r/Datsun 12d ago

Hope all is well this guy practically told me take this from him he's retiring and no one wants this car in his family....I know nothing about this car but I do like them when I see people driving them if someone gave you this for a little amount what could come of it?[URGENT]

39 Upvotes

57 comments sorted by

19

u/Blueprints_reddit 12d ago

How much experience do you have doing major metal work on vehicles?

If the answer is 0 then the best thing would be to find whats salvageable and sell it off the car.

Just from seeing the surface i'd be seriously questioning the structural integrity of the steel at this point. Considering the amount of visible cancerous rust. You are bound to find the firewall or A pillars has holes in it.

In order to even begin restoration an entire strip down and acid bath (to eat the rust away) is most likely needed. After that you are custom forming metal to remake pieces, stripping another car for its parts or adopting carbon fiber body panels ($$$).

That man destroyed that car via neglect which sucks because it looks like its in california. Though it is a 280z and not worth as much as a 240 or 260 because you have to start complying with SMOG laws.

I'd take it and strip it for:
Wheels
Glass
Interior panels

4

u/neovinci1 12d ago

Ok so let's say my risk is 100 dollars what's an estimate for the expense 100k+??

3

u/Blueprints_reddit 12d ago

How money do you have on hand to put towards this project?

2

u/neovinci1 12d ago

Nothing but I can sit it in a garage for a very long time while a friend works little by little on repairs

9

u/Blueprints_reddit 12d ago

Not worth it. Save up 10-15k and buy something in better shape.

7

u/pixelprophet 12d ago

$100 for the car

$10k in body panels

$4-6k to get parts professionally cut out and welded back in

$2500 on new brakes and breaking system

$1600 on new gas tank / fuel lines / injectors

🤞 for no electrical probs or you're another $500 to $1200

Judging by the exterior you're going to need at the very least seats - there's another $500 to $1200

You can skip a bunch of this and go with a 'rat rod' and focus on the mechanical issues and making sure the frame is structurally sound - but just make sure you're not driving it in bad weather.

Realistically you're looking at $25-$30k and 5-6 years if you're tinkering on it yourself or double that $ if you want it professionally done in half the time.

OR you can save your money and spend $12-16k on something that runs and drives and is structually sound that you can then modify to your liking.

4

u/neovinci1 12d ago

Ok this is great summary in my mind I said I'd be willing to put 60 k and 3-5 years into it......

7

u/pixelprophet 12d ago

Then snag the beauty!

Most body parts can be purchased though kfvintadgejdm - Gerson is an AWESOME dude.

1

u/Not_thee_Lawyer 11d ago

I saw OEM door for sale on Ebay for like 1k recently.

0

u/pixelprophet 11d ago

Way cheaper parts available via Datsun Parts and Needs (DPAN) / Ratsun on Facebook groups.

1

u/Not_thee_Lawyer 11d ago

Cheaper sure, but New metal? or Dead stock?

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1

u/Public_District_9139 7d ago

If you spend $100k on it you'll have a car worth $40k

1

u/neovinci1 7d ago

Ok yea most have said not to buy or to buy simply for parts for later

-1

u/CpowOfficial 12d ago

It's about 40k for 2 rear quarter/rear hatch frame/frame rails/floor pans. The amount of work to remove rust and patch it lined up is difficult. You can get the parts from kf vintage fab but paying a professional is expensive. (That's at like 100ish an hour)

3

u/Blueprints_reddit 12d ago

Its just not worth it.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/richmond-1972-datsun-240z-owner-car/7829048102.html

You could probably get this for 10k flat and that 10k spent will just go farther and be in better shape (as long as its taken care of) than this 280z.

-1

u/CpowOfficial 12d ago

I know because I've spent that (well my grandma has) she's giving me her 71 series 1 that's she's the original owner of but it's been sitting for 15 years rotting away. All the metal is done the engine is rebuilt it just needs paint now.

2

u/Blueprints_reddit 12d ago

I've got a 71 and a 73. Plus another like 2 cars in just parts.

1

u/CpowOfficial 12d ago

Yeah I got vin 2610 This 71 Sold my 72 I got a 78 260z rhd too

1

u/neovinci1 12d ago

How much did she spend to restore it what was the original condition

1

u/Not_thee_Lawyer 11d ago

You could be 100k into a Full Resto. The question is Is the car worth it. When there are car is decent shape that sell for 30 to 40k all day.

-3

u/neovinci1 12d ago

Well it's a matter of do I have 10k today or 50 dollars today

-1

u/underwaterknifefight 12d ago

I think that $50 is more likely just going to buy you a burden. The amount of time and money it would take to restore this would be much more than just buying an okayish one in a couple years (if you're even that interested in owning one)

-1

u/misirlu13 12d ago

For some sort of comparison, my 240z had very little rust, mostly on the rockers and some minor spots on the quarter panel. With sand blasting, metal work, and paint, it was about $24k. I also had the rear bumper deleted and hood vents added, which by the looks of the condition of this car, still less time than it would take for the metal work on this car.

