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1971 Datsun 240Z Series I – Rust Free with VERY low original mileage

Sale price: $10,000.00 make an offer

Seller's notes: Up for auction is my matching numbers 4-speed 1971 (12/70) rust-free and stock Series I Datsun 240 Z with approximately 49,500 original miles. Many claim to have this low mileage but I can they prove it? I can! It also has incredibly rare dealer installed AC (it was only a dealer option at the time) with the “frigiking” dealer installed sticker (see picture). This vehicle has ALWAYS been garage/barn kept and owned and driven by non-smokers. This unrestored vehicle is almost completely original except for a non-stock muffler and a repaint (to the same original factory color) that occurred sometime in the mid-1970’s.

Sale type: Fixed price listing

Technical specifications, photos and description:

Mileage:
49,500
Engine:
2.4L 6 cylinder
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1971 Datsun 240Z Series I – Rust Free with VERY low original mileage for sale

Current customer rating: current rating for this car(2.5) based on 463 votes

1971 Datsun 240Z Series I – Rust Free with VERY low mileage

Attention Series 1 Datsun (Nissan) 240z collectors. here it your next car! Click the "Buy It Now" button to get it NOW!

Up for auction is my matching numbers 4-speed 1971 (12/70) rust-free and stock Series I Datsun 240 Z with approximately 49. 00 original miles. Many claim to have this low mileage but I can they prove it? I can! It also has incredibly rare dealer installed AC (it was only a dealer option at the time) with the “frigiking” dealer installed sticker (see picture). This vehicle has ALWAYS been garage/barn kept and owned and driven by non-smokers. This unrestored vehicle is almost completely original except for a non-stock muffler and a repaint (to the same original factory color) that occurred sometime in the mid-1970's.

If you are familiar with a Series I (Series 1) Datsun 240Z. known as the Fairlady 240 Z in Japan. you know the rarity of this vehicle and how nearly impossible it is to find a survivor in a rust-free unrestored state so skip right to the Specific Vehicle History section and scroll through all the photos! DO NOT let this one get away. it may be YEARS before you see another one come up for sale! Financial commitments on my part force this sale. If you bid on this vehicle. please be prepared to purchase it. While I enjoy talking and showing the Z. I have set the reserve and BUY-IT-NOW price for a quick sale. Serious bidders only!

For those not familiar with the Series I. it is the most desirable of the very desirable 240Z line. They were introduced one week after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in late 1969 (which some believe was an equally important event) and ended production in early January 1971. The Series II were also sold as 1971 then produced in much larger numbers due to the popularity and quality of the Series I. Well known talk show host and car collector Jay Leno also prefers the Series I 240Z's to any other model produced (Google it).

Among other less obvious differences. Series I vehicles can be determined not just by their VIN but also by their vertical defrost lines in the hatch window and the two black vents on the rear. In addition. the Series I came equipped with the letter “D” style hubcaps and had the very desirable “4 screw” dual side-draft Hitachi SU-like carburetors that never suffered from the “vapor lock” issues that later 240Z and 260Z's had. In all there was four series of 240Z produced. The later series included US Federal safety bumpers (e. g. ugly) and emissions standards that severely reduced the horsepower and performance of these amazing vehicles. Production ended for the all 240Z in models in 1973. Datsun kept increasing the size of the engine to regain performance but the horsepower to weight ratio but none where as good as the Series I.

Specific Vehicle History:

This 240Z was originally purchased in Idaho. The buyer wanted air conditioning. which was not a factory option at that time but the dealer could install it. which they did. On most early 240Z's and even the later ones. the AC was installed in the front passengers side of the engine compartment. Since this was very early. the dealer installed it on the driver's side front. In order to do this. they had to modify the factory air cleaner as the bottom air intake would interfere with AC compressor (see pictures). They welded the opening closed and modified the air cleaner body to accommodate the opening further back. As far as I know. this is the ONLY one installed like this making this vehicle extremely rare!! I have never seen another early Z with this AC setup.

The second owner who also lived in Idaho drove the car as her daily driver. A few years later she married and started a family. Since she needed a larger vehicle for her children. she put the Z in storage in 1978. Time marched on and eventually she moved to Pennsylvania leaving the car behind. 27 years later she received a notice from the storage facility that she needed to move it. She and her husband trailered it to PA. They eventually had a mechanic go through the car to make it road worthy but never registered it in PA.

I am the third owner and purchased it in 2008. I have put approximately 2000 fun miles on it and have down a lot of little things to it. See the “General Notes” section for what was done. Unfortunately for me. children's college expenses and other financial commitments force this sale. I don't say this lightly. my loss will truly be someone else's gain!

 General Information:

The typical wear items have been replaced (e. g. tires including the spare. battery. upper rad hose. spark plugs. points. distributor cap and capacitor. muffler. brake master cylinder). When I purchased it. it had a non-stock muffler installed that gives it more of a throaty sound (definitely not obnoxious though). This is the only non-stock (correct) part on the vehicle to my knowledge (see clock notes).

General Notes:

When I purchased the 240Z. the clock was non-functional so I elected to have the original rebuilt with quartz crystal “guts” by a shop in CA. The clock now keeps PERFECT time (unlike the original ones) and on the outside is 100% stock! The original metal radiator fan and clutch were replaced by the later plastic fan/clutch. Since this was not correct to the period. I hunted down a new metal fan and clutch (not an easy thing to find I assure you) and replaced the plastic one with the correct part. I replaced all the belts. flushed the cooling system. adjusted the engine timing. and the valves clearances. In addition. I replaced the points. the temperature-sending unit. thermostat. fuel line. vacuum hoses. and ignition switch (had a locksmith rekey it to the original key). As previously mentioned. this rare 240Z includes dealer-installed air conditioning! I located Freon and charged it and for one summer it blew cold. The next summer it only blew cool so I didn't have it recharged as the leak needs to be identified and fixed but the compressor is good!

