. Am a fan of the slotted mags most owners went to to replace the blah factory stuff.
The wheels look like those really cheap wire wheel baskets where the single layer “spoke” basket attached to the center.
Didn’t notice if the subject car has a choke. A college friend of mine had an early 70’s with a choke.
Nice find!
All 240Z’s had a manual choke.If you click on
the pictures of the interior & enlarge them,you’ll see
it.
It’s just behind the shifter,next to the driver’s seat,
at the rear of the center console.
Bland color, for sure. A fellow advertising his green Corvette listed it as ‘turd green.’ Not exactly attracting buyers but everyone knew what he meant since the Ad was print, no pics.
My 1971 240Z was a Series 1 edition and, yes, I was stupid to sell it but I had to to buy my Corvette.
I don’t remember seeing this particular color on a 240Z.
Maybe the owner or previous owner was ex-army and painted it
army green.
Funny there’s a green military jeep in the same email listing.
This was a factory color.
“…Too bad its automatic…”
no, not at all as a hot hatch, that makes it a great ‘DD’.
Gotta be one of THE Best day’s selections (lookin at yesterday’s ‘cover page’) plus great write ups. U guys went upa level in the publication world today, esp since the changes ahfew yrs ago w/the increased automation on site.
“…Too bad its automatic…”
no, not at all as a hot hatch, that makes it a great ‘DD’.
Gotta be one of THE Best day’s selections (lookin at yesterday’s ‘cover page’) plus great write ups. U guys went upa level in the publication world today, esp since the changes ahfew yrs ago w/the increased automation on site.
The wheels remind me of the optional aluminum wheels on mid-70s Ford LTDs, and it’s not a pleasant memory. The color, unpalatable as it is today, would have been a completely normal choice in 1973. Anybody remember avocado appliances?
Love the colour
I believe that the green on this car is fairly rare, and original. Not for everyone, but what is? As for the automatic, many drivers today evidently have a nonfunctional left leg, and/or an extreme lack of coordination, and are “unable” to master a manual shift. This is perfect for one of them.
Mike Brewer and Edd China on Wheeler Dealers swapped a 5 speed into an auto 240 Zed….pretty easy upgrade.
Tuck the bumpers, 4- or 5-speed swap, minilites or slotted mags, recover the seats, done.