1978 Datsun 260Z - Restoration
Discussion
Had 3 of these...my first circa 1986, bought from a pal for £500 quid, was a fantastic and very scarce Silver 1973 260Z 2 seater VPK 426M ( where Are you now ??? ) which was my everyday driver. I cut the springs down, fitted new Monroe inserts, 7 inch Wolfies and a GDS exhaust system.
I foolishly sold ( due to pressure from my future / now ex thank god wife ) to a guy from Horsham, in Sussex in 1987 ) He sent me a photo and had had it re painted Red the fool.
I saw this car in 1995 in Barkingside, it went past me, I swung my 5 Turbo around, but lost him in the traffic. The first shipment of 260Z 2 seaters here was only around 150 odd 73-74 making them a very rare car.
My next one in 1986 was another 2 seater a second batch Red car S reg and absolutely rotten, the steel and build quality on the second batch to be imported was awful !! I sold this to Samurai Kevin Irons I think was running the firm then.
My last was a tottaly original white 240Z, RJD ???M, that I stumbled accros in Loot ( good old Loot ) in 1994. I paid £100 for it with a huge pile of spares. However divorce meant I lost my storage and I foolishly sold it to a " let's call him a long term player" in Zs in Kent.....I can still see the smarmy f.....rs face now...aparently he broke it for spares...
I foolishly sold ( due to pressure from my future / now ex thank god wife ) to a guy from Horsham, in Sussex in 1987 ) He sent me a photo and had had it re painted Red the fool.
I saw this car in 1995 in Barkingside, it went past me, I swung my 5 Turbo around, but lost him in the traffic. The first shipment of 260Z 2 seaters here was only around 150 odd 73-74 making them a very rare car.
My next one in 1986 was another 2 seater a second batch Red car S reg and absolutely rotten, the steel and build quality on the second batch to be imported was awful !! I sold this to Samurai Kevin Irons I think was running the firm then.
My last was a tottaly original white 240Z, RJD ???M, that I stumbled accros in Loot ( good old Loot ) in 1994. I paid £100 for it with a huge pile of spares. However divorce meant I lost my storage and I foolishly sold it to a " let's call him a long term player" in Zs in Kent.....I can still see the smarmy f.....rs face now...aparently he broke it for spares...
A few updates guys.
NJ have been working on the shell on and off for the past few months now and they are making some progress
They have repaired and fabricated a few sections of rust around the windscreen under the dash, floorpan, the front strut area and front wheel well.
Drivers Floorpan
Attempted to keep the patterning standard on the fabricated pan.
Under the dashboard area. This all needed to be jigged up with the steering column as it was around the column mounts.
Front crossmember repairs:
Bonnet mount and front of air tubes fabbed up and on:
New outer front suspension turret skin:
The front of the outer sill was cut off as it was rusted to reveal this behind:
This is currently being repaired!
Front sill repair done:
Various repairs in the front wheel wells:
All in all its coming on well. Rear arch repair panels have arrived from MJP and look substantially better than the rear valance I received. I think I have decided to keep the car standard without the wide arches on it so these will be going on in the next week or so. In the mean time the guys have started the front air tubes as these are pretty deeply pitted with rust.
Always interesting going up to NJ though purely to see the other cars that Nick and the guys are working on!
Cant wait to get it on the road now! Colour suggestions needed! I want it a standard Datsun colour but not white or red! I am really liking the Lime Green but I see Terry has painted his that colour!
The welding is nearly finished now and it will soon be blast a second time to remove the last of the rust and then etch primed.
Neutral was this Mike from MJP whom you sold the white one too?
Sounds like you are an expert on them! Its crazy how the value of them has changed so much in the last few years! You could pick them up for 100s not too long ago and now there are some for sale for nearer £25,000!
Sounds like you are an expert on them! Its crazy how the value of them has changed so much in the last few years! You could pick them up for 100s not too long ago and now there are some for sale for nearer £25,000!
neutral 3 said:
Had 3 of these...my first circa 1986, bought from a pal for £500 quid, was a fantastic and very scarce Silver 1973 260Z 2 seater VPK 426M ( where Are you now ??? ) which was my everyday driver. I cut the springs down, fitted new Monroe inserts, 7 inch Wolfies and a GDS exhaust system.
I foolishly sold ( due to pressure from my future / now ex thank god wife ) to a guy from Horsham, in Sussex in 1987 ) He sent me a photo and had had it re painted Red the fool.
I saw this car in 1995 in Barkingside, it went past me, I swung my 5 Turbo around, but lost him in the traffic. The first shipment of 260Z 2 seaters here was only around 150 odd 73-74 making them a very rare car.
My next one in 1986 was another 2 seater a second batch Red car S reg and absolutely rotten, the steel and build quality on the second batch to be imported was awful !! I sold this to Samurai Kevin Irons I think was running the firm then.
My last was a tottaly original white 240Z, RJD ???M, that I stumbled accros in Loot ( good old Loot ) in 1994. I paid £100 for it with a huge pile of spares. However divorce meant I lost my storage and I foolishly sold it to a " let's call him a long term player" in Zs in Kent.....I can still see the smarmy f.....rs face now...aparently he broke it for spares...
