Hello,

Hopefully I'm posting this in the correct place. A family friends father has asked me to look into what his 1970 Fairlady Z, left hand drive in British green with 117k miles, might be worth. He ordered the car from Japan in 1969 and has been the only owner. The car is in mint condition and all original except for the wheels. The wheels are classic Datsun, but not sure what they are off of. From what I understand, the car is extremely rare since it was ordered from the factory as a left hand drive in British green and the mirrors are mounted on the doors, not the fenders. The vin is 3xxx.

Does anyone know what it may be worth and/or where I could find out?

Thanks!

Welcome aboard, JS!

Well, basically it sounds like a US-spec early Z, although not among the earliest. It's still a Series 1 Z, which means it's got some collectibility. The color is a plus as well, since it is desirable. The wheels are likely aftermarket or a 'dealer add,' since the Series 1 cars came with hubcaps on steel wheels (the hubcaps are quite valuable as well). If emblems and trim indicate a US-market car, then it's simply a well-preserved early Z with a cool story. Depending on condition, it could range anywhere from $5-6k (some rust, some wear & tear) to the high $20k range for a near-flawless unrestored example.

Since all S30s were manufactured in Japan, your description as a Fairlady Z raises some questions. What country was is delivered to? There were a small number exported to other countries besides the USA and Japan. Unfortunately, model numbers and serial numbers varied with destination.

First, what engine does it have? True Japan market Fairlady Zs have a 2.0 liter engine while products for export had 2.4 liter engines.

Another place to look is at the insert on the glove box door. Does it say Datsun or Fairlady?

Are there vents on the rear hatch?

Another clue is the transmission, 4 speed or 5 speed.

Can you get the exact VIN number and the month of manufacture from the plate on the driver's B pillar. Again, you describe an early S30. If it was not a US destined car, it is much rarer.

As for value, condition is everything. Cars of this era rust, particularly under the battery and the frame members under the inner fenders. More information is needed to determine a value.

HLS303xxx should have the vertical defog, hatch vents, reversed master, non reclining seats, jack covered by plastic behind the passenger seat and all that makes it a series 1 chassis, badges are often changed. AZ Hitman hit the nail on the head, it's all about condition, if it's a pristine example it could be a 20k car, if it's chock full of rust it's could be a $500 car, most fall somewhere in between.

Evidky, while you probably correct in assuming it is a Series I US delivery, the OP doesn't give a location. There were left hand cars manufactured for Europe that were known as Fairladys. These cars had their own serial number sequences.

As for a pricing source, I would recommend www.Hagerty.com
Series I cars have taken a big bump up in the last 6 months. Hagerty gives a good description of their condition grades.

My understanding is that the HLS30 designates an LHD S30 for export, whereas and HRS30 designates a RHD built for export and HS30 designates a domestic production (JDM) which of course would have been right hand drive. Australian and British models would have been right hand drive with the HRS30 vin number and were very few, only about 325, pretty much all the others were LHD and came to north america, 1200 to canada and 16k to the US. Also remember these early cars all shipped from the factory wearing fairlady badges only to get changed upon arrival in the states as MR K felt that the name was too feminine. Bearing in mind all the cars were of course built in japan and in 1969 and 70 the jap cars were rare and for someone to profess ordering the car from japan might well have meant ordering at the local datsun dealership. The demand for these cars was so high when you placed an order you didn't get to choose the color and when the shipment came in you could take what came in or wait for the next shipment.

I have the exact same question. What is my Grandpa's car worth?

4/1970 build, US L24 Datsun 240Z. The VIN is HLS3003153. According to research first 18,124
cars made were a Series I. vents on rear hatch and vertical defrost lines on rear glass. It was the 3,153rd car built. This makes it a early series one car. british green with ALL receipts (A stack of over 50 documents dating back to first service at 1,147 miles. We also have the old California title (the true pink 3inch by 4" little ones). I even have the brochure the dealer gave my grandpa (the man and lady standing in front of the wooden house next to a green Z wearing the bell bottom pants), one owner since its still registered to him. Rusty as is typical for these at the doglegs, front passenger fender, a bit on firewall, and along trim at door steps but no rust under the seats. There is nothing missing except for one hubcap. The engine is matching numbers and all original however its been parked for 15 years but isn't seized.

A guy I know asked to buy it. We told him to make an offer but he hasn't yet. He wants me to tell him but he really wants it because this has happened several times. Please help, what is a fair price to make the deal fair.

Hagerty says $7,500 for a "Condition 4" but the rust takes it down a notch... this is where I'm unsure.

I'd place that one in the $5k range at the absolute MOST.

The problem is that once rust repair begins, the car becomes a total restoration. To be done right, it should be fully stripped, body media blasted, on a rotisserie, and restored with original (or repro) parts. That's a $20k undertaking, even doing a lot of the work yourself. Considering the purchase price, that makes a $25k investment in a Series 1 Z that might sell for $25k to the right buyer.

I'd rather have a car from a dry climate with no rust and original paint, even if it had 250k miles - Then, a good detailing and some maintenance leaves you with a "survivor" Z (more valuable) that's ready to enjoy or sell.

You don't say where it is located. East of the Mississippi, they are worth more. Surface rust or rust through. What does it look like under the battery and the front frame rails.

Series I cars have been bumping up in value this year. Photos would help.

Thanks. The rust at the doglegs is rusted through. The rust on firewall is medium (hope that makes sense), frame rails have zero rust. Car was purchased in New York and lived there till 13,000 +/- miles after which it spent it's life in Orange County/Los Angeles county California since 1975. The last 15 years it was parked under a rather large tree that protected it slightly from the little rain we get. Funny thing is that where there is no rust the green paint is actually original and shines pretty well. $5,000 This is what I was thinking. We hinted at that amount but I think I should polish the price a bit and will stand strong at $4,500. Seems fair I think.

If the doglegs are rusted through I'd say it's closer to a $2k car. Doesnt matter how much life it had in california or in your garage, if it's rusted through it wasn't cared for properly and even if it's all there and completely drivable it sounds like a $2k car at best. Hitman said it best, spend 25k restoring it and you might have a 25k car. A ratty car not rusted through might be a$5k car but rust through kills the value.

Rust isn't that bad. Sold at $3,000 after some negotiation.

Nice work.

Rust-through in the doglegs means that while the outside of the "frame rails" wasn't rusted, the inside is... and behind the doglegs is a complex intersection of several critical junctions of metal (door sill, rear inner and outer fenderwell, door jamb inner and outer, interior panel, etc...

That's all got to be cleaned out and repaired, or a year from now, in a hard corner or a hard launch, bad things will happen. Seen it firsthand.