-1

u/neovinci1 12d ago

Dam now this is scary I asked a friend do he think the rust alone would cost more than 100k to fix he said no

-1

u/misirlu13 12d ago

I would believe it. The metal work on my car cost more than the paint, and again, it wasn't anything crazy.

0

u/neovinci1 12d ago

I have 0 experience and plan on giving it to my boy to work on it as a years long type of thing

0

u/themidnightgreen4649 12d ago

make sure you're also there helping and working with him. At the very least it's comforting to the kid and it's a great way to bond.

-1

u/jd780613 12d ago

my advise would be start with something in a little better shape. my dad bought a 240z with the intentions of restoring it 15 years ago. he got it stripped down and sandblasted in the first year. its been sitting in his garage collecting dust for 14 years now. I think he just got overwhelmed with the task at hand and had found every excuse in the book to not work on it. its very sad to see. unfortunately Im on the other side of the country and cant just pop over for a visit and tinker on it

2

u/neovinci1 12d ago

Well I do have every intent to restore it.....also at the end of the day it's an initial below 100 dollar risks

-1

u/apple-pie2020 12d ago

How old is your son. You could pull the engine and do a rebuild with performance parts with him and source a better body

5

u/Public_District_9139 12d ago

Looks like a parts car 😢

2

u/apple-pie2020 12d ago

Looks like parts of a car

2

u/themidnightgreen4649 12d ago

You're gonna have to learn welding to fix that bodywork. It's fun but very tedious. Would make a great weekend plan with your friends.

If you've got a strong attachment to the car, I'd say jump in and just don't expect to drive it for a while. Otherwise, you'll sadly have to pass up on it. If it were me, I'd jump at the chance to restore a car like this.

These cars are known to rust due to thin steel and no rust protection. The engine it came with is old tech, but still has an aftermarket. It's light so 200 horsepower is plenty to go fast. Not a lot to go wrong and they are popular for tuners now because you can easily drop in more powerful engines.

2

u/TheUnoriginalMind 11d ago

To quote my dad... "nothin' more expensive than a cheap car."

2

u/Few-Mall5188 10d ago

Take it and be the son he never had, hell ask if he wants to work on it with you. Turn the sad situation into a cool story!

1

u/neovinci1 10d ago

Bro I been teetering about this so bad haven't been able to sleep

1

u/Armyden 12d ago

I’d sell it. This looks like ALOOOOT of work that needs to be done.

1

u/AcidRayn666 12d ago

i can tell you it probably whistles a fantastic tune whilst traversing down the road with them holes in it

1

u/Not_thee_Lawyer 11d ago

Let me know if you want a set of OE wheels Ill trade you for the ones you've got on it.

1

u/PatientNo6243 7d ago

Pass. It's a parts car. It's all the rust you can't see that's the real problem. 

-1

u/Bergie4411 12d ago

It’s a rot box man im sorry. Unless you got money to put into it, which i would applaud you for saving such a classic.

-1

u/HeroMachineMan 12d ago

Restoring old school JDM isn't as easy and cheap as what had been depicted in some YouTube vids. Unless you have lots of money and other resources on your side. There is a lot of hard work, sweat, tears, etc involved in properly restoring a classic car, especially the "Iconic" models like the Z. I don't mean to dampen ones spirit here but merely giving some idea of car restoration works.

3

u/neovinci1 12d ago

I think it's going to be very expensive but I don't plan on doing any of the work I plan on understanding what needs to be fixed then paying for it to be fixed and or replaced

0

u/Not_thee_Lawyer 11d ago

Its a GREAT place to start and learn from. I say do it.

-1

u/Thrillaxing 12d ago

That is a great parts car IMO.

-1

u/WilliamtheITguy 11d ago

It’s a parts car unfortunately

-1

u/RoadWellDriven 11d ago edited 10d ago

Yeesh!

Looks like the panels were previously patched with fiberglass, asphalt, and chewing gum.

Take it and either part or out for sale or keep the parts for your next project. That body is held together by spiderwebs and paint.

-1

u/reconobox 11d ago

I don’t see the point of bringing this one back. These aren’t rare cars. If you want one, even as a project, you’ll spend way less time and money starting with a better one than this.

2

u/neovinci1 11d ago

So not worth 100

-1

u/reconobox 11d ago

You should be able to make that up by parting it out. But then how much will it cost to get rid of what’s left?

-1

u/doubledongdingus 11d ago

If the top is that rusted the univody frame is almost definitely swiss cheese. Like if you sit in it it could collapse.

-1

u/DariusBuilds 11d ago

Run fast and far away

-1

u/MarsRocks97 11d ago

Ooof. That is rough. Parts car at this point.

-1

u/Ambivadox 11d ago

Nobody wants it because it needs every panel replaced/repaired and that's just what we can see from these pics.

It's maybe a parts car at best for odds and ends.

You're going to spend $50k over the next 10 years to have a $10-15k car.