Hello together,

my name ich Jochen I am 36 and live in mid of germany.
I work for hobby on cars since I was 17, have still a Dodoge B300 Tradesman Surveyor Motorhome, a 91 Cherokee LTD in Off-Road modified condition, and as daily driver a Citroen C5.

Currently I am planning to buy a early 240Z, to build up a nice classic one, what means in most as possible original condition. No motor swap or additional plastic accessoires what arent original.

For that I am looking for a "cheap" basis car, in a restorable condition, no really rust in the frame section what has to be replaced. No car what has the engine somewhere in the garage out of the car and so on.

I have a small own garage with all the standard tools including powerwelder, but all the work what has to be done, should be in a level where it is possible to get a "clean" car after, not one what works but where anybody can see there is a new frame part in.

Hopefully you understand what I write here, if I read my text it sound a little strange to me...

What I would like you to ask now is for help, finding such a car in the area around of Californien. 1st of cours depending the more less rust free chassis, second because shipping from los angeles to germany.

What are your hints for me where to look for, I know craiglist and of course ebay. But at ebay I don't like to check for, becaus my thinking was to find a car somewhere, what one of you guys maybee could check first locally (in a possible area).
If there is a nice car with good price, I would come over to buy it, have few days holiday and arrange the transport to germany.

What do you think where I should check also for good offers, is there something else like craiglist on the internet, or what do you suggest me to find "my" Z?

My timewindow is for about half a year or something, there I am flexible.
Of course if someone helps me in finding one or has additional tips for me, I would like to meet when I came over.

Looking forward in your comments,

regards Jochen

 

California has inflated prices on 240Zs although many of them have less rust than other areas. You might consider Seattle since there are a large number of used Z-cars and a major sea port up here as well.

If a good car for a good price comes along on Craigslist it will sell fast. You should have someone ready to go look at and purchase this car for you.

 

guten tag Jochen !

Willkommen bei ZDriver

Bleach ist richtig, Z's in Kalifornien mehr kosten

Viel Glück bei der Jagd!


(entschuldigen Sie meine schlechte Deutsch)

 

Hey Guys,

thanks for your comments, so you both say I should check seattle, I will but in wich kind?
Is craiglist already the best place for, or could you suggest me something else to check time by time?

Are in the closer area of Seattle partsdealer for Z related parts, because I would like to buy as much as I need when I came to the states. But otherwise, If I found a helpfully guy who like to check few cars for me, maybee I can rent a place in his garage for a short time.

@skib, you make me smile in the morning, hopefully my english is as good as your german... Nothing to hide, really. Do you had family in germany or where comes your german from?
Are you also from seattle?

Regards Jochen

 

Hi again,

no more comments in this matter?
Maybee one of you is dealing with the Idea to stop the Z-hobby in the next time, and is interested in selling his 240Z?
I'll put a request into the classifieds.

Regards Jochen

 

lol I was hoping it was at least readable


I live near Portland, OR about 280km south of Seattle.


My family is from the Netherlands so I know some German but its rusty

 

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/1868365683.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1870005292.html

some nice seattle Z's

 

Hi Skib,

specially the first one is like the kind I am searching for, the second looks also great, but that nearly to good for restoring. But if I came over and could get both....

Need few month but then it comes real, so I have to find out honestly shipping companys in the bigger harbours.
My biggest question in my head is, how should I handle the whole story. Should I check out classified and call the seller that I will come over to see in few days?!
Sounds for me not like the best Idea, nobody will wait on a guy who came over the sea few thousand kilometer in some days, if someone else has the cash in his hands...
If I come over to US, make one or two weeks holiday there, I have panic not to find "the" car I am looking for, or at the last day, so I had not the time to clear all the shipping process.

Not easy as all, what is your suggestion for that?

Hey Portland, have some old collegs there. Worked before 6 years for an US comany in the german headquarter. With one of them I drove with my former company car over the Nürburgring (Audi A4 2.0TDI). That was great fun.

 

hey Jochen,


I think your two options are to plan a holiday to seattle and start looking at the classifieds a few days before you leave. Most people have a few days to wait because their Z's are not often sold right away. and search vigorously while you are to insure time to ship back.
Or have a contact in Seattle ect. that can look at the car for you and maybe transfer money too to pay for a Z and hold it for you to come get it. This would guarantee you found your Z but it would have to be a well trusted friend to be handling your Z and/or money


I would recommend the holiday if you dont already have a good friend stateside. there is the risk of not finding "the" Z but I think if you had 2 weeks you should be ok

 

Hey Skib,

well that is the pity in this situation. In the past when I worked for the former company, I had a great adress in the states (portland) where I've shipped all my ebay things to, and sometimes I got a big parcel from there to germany.

Workes well so far, but now I work for a competitor in germany, and with this collegs, I did not spoke for a long time, don't know if they realize my name...

Maybee this could help, but more or less I would be happy in this case, to have somebody who is more familar with the Z story, to check the critical areas.
I am looking for a "cheap" car to restore, but I don't like to ship scrap 5000 miles over the sea.

First I try to find out which shipping companys will work from the area around Seattle, in any case I will have the number from an agent in my pocket when I come over to the states.

Are there more possibilitys to check for cars over the internet then craiglist, or is this the best way to?

 

yes I would get your shipping situation set up first and have everything prepared before you make the trip.

craigslist is probably the best way look in seattle area specifically.
you can also look on Ebay and see if any are from seattle.

 

I'll keep an eye out in Nevada as well and arizonia for you. I know of a 75 280Z that mostly there with very minor rust for $250 with a title. It has not been run in about 16 years and the intake is off the car (I bought it).