Is this a good deal?

[musashin]

He wants $1700 for it.

From emails back and forth:

"it doesn't have any rust or dents, that it's dark green in color and that the advertisement said it is a 75 when in fact it is a 74 Z, inline 6, with a 5 speed.

To the best of my knowledge the car is a 1974 2dr HT. My brother the mechanic in the family and a lover and owner of many Datsuns, was convinced that the engine is a inline 6, with dual SU carburators and a 5 speed transmission. He also was convinced that the engine that is installed in the car is from a 280 Z.... a 1978 model. Before he died he did some major restoration and tune-up on the car. The interior is in fairly good condition and the title lists the miles @90086 dated 8/28/07,& when he died in september of '08 it had 93,000 miles on it and he hadn't driven it in several months. I start it from time to time to keep the battery up and I have a farm use tag on it so I can race around neighborbood."

[NSR_s30]

I'd buy it in a heart beat.

[evildky]

it is a 74 260z, look at the bside fo the engine on the drivers side kinda below and forward fo the engine moutn for the block code, E30= 2.4, N42=2.8, not sure what casting the 260 came with, then look at the cylinder head on the passanger side between spark plugs #1 and 2, E31=2.4, E88=2.4, N42=2.8, N47=2.8

the most importatnt thing is the chassis, look for rust! everyhting thats not rubber or glass is pront to rusting, look at the floor pans and frame rails, look at the hatch lip, look at the rockers, lok everywhere there is a factory seem, they weren't sealed adn are hotbeds for rust!

if it's not rusted and you can live with the hole in the roof, go for it

[musashin]

And this one?

$5500 obo

1976 Datsun 280Z - Red/Black, 83000 original miles, VIN: HLS30297337 Mechanically excellent, 4-speed manual, A/C, New carpet, New center console, New full dash cover, New shift boot, New shift knob with Z logo, New headliner (in box requires install), Mazda Miata cloth bucket seats (original vinyl seats available), Aftermarket armrest with cup holders, Sony xPlod AM/FM/CD player, Sony xPlod 6x9 rear speakers in aftermarket enclosure, Restored door panels, New radiator, New fuel injectors and hoses, Custom cold air intake with K&N cone filter, Fog lights, Rear window louvers, Rare Enkei 15x7 mesh wheels with custom Z logo center caps, Mint condition Enkei center caps available, Front & rear bumber overriders

Additional pictures available at: http://picasaweb.google.com/DeeZune/MyDatsun

[sampsonJ]

if you dont buy that frst one i will.

[musashin]

Went to see the first one, took some more pictures. Currently planning on the purchase if I can get the funds in order.



How's this rust? It's the only bit on the car.



280Z engine?

[evildky]

boo for a hole in the roof

[musashin]

Is it really a big deal? It's sealed shut so there's no chance of leaks.

[noobdrftr]

do it....just do itdont pass up on it you will regret it later if do pass on it

[evildky]

a sunroof distors the cnvex roof panel, it's a VERY expensive repair, and basically ruins the resell value of the car

[musashin]

I must not be understanding you correctly. Are all sunroofs like a aftermarket thing then?

[evildky]

all sunroofs on any Z car is an aftermarket, a sunroof was NEVER a factoy option an any model of Z car form 1970- present

[sek8031]

What's going on with the end of the hood? Is it bent or is the paint just coming off?

[musashin]

Yeah it's bent up.

[Pharaohabq]

yeah, I thougth I saw that hood was banged up. that, and the sunroof are not good. there apprears to be a little more rust looking at the back end. I'd really want you to look in the hatch, on the rear deck, and in the tirewell and see how bad the rust is there. Being rust there, I'd want you to look in all the regular suspect parts, Floorpans, cowl area, below the doors, behind the front wheels etc etc. to make sur eyou know where everything is. Also 2 other rules to car buying... DO NOT Look to buy cars in the Rain, and DO NOT look to buy them at night. You want a nice sunny day so you can get a good look at them.

So lets see, Costs...

$1700 for 260Z... $300-800 for decent hood. $10-$1,000,000 for rust repair.$100 or so for interior pieces.. $600+ for sunroof removal (optional)$300+ for Paintjob.

Dunno what else it might need. but this is kinda a starting point. you can see you can spend a ton of $ on your car and not have much improvement. the Damage and missing inteior parts, I would be looking to offer him less $$ for it, maybe offer $1000 citing those issues, then maybe settle on 1400-1500... you might get lucky. just note it's likely you'll be spending a lot more $ on it later...

Oh an I love the classy rear bumper. wow, wish I could find one of those. so hot!