1979 280zx, purchase help

[t-top cruising]

I came across a 1979 280ZX (non-turbo) which has not been regularly driven since 1999. It has 160k miles on it, new paint job (matches original paint job), no rust, mechanically sounds and runs well, however, I did not get to drive it on a main street. The car is not currently smogged. I drove it for 1 minute on a side street. Owner is insistent on selling it AS-IS.

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And he is firm for $2800.
What do you think?



dont know why pics are not working...

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[Mr93z32]

Seems very iffy, if your not too familiar with engine stuff,
i would just recommend taking a mechanic to check it out
before the purchase, just to make sure, did he point anything out
mechanical problems to be selling as is? Might not pass smog?
make sure of what your being before hand, car looks immaculate,
but engine might not be, good luck man!

[evildky]

I can't imagine buying a 32 year old car that wasn't as is?
they smog 32 year old cars where you live?
there isn't a lot of emissions equipment on that car, a car, and egr and and O2 sensor
$2800 is kinda high for an n/a s130, but that looks to be a very clean s130, especially considering the miles
most of the mechanicals are cheap and easy to work on, and if the chassis is truely rust free, it might well be worth the price, if you could find an equal or better caar for less money I don't think you'd be asking about this one, think about that

[BadQ45t]

If you live in CA or some where that requires smog on cars this old, take it to a smog place that can test it. The owner would need to smog it anyways in CA to sell it to you. CA changed their rules so you need to get smog done every other year for the rest of your life. My 84' that I bought brand new has about that same amount of miles. I have kept it in very good condition, it runs like new, has all the horsepower of original, but I have spent 2k over the last 10-14 years on smog and related repairs.

what do you want to do with this. I drive my old 300 (called "Junior" by the wife) about 1500 a year and hope to own it until I die. But your always chasing down something that doesn't work quite right. My car is nearly 100% current and working, but with an old car like this it is always something.

[SBC 240Z]

By Florida standards that car is brand new. I own a S130, a '79 2+2 and I had a '80 2 seater, both cars went through hell and never let me down with the exception of one fuel pump (my '80 even got flooded in a storm we had and still started up fine with no sputters the morning after the water receded). However, I would never pay $2800 for a n/a S130. That's just me though, this is your money and your decision. I'm not trying to talk you out of it by any means but I am trying to talk you into doing whatever you have to do to bring that price down, start finding flaws in the car and remind the guy of how much work you're going to have to do to get the car road ready and how much time and money that's going to be. Smog wise, I have heard from a TON of guys on HybridZ that you can gently pull the #5 cylinder fuel injector clip and it helps pass smog meanwhile the engine still sounds normal, you need to gently pull the clip but leave it to appear as if it's still connected.

Goodluck with it, once these cars are gone they're gone for good so it's nice to see more people trying to save them. Anyone ever hits me in mine and I'm liable to go to jail for what I do to them.