Hey all ,

first post and i already need help......

i got offered a 78 260z 2+2(i actually like the gt car look) european version, with a 280 engine swap, running on petrol and lpg, liquid gas. Interior is nice but lots of rust. Car is a daily driver so far, claimed to be in good mechanical condition.

so , is there a big dealbreaker with this model or engine? The price is around 3700€, its in germany and datsuns are really rare here. Im hesitant to buy the unknown in amerika and get it shipped.

so, dealbreakers?especially, which rust is a deathsentence on a 260? We are experienced in bodywork but nit with datsuns.

thanks!

 

Rust can be very expensive to fix, places to look, frame rails, floors, spare tire area, around windshield and rear hatch and tail lights, all areas water can settle and rust. I would say maybe if the car had only a few of the above issues, then go for it, if it has them all, get one imported from Arizona or California. Also Join some of the American FB sites for Datsuns, lots of people who can help there too. https://www.facebook.com/groups/164690436882353/

 

No such thing as a 260z was made in that model year unless only in antarctica. you couldn't sell that car in the USA for much more than 1500$US if you could even get that much.

 

OP potential purchase is in Germany and is a European version. 260Zs were available in countries other than the United States until 1978. Check out the 260Z section of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_S30

At 3700 euros, I'd be very careful about a Z with "lots of rust." As others have stated, that's pricey, even considering a premium for being rare in Germany.

Personally, I have two 260Zs. One from Detroit (think rust city) has a decent interior and mechanicals and one from here in Arizona has a minimally rusty body but with an interior trashed from the sun. From those two cars, one good one is being created. The rusty car was purchased for $600 US and the Arizona car was purchased for $900 US. Those two together are still less than what OP is considering.

 

Jup, my ideas exactly, its pricey but getting one from america will cost lots of nerves and also around 1500$ in shipping and handling. And even then i can't check it before and storys of bondo-loaded cars or missing parts are always present. On the other hand, exchange rate for dollar is nice.
since its actually the only one in this price range in europe, i may still consider it. At least if nobody lives near a port and has a good 2+2 willing to sell and bring to the harbor for 1500$ or less?

 

Don't give up hope on purchasing as US car from a dry state. If I were in your situation, I'd look for a car in southern California. There is a huge Z community there. Arizona and Nevada would be good too but their distance from the nearest port would raise your shipping costs a bit. Try the craigslist.com site as well as the "for sale" sections in the Z forums. Even eBay might turn something up.

I have heard that European buyers can do well purchasing the older cars in the States and shipping them back. Hey, maybe you need a vacation over here! That way you could inspect first-hand. That, or if you see a car that looks like a possibility, reach out on the forums to see if there's someone nearby who would take a look at it for you.

 

3700 Euros is about $5000. Sounds like enough for a round trip plane seat, a week in motels and some good Z shopping. You should be checking Craig's list in US states in the far west and southwest for Zs with little or no rust. craigslist > sites The secret is that those states do not put salt on the roads to melt ice in the winter. Check Oregon and Washington especially. Zs are cheap there. East coast and south are rust central - and higher prices, too. Ebay is another possibility but much higher prices usually.

When using Craig's, click .... 'for sale'... 'cars+trucks'... 'by owner only'... and enter the Nissan Z model you are looking for. Be patient. They are out there - and they are also looking for you! Craig's allows you to email the seller to ask questions and get more pictures. You might locate your Z in Nevada - near Reno or Las Vegas! Good shopping and good luck!

 

Good point plusadded extra fun wben shopping in murica, but still with shipping, even roro, i will end up at hefty prices. Maybe i can push the price lower. Nevertheless if i get it i promise pictures

.......and this way i will avoid the 5mph bumper, since i have to leave the car as build, only tuning from the time of build is allowed(old parts, not remade), same goes for engine etc.

 

If you are going to spend $5,000 for something that will need a lot of work, you could re-assess what you want. You could be patient and look for a car that has been restored AND comes with a project log.

You could spend more money and get something that you know was done right. The hard part is being patient while you build up your savings.

On my 260, which I only paid $1,000 for, I have put it up on a rotisserie and am taking the shell down to bare metal. I am taking photos of the entire process. If I ever decide to sell it, I will have proof that it is truly a rust free car. Personally, at this point in my life, I wouldn't go this route because I like doing the work myself, but it may be an option for you. My car was "rust free" except for some surface patina on the hood and the usual bits on the front fenders resulting from not keeping the drain clean. No battery tray rust, nothing around the glass, under the hatch...nothing. I pulled up the carpet and checked the floorboards and crawled under it to check the frame rails. There was no rust visible. After I pulled up the sound deadening and removed the under coating, lo and behold there was rust. Had I not done a full teardown, I would have been taking the car apart again in a few years when the rust finally decided to eat through the crud that was covering the metal.

The interior is the easy part, you can replace all of the vinyl, install new carpet, repair the dash, and recover the seats using new skins and foams for under $1500 with no special skills. On the other hand, you will have to rip the interior out anyway to repair the rust correctly and could quickly run into thousands of dollars in labor unless you already have a good welder and all of the tooling and shop space necessary to do the job right.

You could buy a completely restored car and have it shipped cheaper than you could buy a boring, but new, 3 cylinder grocery getter.

