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1969 Datsun sports convertible - READ ONLY

24 messages,  Last post on Dec 19, 2001 at 12:07 PM

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What is this discussion about? Datsun, Convertible

Messages Page 3 of 3

#15 of 24 DATSUN 1600 ROADSTER by debrar

May 24, 2001 (1:38 pm)

I HAVE A 1970 DATSUN THAT NEEDS TO BE RESTORED. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO PUT INTO IT, SO I HAVE DECIDED TO SELL IT. THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR AND I LOVED IT. ITS' HARD TO PART WITH IT BUT ITS JUST SITTING AND RUSTING.MECHANICALLY THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT EXCEPT THAT IT HAS A FUEL LEAK. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN IT, I LIVE IN NEW YORK ON LONG ISLAND. I WILL BE TAKING OFFERS.

#16 of 24 Rusty 240Zs by ice288

Aug 13, 2001 (6:55 pm)

I think that the biggest problem with '72 240Zs is rust by far. My dad has an early '72 240Z, which unfortunetly was been exposed to the elements for the last 20 years and it shows. It runs fine, the engine and all is still good with the exception of an exhaust leak and needing a new radiator its running componets are still all good. However it is rusting out all over. It has rusted through a the bottom of the doors and just under that too. However the important structural stuff is still good. So I guess the point of this was just to say that Nissan used a really poor quality of metal when they made these cars and if your planning on buying one of these fine vehicles, watch out for rust or any sign of rust, there is probably more you can't see than can see. Also it would probably be wise to look for one in the South West of the country, where it is much dyer and the car less likely to be rusty.

#17 of 24 by dpwestlake

Aug 16, 2001 (11:19 am)

I had a 260, Zs were great cars, unfortunately they turned out to be biodegradable. they reverted to iron ore before your eyes.

#18 of 24 Z's & rust by a36

Sep 10, 2001 (6:29 am)

It has been said that all the Z's had nothing but
overspray inside the body - not one ounce of paint
purposely applied in there. Therefore they do rust badly. A joke in the NE used to be that if you put a pretzel in the glove box of a Z the floor would fall out 90 days later. This little oversight was corrected (so I have heard) with the ZX's and those made thereafter.
 
A 260Z can be made to run fine if you block off
the coolant passing through the intake manifolds
and carburetors. On the one that was around my house I used solder to make 3/4" long little billets to stick in those coolant hoses and put a small spring clamp on the outside to hold them in place. This got you past the inspector who looks under the hood to see what has been disconnected.
  
One other thing that will make a 260Z (or any of
the "SU" type carb's.) perform far better is to
make certain that the metering needles are perfectly straight. I found both of them bent on
the one my son had. If you can find new ones I
would go with those, along with the body that it
passes through in the main body of that "thing."
 
I hope whoever says that 280Z's will never be anything but a "used car" is a bit wrong. My '78 with 60,000+ original miles is still a fun car to
drive, and I hope will someday be worth at least what I paid for it in 1980. Oh, it has never been to the beach/shore, and definitely not anyplace where it snows and salt is placed on the roads. No pretzels in the glove box either!

#19 of 24 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 10, 2001 (9:21 am)

Saying it's a "used car" is not meant to be an insult. It's just an economic remark. Used cars generally are worth less and less as they age, while 'classics' are worth more and more as they age.

#20 of 24 240z paint. by ndance

Sep 10, 2001 (2:49 pm)

I can't believe that Datsun didn't paint the interiors. On 510's at least, the body color is everywhere, under the door panels, in the trunk, on top of the sound deadener, under the back seat, etc.etc. I imagine they dipped the whole car. I've never noticed that they rust any more than any other 30 year old car. Actually, now that I think of it, the consistently worst rusters I've seen have been Porsches. While I don't spend a bundle of time under cars, both 914's and 356's seem especially horrendous in that area (couldn't those guys find somewhere to stick the battery where it wasn't so hard on structural parts?).

#21 of 24 1969 Roadster Owner Sez by ricksrl

Oct 26, 2001 (5:23 pm)

Hi, I have owned a 1969 2000 since 1991 and like the car better than the 1967 MGB I had previously.
Like all older cars, unless you can maintain them yourself, you better have deep pockets.
A lot of parts for the Roadsters are still available from Nissan and several companies specialize in repo and used parts on the West Coast.
As mentioned before, Hemmings is a good place to find out what any classic is worth. How you grade it is the key.

#22 of 24 Late '60s Datsuns & Toyotas by jrosasmc

Dec 19, 2001 (9:22 am)

Were the rust problems on the late '60s Toyotas and Datsuns as bad as many people tell me? They informed me that the rust was caused by building the cars with inferior steel (just like Fiats).

#23 of 24 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 19, 2001 (9:58 am)

You have to be careful with Hemmings, because these are only "asking prices".
 
I always say that asking prices are really just an exercise in First Amendment Rights.
 
Of course, asking prices can be helpful, but you have to combine that info with price guides, and auction results. It's the money that actually changes hands that sets the market price.
 
RUST--I think most cars from the 60s and 70s were prone to rust, even the German cars. It's not particularly a Japanese problem.

#24 of 24 by ndance

Dec 19, 2001 (12:07 pm)

It also might help if some places didn't dump solvents on the road in the winter. Can't help it on the coast(s), however.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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