OUR 1972 DATSUN 240 Z
We bought this beauty in March 1999 and we are currently restoring it. It still needs some work but it is starting to take shape. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.
This is our car on the cover of a book by Ben Millspaugh titled " Z Car: A Legend In Its Own Time". The book came out in 1991 but I think the picture was taken shortly after the car won 2nd place in it's category at the 2nd annual Z Car Convention in Dallas in 1989.
This was how it looked the day after we bought it. Yeah it looks good, but it needed a lot of engine and interior work. Note that it had the European style bumpers. We replaced those with the American style. The wheels are the '82 to '83 280 ZX type. The chrome came back after hours of cleaning.
More pictures from the day after we bought it. In the bottom picture you can see the aftermarket sunroof. The sunroof was the only reason I didn't buy it the first day I drove it, but after looking all over town this was by far the best Z for the money. I never really intended for my 240 to be all original anyway.
Early Zs = floorpan rust. We removed the light surface rust, coated with a rust inhibiter, and painted black.
Rebuilt engine with new carbs minus filters
Rebuilt engine with old carbs.
Rebuilt engine.
We removed the hatch and both the inner and outer weatherstripping. Replaced with better than original weatherstripping from Banzai Motorsports. This picture also shows how the old rear finisher looked an ugly gray with rust spots.
With the hatch back in place and the rear finisher stripped and painted black. Note the rear bumper is now the "American" style but without the vertical bumper guards (on order).