1973 Datsun 240Z For sale Vintage Restoration by Weekend Rides
This restoration began with one of the most solid 240Z we have ever seen. The Lime green 112 was only a bare body shell when it arrived at Weekend Rides. It has transformed back into a running driving beautifully restored Z car under the direct supervision of world renowned Porsche expert and 240Z aficionado, who just happens to be one of the worlds foremost 240Z Experts and vintage car collector, Rick Bolus.
The following are photos of its resurrection with notable updates including a five speed transmission from a 280Z. Power comes from a 1975 280Z L28 Block using the larger valve N42 head. The engine breathes through an Americam camshaft and a set of early 1971 SU carbs. A vintage Ansa Exhaust tip mated to a three into two steel header provides proper back pressure and the nostalgic sound only an Ansa can make. The 240Z rides on period correct Ansen Wheels and of course some period correct Vintage decals compliment the single speaker original AM FM Datsun radio!
The 1970 240Z was introduced to the American market by Yutaka Katayama, president of Nissan Motors USA operations, widely known as “Mr. K”. The 1970 through the mid-1971 model year 240Z was referred to as the Series I. These early cars had many subtle but notable features differing from later cars. The most easily visible difference is that these early cars had a chrome “240Z” badge on the sail pillar, and two horizontal vents in the rear hatch below the glass molding providing flow through ventilation. In mid-1971, for the Series II 240Z-cars, the sail pillar emblems were restyled with just the letter “Z” placed in a circular vented emblem, and the vents were eliminated from the hatch panel of the car. Design changes for the US model 240Z occurred throughout production, including interior modifications for the 1972 model year, and a change in the location of the bumper over-riders, as well as the addition of some emission control devices and the adoption of a new style of emissions reducing carburetors for the 1973 model year. In 1998, Nissan launched a program to bring back the Z-car line by first purchasing original 240Zs, then restoring them to factory specifications, and finally selling them to dealerships for $24,000. This was an effort to keep Z-car interest alive. Nissan over-estimated the market for the cars and low demand (and the high price) meant that less than fifty cars were re-manufactured and sold
solid spare tire well
1973 Datsun 240Z Restoration
Original Kioto headlights and excellent used turn signals being installed.
1973 Datsun 240Z Restoration
Flawless original 240Z Dash ready for install, Original Bridgestone Spare tire with correct hold down nut.
We installed the Factory Hitachi 240Z radio is an original with AM FM and has its power antenna switch.
The original Fuse box cover even has its nice CHOKE decal
Spare tire was removed from one of our parts cars thirty years ago and is still in great condition.
Here the L28 Block has just been bored to receive its .50 over pistons.
l28 block
Vintage Z decal
rear bumper back from plating and polished ANSA wheels NOS Power Antenna Installed
front turn signals and kioto headlamps installed
Ansa Exhaust NOS Instaslled
Vintage NOS Ansa 240Z Muffler
Vintage NOS Ansa 240Z Muffler Installed
original Kioto Headlights now installed
73 Z assembly
new window seals
under hood ready for more detailing
hood on final fit
240z engine suspension install
One of our first car loves was the venerable Datsun 240z, in our first years in the car biz these were what we always worked on, owning hundreds of them. When we moved into Porsches we never looked back nor cared much to ever work on a Z car again, but we found this old racer 240Z shell finished in #112 Yellow sitting in a friend of ours 240 z collection, he had it many years after bringing the shell back from the west where someone had started to get carried away welding its seams to make it into a drag car. It is one of the most solid bodies we have seen, it did have some odd location rust but most of it was actually all original paint. The rear wheel well lips have all the original spot welds and are absolutely solid! No old accidents, solid rust free front fenders, look at the back side of them in some photos. The Z even wears her original hood with correct date coded decals. As old Z cars go, we could not bear to see it languish and we brought her back to Z car glory.
Below are the view through the windshield on its maiden ride, the dash is perfect and an uncracked original.
The L28 Block from a 1975 was chosen, rebuilt with the N42 head and received new .50 over pistons.
Original Upholstery for seats, all original carpets and a dash from Ricks 40 year old hoard of original preserved 240Z parts were reused! Here the new dash goes in with the freshly redone seats.
solid original floors
The SU carbs were rejetted and received an Original Air Cleaner housing.
original dash prior to installation
dash installation
engine compartment
front frame rails
n42 cylinder head on rebuilt L28 block
n42 casting
front valence backside
frame tips undamaged originals
frame and hood hinge tips undamaged originals
original hood with decal and replated latch
original am fm radio with power antenna switch undamaged bezel for climate controls
working choke lite with original decal
su carb
perfect uncracked original dash
original uncracked console
original uncracked console by choke lever
right front
side right
upper right roof
left front
right rear quarter
center rear
lower valence
left corner
driver door panel dash steering wheel seat
driver door panel
driver door edge
driver door jamb replated latch new scuff sills
passenger door jamb replated latch new scuff sills
passenger footwell carpet dash
passenger door hinge panel
passenger door edge
right quarter glass new seals
passenger reupholstered seat
passenger reupholstered seat and belt
rear roof
original antenna
1970-72 AARC decal
original aluminum wiper arms
hood fender lines all original
driver door panel arm rest
top of perfect original dash
original dash nice original finish on steering wheel
upper driver dash view
Waiting on a few pieces from chrome plating, sourcing rubber for both bumper guards, and a few brackets are at our cad plater, a few new emblems and badges will be affixed after its buffed. Updated as of July 4 2019 the Z traveled about 700 miles during its shake out and we are happy with how its coming along.
These are the SU carbs and intake related parts just removed and cleaned. We are in final details of the Z including replacing the brake lines in engine compartment with Stainless Steel, once we refit the carbs we are doing some updated cad plating and cleaning up the engine bay.
Then it’s off to Bring A Trailer.
We recently spent a full day in the Catskills enjoying this time capsule and friends from Churchill and were thrilled this extraordinary example of the first Japanese sports car not only ran flawlessly in the company of several Porsche’s a c type jaguar and a flat floor Xke.
We were privileged to save this Z so it can be used on backroads like vintage sports car should be, we loved tossing it into turns and using its Konis and lowered suspension and working its engine though the 5 gears while listening the the Ansa roar like a vintage 240z should be!
We will be passing this wonderful Z onto a new owner and listing it for sale we are confident it’s new custodian will love it.
