Jun 2007

The previous owner had invested quite a bit of money in the car in the two years that he owned it:

•Installed a rebuilt 5-speed transmission from a 1979 Datsun 280ZX (reportedly $1k into the rebuild; unknown rebuild date)

•Installed a solid billet differential mount

•Rebuilt the motor

•Installed flared steel wheel wells

•Clear headlight covers

•Cibie headlights

•New grill

•Momo wood steering wheel

•New 14" Kuhmo tires on Panasport rims

•Chopped springs (lowered car 1.5" to 2")

•Fiberglass hood with vents (1977-1978 280Z style)

•Vented metal inspection lids

•Bumpers painted black with rubber stops removed

•All body emblems removed (except for the 1.4" Z emblems near roof)

•New windshield (tinted top band)

•New gas tank and gas tank straps

•The L24 engine was bored .30 over flat top pistons; INSKE mild street cam

•Ceramic coated headers

•New 2.25" exhaust with upward facing dual tips

•New front calipers, rotors and pads

•R180 3.36 limited slip differential

•1972 3-screw carbs with K&N air filters

•Hella sport mirrors

•New 280Z 3-core radiator

•Radiator fan shroud

•New heater core

•New heater/fan wiring harness (not connected)

Total mileage on car claimed to be roughly 80k miles, with 4k miles on the engine. One small tear in headliner above drivers seat. Power antenna works. Never driven in snow. Frame rails, floors and strut towers in perfect shape. Original carpet and vinyl. Original set of 240Z rubber floor mats. Rust free floors with rustproofing applied. Very small amount of surface rust on lower portions of the doors - no rust anywhere else. Original owners manual, original set of Datsun keys, matching ignition/locks. Never had a/c installed.

Included were receipts amounting to $2101.48 for the engine rebuild project between 1-19-04 and 10-7-04. Engine was rebuilt by K&M Sales and Service in Raytown, MO. Mechanic that rebuilt the motor supposedly previously worked at Robello Racing (Pacheco, California)

Some digging around determined that the previous owner had purchased the car from Bill Tapper, who was the second owner of the car (which makes me the fourth owner). Bill was a SCCA race car driver who raced a 1970 Datsun 240Z with some success in the mid-west. Bill had kept the car inside of his garage for quite some time - the car sat on 18" concrete blocks with the suspension dropped for several years. The previous owner had badgered Bill for 10+ years to sell the car to him; he eventually wore him down and in 2004 he bought the car. Bill was the president of the Minnesota Z-car club for quite some time (and might still be).