10k: Done Right: 1971 Datsun 240Z V8
The Datsun 240Z ushered in the era of the Japanese sports car and while it wasn’t as maniac as the later Skylines, Evolutions, 300Zs, and such that made headlines for Japanese performance, it was the first mass market car from the Land of the Rising Sun to get everything right. Its combination of nimble chassis, communicative steering, ass-on-the-ground seating and cool styling could only be made better by upping the power with a V8 from a Corvette; and no one finds the best engine swapped classics like the mad men over at MotoeXotica. Find this 1971 Datsun 240Z V8
for sale in St Louis, MO currently bidding for $7,000 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go.
The 240Z rides on a set of vintage appropriate Minilite alloy wheels in a reasonable (?)15-inch size and a width that looks almost stock. The offset racing strip just screams 1960s racer and fits the character of this car perfectly.
This 240Z has had its 2.4 liter inline-6 ditched in favor of a 327 cubic inch (5.4 liter) small block that should put out something around 300 horsepower with stock parts and tune. The 240Z should be considerably faster with double the stock horsepower and while this writers preference would be a 5-speed manual, the auto is probably great in traffic or for simple cruising.
Driving a 240Z is an experience similar to flying an airplane, you sit low in the cockpit and your rear end is just above the car’s rear end. The front wheels seem to be miles away from you and the feeling of yaw during turn-in is amplified due to the rear biased seating position.
See a better way to go fast, turn fast and look good while doing it? tips@dailyturismo.com
If Fast and Furious was a 1970s franchise, this would be Brian O'Conner's ride.
I saw the CA plates and thought "dear diary, jackpot." Then re-read the article and saw 1. its in the STL and 2. it a slushbox and promptly forgot why I was there. Also… anyone see a radiator fan? I've been scouring the pics… I can't find one. Must be REALLY slimline… or a pusher?
If this stays under $10k I'd consider it well bought. Such a good looking car.
Yup, its a slim-line pusher, you can see it in the engine picture.
Ah – thought it was some kind of shroud / air guide. Looked through the grille, thought it was a horn. Turned up the gamma, saw the fan blades. Another question – with all of that clearance… why a pusher? And wheres the ATF Cooler?
RyanM – don't let the distance get in the way of something like this. Some regular DT readers live in the area and could probably check it out for you, or you could a service like Jewel or Jalopy to have a third party check it out for you. The slushbox is a disappointment, but it may keep the bidding down and give you enough wiggle room to a)get the household CFO's approval (if needed) and b)save for a 4-speed swap. I love the idea of the vintage correct 327 with a 4-speed (or 5-spd if needed), it would really compliment the vintage racer paint scheme.
EIC Vince
Hey Vince, the auto really kills this one for me. Sounds like an excuse, but the truth of the matter is that I can't do any real work out here in my driveway (combo of CFO and HOA), and a gearbox swap on a rented lift in a rented garage with a rented trans jack and some rented friends can turn into an expensive proposition. Back when I had a garage of my own, I'd probably consider this car as a candidate for an in-house gearbox swap.
Plus… the expired CA tags… if someone didn't non-op this or fill out a release of liability when it left the state, re-tagging it here is going to be a headache.
Bottom line is that tare enough sub $10k S30s out there that I can safely pass on this one. When I do find the "right" one, distance or not, it will be mine…
Ryan- I try to keep an eye out for these. The best one for the money that I've seen we featured here awhile back
I owned this car and it had a TH400 trans that hit hard, i broke the mustach bar one day. sure manual would be better, but it was built to drag, had all original rear drive so if this guy did not replace the third member et al, it's not done right…just saying