Hey all,

As you all know by now my Rex is out of commission until I get the new engine in her. This project is taking longer than expected. In my searches I have come across a real pretty little car.

so i was thinking.......

I could buy this little car for the winter?, until the Rex gets back on the road.

tell me what ya think!

Super clean 1979 280ZX I-6
5 Speed
T-tops
129000 Miles
new engine (Less than 1k since redone)
new tranny
new rear
new Interior (leather)
NO RUST ANYWHERE!
further the car is NOT undercoated...musta been garage kept
the car is Black and the paint is a little aged and swirly but again the little car is striaght!

The Car belongs to my Mechanic buddy, he has it in the paper for $7500. he says he'll let me have it for $5000. the thing is, I have NO idea what she is worth.

Any ideas?

Embiber

 

BEWARE:


Those cars rust very badly. A friend of mine had one in high school and it was beautiful. Never seen winter(California car), but still the frame rusted so bad the car wouldn't pass inspection. The guy went to put it up on the lift and you could hear the frame breaking.

If you want to get it, take it to a garage with a lift and be sure to inspect it carefully. I wanted a "Z" so bad a while back, but they all were too far gone. My Mother drives a 300Z with the same problem. She can't even sell it the frame is so bad. She's just going to drive into the ground. I did some research on why this happens, and I found out that Nissan, formerly Datsun, "Z" cars used impurified French metals for the frame construction. Rust destroys it easily.

I love the "Z", but I wouldn't buy one.

My 2C.

 

well, I'd really check that car for rust like Jimmy says... IF it turns up clean, I'd undercoat the hell out of it. ESP! if you're gonna run it in the winter. If the car's clean then I'd say it might be worth it, but you're gonna NEED to undercoat that beast if you want to even take it out in the RAIN.

just my 2lira,
matt

 

I checked the car today,.. put it on the lift. No rust anywhere!
looks like new, I dont know how,... but it does.

ya think its worth 5K?

Embiber

 

$5K seems kind of high for a '79 with 130,000 miles on it, Plus the 80's were not Nissan golden age of performance, you may want to do some research.

The engine has only 1K miles on but the chassis still has 130,000 miles on it, and a mechanic owns it, these are all signs to me that scream buyer beware.

 

I went to look at the car a little closer this weekend, seeing that Im getting serious about purchasing it. thought I would give you an update

Seems as though he took the car on trade on one of his mopar's, so he hasnt had it long.

The engine has NOT been rebuilt, (I could have sworn I heard him say that)
the paint is in a lot better shape than I had originaly thought,.turns out the previous owner had just spent $1,600 on a paint job about a year ago..(saw the receipt)
All the original books and records are there along with the receipts.

there is really no question in my mind that the car is stright ( I can tell that much)
Further, it is also obvious that it has been very well maintained.

but im with you guy's 5K sounds strong...

what do you think I should offer,...if anything at all

Also understand the sole reason I am buying this car is for a fun,...winter driver...My other car doesnt see rain or snow.

please advise


Embiber

 

I wouldn't buy it for the winter. The thing will start to rust very soon regardless how clean you keep it. The "Z" cars are the only cars that Ziebart will not guarantee against rust with their undercoating.
Buy something like a 626, Probe, Nissan Stanza, or a, God forgive me, Honduh . If it's a winter and crappy weather car, why would you buy something nice? I'd get some rag that doesn't deplete your bank account and save money for upgrades on the RX.

 

you've been talking to my wife Eh?

Seeing that I really didnt get even ONE positive post,...including my wife!,...it looks as thought he Z is out!!

thank you for all of your opinions

Embiber!

 

it'd be a nice toy, but it'd prolly be a WASTE as a winter car.

why take a nice car and destroy it running in the winter? Let someone who will keep it in a heated garage and take care of it and keep it straight and rust free. Let the honduh civick rust to ****. Those are a dime a dozen anyway.


just my .02.

--matt

 

This does seem like an odd proposal. While we Rx7 fans are very particular to about our cars, and we use other (inferior) cars for daily transportation, there are others out there that are just as fanatical about Z cars. How would we feel about some Z guy taking a perfectly rust free early 7 and using it as his winter car? We'd be pissed.. And while I am a true 7 fan, I also would hate to see another quite credible sports car of the period that has survived this long only to be thrown away as a winter car...

Besides, front wheel drive cars are easier to keep out of snowbanks (ask me how I got a dented fender, twice)

Just my $.02 for the afternoon....

 

Perfect winter car, parts getter, donor car tower, beater:

Honda Civic wagon or hatchback.

Enough room to shove a tranny AND engine in the back to haul off. Great gas milage. Low insurance. They're cheap as hell to get. And the factory reccomended oil change interval is 7k Miles. (Not that I'd ever do that. 5k is the max for me.) It's reliable as hell, the water pump runs off the timing belt, so If you need like an alternator, you can drive to the parts store without it.

I run **** over in mine, use it to push things that I need moved (Dumpsters that are taking up the good space next to places that I am visiting. ) , Uproot stumps(tore off the back bumper trying that once. It's best to tie the rope to the front cross member and back it up, I've learned.)

Granted, It's cumbersome, slow, and a Honda. It's still efficient and faithful.

The rear axle to suspension to chasis linkage is rusting through though. I'll drive it till the back axle falls off.