I foolishly sold ( due to pressure from my future / now ex thank god wife ) to a guy from Horsham, in Sussex in 1987 ) He sent me a photo and had had it re painted Red the fool.
I saw this car in 1995 in Barkingside, it went past me, I swung my 5 Turbo around, but lost him in the traffic. The first shipment of 260Z 2 seaters here was only around 150 odd 73-74 making them a very rare car.
My next one in 1986 was another 2 seater a second batch Red car S reg and absolutely rotten, the steel and build quality on the second batch to be imported was awful !! I sold this to Samurai Kevin Irons I think was running the firm then.
My last was a tottaly original white 240Z, RJD ???M, that I stumbled accros in Loot ( good old Loot ) in 1994. I paid £100 for it with a huge pile of spares. However divorce meant I lost my storage and I foolishly sold it to a " let's call him a long term player" in Zs in Kent.....I can still see the smarmy f.....rs face now...aparently he broke it for spares...
Absolutely love threads like this. That looks like a gruelling amount of work to undertake. She looks a lot better for it though! I too have a 350Z and wonder what it may be like if you lob a VQ35 into your Datsun... Just a thought! Keep up the great work.
Also, with regard to colour choice, are you keeping it strictly period? Some of the newer Nissan colours are rather nice. I see a Nissan Note where I work with this lovely Burgundy Red paint. I don't know the name of the colour, but it looks fantastic.
Also, with regard to colour choice, are you keeping it strictly period? Some of the newer Nissan colours are rather nice. I see a Nissan Note where I work with this lovely Burgundy Red paint. I don't know the name of the colour, but it looks fantastic.
OP, hats off to you for embarking on such a major project - can't wait to see the end result! Sure it will be fantastic given the extent of work so far done!
Escort3500 said:
Really enjoyed reading this, and hats off for taking on such a challenging project and sticking with it. Looking forward to the updates. Tried to get my dad to get one of these in the seventies, but he kept on buying 3-litre Capris instead
Escort3500, at least your dad had the right idea! Similarities are 6 cylinder engine, RWD and both rust while you watch! Datsun Zs were a little too early for me but I had 2 Capri 2.8is in the 80s. Couldn't afford either now so have a different old Z (Z4 Coupe)!Cheers guys!
The car will indeed be staying largely stock looking with a slightly uprated engine. Im on the hunt for a set of Genuine Watanabes.
Im looking at this for my inspiration. Its a guy I speak to sometimes on Instagrams car and its perfect IMO.... even leaning towards painting mine this colour! I think I know the colour you mean Alias and I do quite like that too.
Its starting to get expensive now! Just received a new full weather seal kit and new inner arches. The welding is NEARLY done! I should have a few more photos soon!
In the mean time I picked up a 350Z hardtop for a bit of track day fun!
The Mrs is a big fan!
The car will indeed be staying largely stock looking with a slightly uprated engine. Im on the hunt for a set of Genuine Watanabes.
Im looking at this for my inspiration. Its a guy I speak to sometimes on Instagrams car and its perfect IMO.... even leaning towards painting mine this colour! I think I know the colour you mean Alias and I do quite like that too.
Its starting to get expensive now! Just received a new full weather seal kit and new inner arches. The welding is NEARLY done! I should have a few more photos soon!
In the mean time I picked up a 350Z hardtop for a bit of track day fun!
The Mrs is a big fan!
Edited by adz9 on Tuesday 29th September 12:16
Edited by adz9 on Tuesday 29th September 12:17
Edited by adz9 on Tuesday 29th September 12:24
Samjeev said:
Looks like its really coming along, not long now!
Have you decided on wheels? and apologies if you mention this before but are there any plans for engine? going to keep the standard straight 6 or any kind of swap?
Have always loved the idea of owning an 240/260/280z with an RB26
Cheers guys! Have you decided on wheels? and apologies if you mention this before but are there any plans for engine? going to keep the standard straight 6 or any kind of swap?
Have always loved the idea of owning an 240/260/280z with an RB26
I have, I want genuine Watanabes and Im determined to get some and not run replicas!
Engine wise I want to keep it straight six so I have the original L26 with a lumpy cam and some big carbs to go in. I might look at going L28 in the future.
Ive picked up a second shell which is much rougher than mine was when I first got it so Im looking at maybe engine swapping that one!
Sorry chaps, have only just picked up on this thread...
Fantastic restoration job going on there, well done!
My brother bought an orange 240Z with BBS split rims in 1973 when he was serving with the RAF in Cyprus. He bought it back to England and for some reason everyone was 'all over it'...?
Not sure if it was just a nice car or if it was some kind of limited edition?
Not sure if I'll ever know, the car's long gone & sadly he passed away in 2008.
Happy Days
Fantastic restoration job going on there, well done!
My brother bought an orange 240Z with BBS split rims in 1973 when he was serving with the RAF in Cyprus. He bought it back to England and for some reason everyone was 'all over it'...?
Not sure if it was just a nice car or if it was some kind of limited edition?
Not sure if I'll ever know, the car's long gone & sadly he passed away in 2008.
Happy Days
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