The winning bidder will receive all of the documentation including the rental fee paid at the storage facility ($6. 75). photos of the storage facility. as well as a small record booklet with general maintenance and gas costs beginning in 1977 with 37. 00 miles and continuing thru 1978 with 47. 00 miles. Also included are the owner's manual and various maintenance manuals and literature.

The car held up very well while in storage. The facility had a dirt floor and was well ventilated. The low humidity levels in Idaho preserved the car as you can see by the pictures. I have the Idaho vanity tag and a picture of executed Idaho title from the second owner if winning bidder wishes to view them. The car runs GREAT and could be driven to buyer's location if desired.

Exterior:

The car appears to have had a repaint back in the 70's. The jambs were left original. There are some minor scratches and touch-ups done over typical blemishes and they appear professionally done. The paint has held up well and is certainly driver quality level. There is NO undercoating just the original 
paint as it came from the factory! The chrome is original and shiny with some minor underside pitting. Both bumpers show a small dent in the center as per photos (occurred on the trailer from ID to PA).

The rear window hatch has some scratch marks (see photo) on the glass where louvers were installed. The scratches may be buffed out or if you prefer. the louvers can be reinstalled and will go along with the sale. I preferred the car without the louvers so I removed them. The windshield has no marks or chips. The vehicle is in great overall condition. The factory bodylines are well defined and the original joint spot weld seams are from new are visible (see pictures)! The balance of the exterior looks great!

 Interior:

Everything is in working order: lights. fan switch. turn and hazard switches. and horn. The dash is 100% original with NO CRACKS (see pictures) and is directly related to the care it has received! The interior is in great overall condition with all gauges working! The radio and power antenna work perfectly.

Engine:

The engine bay is very clean and original. The carburetors were taken off the vehicle and completely cleaned and tuned one year ago. The drivetrain performs great in all gears with plenty of power and torque. The car steers and handles just as well. The brakes. clutch slave cylinder. and original radiator were all reconditioned. The engine oil was changed regularly and the air filter was replaced. I also had the transmission oil changed. as I wasn't sure if that had been performed prior to my purchase. Factory recommended new NGK plugs and a new battery was put in approximately two years ago. The AC compressor works but I recommend finding/fixing the small leak before charging the unit.

Undercarriage:

The bottom side of this car is solid. The photos show some typical build-up of grime. but rust free. It's amazing to see how well it has retained its originality. On the passenger's floor past where one's feet would rest is a small bump. It appears to have had either a jack or lift on that spot that caused the slight impression in the floor (see the two pictures from inside and under the vehicle). It appears that this very minor bump can be pushed out by a body shop if desired. It is very minor but the seller wants to disclose all known bumps and bruises!

Auction Notes:

A vehicle can be restored countless times but is only original once! This unrestored beauty can be a low cost daily driver. weekend show car. or a stashed away investment (or all of the above). As an investment. this car should only rise in value due to the limited amount of original survivors of this quality. I have been looking at 240Z for years and have NEVER seen an original unrestored example of this quality! A Nissan engineer was attending a car show that I had the vehicle two years ago and after taking numerous pictures told me that he has never seen an original 240Z in this original condition and documented mileage and stated. “the guys back at the office are going to love these pictures!” Wherever I go with it. people come up and want to see it and talk to me about it. So if you are the lucky new owner. make sure you build in extra time into your schedule!!

The vehicle is located in Bethlehem. PA (zip code 18015) so bid accordingly. as all shipping arrangements and costs are solely the buyer's responsibility. For winning bidders. a $1000 deposit is required within 48 hours of the auction end (PayPal is ok for deposit). The balance is required within seven (7) days of auction close (sorry. no PayPal) via certified bank check or wire transfer.

I have tried to describe this vehicle as accurately and honestly as possible but please remember it is a used 43 year old vehicle. Although I have attempted to be as through as possible in both my descriptions and pictures. there may be issues that I have overlooked or are unaware of (unlikely but possible. If you are not familiar with purchasing vintage vehicles and/or specialty vehicles. or you have not purchased a vehicle using the Internet. PLEASE do your research. ask questions. and make sure you are comfortable with me as a seller. the vehicle. and the process.

If the buyer finds that the auction has grossly misrepresented the vehicle condition or miles in any way. a full refund of the buyers deposit will be made immediately. Note. this does not extend to “buyers remorse” but only in the case where I have misrepresented the vehicle. If these terms are not acceptable. please do not bid. The vehicle is available for personal inspection upon appointment. and is sold “AS IS” - without warranty either stated or implied.

Closing Notes:

If you want to own a THE classic Japanese sports car that proved to the world that Japan could actually build a stylish and world class powerful but affordable sports car. don't let this one go by! The design and reliability redefined driver expectations in GT motoring. This rare and unrestored rust free survivor is a true “barn find”. If you want this vehicle. please bid early as this auction is being locally advertised and subject to local sale if the reserve price has not been met. Sorry for the length of this listing but I want to describe it thoroughly. This is a serious purchase and I want all potential buyers to have all the information that I know. If you have any questions that are not answered here. please feel free to contact me. If you would like to inspect the vehicle prior to bidding. that is possible and strongly encouraged!

Please check my feedback and bid with confidence. Thank you and best of luck bidding!!

 

To view additional photos. click here: More Photos

Also published at eBay.com

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