Having been through too many cars in my life, I have come to the realization that sometimes, $15,000 is cheaper than $3,000 dollars if you want something really nice that you can be proud of.

 

Sir, are you saying that you are not ALLOWED BY LAW to reconstruct the car however you choose in your country - or that you do not want TO PAY for any reconstruction work other than basic running and tuning up? I am confused. Why would anyone oppose the installation of a stronger bumper on any car?

Thanks - and happy shopping in Murica.

 

well, the car is for germany, so i´m up against very stiff regulations for applying as a vintage car. With this you get huge taxcuts and insurance reduction but only for cars over 30 year in original and very good condition (there are some excuses like original parts tuning from the time it was made and motor swaps from the same series, but thats about it. So if i have the ugly 5mph bumper it has to stay there ). This is because the state gives you a bonus for preserving the automotive heritage, which doesn´t include aftermarket seats or huge spoilers and especially no V8 conversions.

For restauration costs, yes, an interior is "cheap", but this is also only the case for america i guess. With shipping its another deal. Basically i would go for an american car if could get a complete and original cheap one +somebody to check out if its worth flying for. But this would mean flying, buying, driving to a port, and RoRo transport, which will put me in the same spot as buying a (i know) very pricey car here. Thanks to all for the help, i will check this car this week and will keep you informed.

Hey, maybe they exaggerated and its actually quite good
Since i can testdrive it, what to look for with the 280 engine and 5 speed manual?

thanks guys!

 

The same way you would check out any used car. Check fluid levels and color for a hint of how well it has been maintained. Smell the dipstick for the presence of gasoline in the oil Look underneath for leaks. Better to do that with the car on a lift. Rust check from outside and in... expect to find some Smell for interior mold that indicates rain leaks.

Start it and let it warm up at idle. Smell the exhaust for the presence of oil or raw gas. When warm, engine idle exhaust should be invisible. Smooth idle, no funny noises, knocking, tapping, etc. Exhaust sounds tell you no leaks or holes in the system. No exhaust smell in the engine bay.

Shifting should be fairly easy and precise, with the gear box not loose and sloppy. Clutch should grab well off the floor and grab and release without bucking or skipping. No clunk, clank sounds from the rear end. Brakes are way up off the floor, firm, even and quiet. They bring car to a stop without pulling it left or right.

Acceleration, steering, handling and cornering ought to be what you want in your sports car. Not familiar with the special kinks that come with older Zs like this. I will let others clue you in on those. For everything you find 'not quite right' with it, think Euros

That's a start. Please repost here with fotos of the cars you are looking at. Fotos draw comments better than words. Caveat emptor, unser Freund!

 

interior bad ..... check
bad chassis rust .....check
dry gearbox with clunking sound ...... check
dodgy backstory of the car......check
BONDO..... check

so, this was a dissaster. I´will really take my money to america and combine vacation with a roadtrip to the east-coast.
Oregon and Washington you say. Are there any zdrivers here from this area? I´d really need somebody to check an offer before i fly there.

But still, i really like the 2+2 and the 2.8l engine

my dream car 260z 2+2 (with swaped engine) or 280z 2+2 with 5 speed manual (a must for me). Who can help me find one?

 

Do a craigslist search for Sacramento California used cars by owner.I just saw a '74 260z 2+2 on there yesterday I believe. I'll double check after this. And if you should find something in the northern California area that interests you. I could do a local check out and send pics

Daniel Mabury in Stockton Ca

 

And maybe send me your email address. My email address is 88dangerdan@gmail.com

 

Just checked and the car is located in Modesto Ca. Which should still come up in Sacramento search. It's listed as a original 260z 2+2 with a 5 speed , does not run with clean title and currently on a non-op for $2500

 

Just found this non-runner in the Phoenix, Arizona area. $2500 US seems high in my opinion but it seems, from the photos at least, like a possibility.

I'm too far from Phoenix for a quick visit to check it out further.

1978 4 passenger 280Z 2+2

 

1974 Datsun 260z Original - $2500 (Modesto Area)

Don't know if this is going to work. Sad to say I know squat on how to copy/paste/post

 

Yep didn't work I'll try again. ...lol..

 

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4612619831.html
let's see, hey that wasn't to hard. ...lol....

 

Remember that the Craig's List price is only the asking price. Most sellers expect to negotiate it downward with the buyer. If you explain your shipping costs back to Deutschland a seller may be more willing to reduce the price. Also, if the car is running well, the shipping costs could be lower for you. You might even locate the best US port for you to ship from - and search for your Z on Craig's List beginning at that port city and working outwards from there.

For a non-running Z, as well as a runner - there are a lot of trucking firms that specialize in shipping cars for a fee based on the distance shipped. You can ship across the entire USA (3,000 miles) for about $900 - so a short trip to the nearest port should be fairly reasonable.

 

you guys are great!

i guess i may have a chance to go to america during wintertimes. The new plan get a running, good car, have a roadtrip to a harbor and then do RoRo shipping back.

i will keep you informed, thanks to you all!

 

You're welcome!

When you think you have found the Z aus Ihrer Träume come back and post it (in a new post) here. The more fotos and information the better. Our Z guys really know their Zs and will tell you what they think and especially what to look for.

Good luck! and be patient. You are out there looking for a special Z.