1974 260z New Buyer !!help!!
 

I found a really nice 1974 260z locally. I was thinking of picking it up, but im not really sure what im getting into. Heres some information about it.
1974 Datsun 260z
10k miles ago the owner had anything and everything Hot tanked.
its a built l28 lower block
Built E34 top end .30 over all the goodies
Dual Carbs
K&N Carb Filters
Custom headers
full 2.5" exhaust
280z interior
working a/c
Turn 6 suspension package
280z 5 speed trans
stage 2 clutch

This owner has had it for 36 years, and its been in storage for the last 10.
it started up and ran nice considering it was 32 degrees out.

whats it worth??
what should i look for??
common problems of builds like this?
Daily able in the summer?

Pictures in the link below!!
CLICK HERE

That car is in much better shape than the ones I started with.

You'll find all sorts of weird things with a 260Z (BTW, yours is the early '74 model - the turn signals are the biggest clue). Check out this thread to get some ideas of what you might be in for ... https://www.zdriver.com/forums/240z-...project-37922/

Don't be fooled by a couple of things. First, when you say 280Z interior, the 260Z and the 280Z had the same interior, different from the 240Z in various ways. But I will say for an old car, it looks in pretty decent shape. Your dash is probably cracked to all hell and gone, that's why the cloth cover is there. You can get nice covers that fit over the old dash and glue down. If you don't know what to look for, you won't be able to tell there's a cover.

The roof looks like a grenade went off underneath it. WTFO??? Anyway, there's lots of pounding and body work to make that good.

I don't see a lot of rust either. That's good. What's bad is the photos don't really show the areas prone to rust. Check under the carpets on the floor. Check the rockers and the rear quarters, especially the dog-log in front of the rear wheels and of course behind the rear wheels.

Look at the frame rails. Are they straight? Any creases? Creases say it was hit in the past. Rust around the front sway bar mounts can be a problem as well.

Love that rear wing, it's the same as mine.

Depending on what you want to do, this looks like a pretty good car from the photos. As far as worth, that's tough. If he's asking under $1,500, you might really have something. If he's asking more, you need to really poke around.

Did you drive it? Do you have a history as to where it has lived? Snow is very bad although if it stayed indoors maybe not so much.

Hes asking 4500. No, i didnt drive it. Theres salt on the road and its never seen winter. The underside is super clean. There was hardly any rust. Anywhere.

Hagerty Insurance's web-site has a valuation tool. Check it out.

Went to dinner and thought about this car some more. That might be a diamond in the rough (and not too rough either).

At $4500, the owner probably knows what he's got. That roof though and some of the interior (although mostly good) plus the non-standard modifications might be a start for some bargaining.

I'd be interested too.

What do you want to do with this car? Do you just want to drive it? A daily driver? Do you like to tinker? Want to make it a car you can take to local shows or something bigger? Are you a track guy? All this makes a difference in what it should be worth to you. I can't answer these questions but I hope this helps you decide what you want to pay or even if you decide to purchase it.

The condition of the roof is disconcerting. The downdraft Weber carburetors aren't the preferred choice, but I think they are CARB approved if you're in California. You can get some early SUs with an intake if you want to swap.

Someone sure did have fun with AN fittings under the hood. Are the inspection lids just coated with primer? If so, you'll want to keep it out of the rain.

The seats look to be out of a 280ZX.

Where are you located? That can influence price.

Nice car except for the roof. I has been pounded out by an amateur. The metal stretches when that's done. It will take a good metal person to do that. It also means a paint job. The hood also has a dent in a bad place. I wouldn't be afraid to buy it for that price but if you want it nice you will put another 2k in it. Those seats look like $hit and the tires are at least 10 years old. -$