1974 Datsun Z-Series

260-Z, 2+2 Coupe

6 - Cyl.

Manual

Gasoline

I purchased this car approx. 3000 miles ago (8 months) from the original owner, who bought it new in Texas and titled it in Colorado in 1980. We have a copy of the original Colorado title, which will be included with the car. He was an Air Force F-15 pilot who loved the car and always kept it in a garage. Indeed he installed his F-15 throttle control as the shift knob, but sadly that isn’t with the car anymore. As a consequence of his loving care for the car and our dry Colorado air, it is 98% rust free and nearly 100% original. We have some service documentation that will also go with the car. Unfortunately as the car got older, he got a new Honda S2000 and let it sit in the back of his garage. When I got the car it hadn’t been run in 5 years so I went through the proper re-starting procedure of changing the oil, lubricating the cylinders and camshaft and cleaning out the fuel etc. I also replaced the thermostat, battery, fuel filter, air filter, and shift knob (which was missing). It fired up after some prodding and after a gentle run-in period has been my daily driver (nice weather only) ever since. It is absolutely dependable and I typically drive it 40 miles a day with no problem. It’s been a great car that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone who wants an affordable classic that they can drive every day and not feel guilty about taking out of the garage! The largest strong suit of this car is definitely the fact that the functionality is all there. CONDITION: Engine: The engine runs great, is tractable and smooth. It runs very cleanly, uses NO oil and does not smoke, even on startup (a common ailment for ageing Japanese engines). It is very strong and has good power delivery. There are no knocks, sputters, or other engine noises once it is warm. All you hear is that beautiful timing chain/OHC sound from the six cylinders running in carefully coordinated concert. It is the original engine, and there is no evidence of a rebuild. Indeed it would appear that it has hardly even been touched. The fuel pump works just fine and is a very recent replacement, but is a bit noisy. I don’t know if they’re all like that or if it’s just the part that the previous owner chose to replace it with. If the car goes to lower altitude the carbs should be adjusted to avoid a too lean mixture and achieve peak performance. It has a period aftermarket oil filter add-on that uses a TP roll. Exhaust: The exhaust is in excellent condition, with no holes or leaks, and sounds great. It’s not loud, it’s not objectionable, and it sounds right. Gearbox: The factory four-speed gearbox is tight and works flawlessly. There are no synchro problems like many cars this age, and the engagement is positive and quick. Speed shifting is even an option, something that the Alfas I’ve owned or even my BMW 2002 wouldn’t even want to think about. Clutch: The clutch engages early, positively, and with no slippage. There is no problem with adjustment or getting the car into gear. Steering: The car tracks rail straight, is effortless to drive, and the steering is very tight with excellent feedback from the road and the ability to squeeze the car through the mountain corners it was made to conquer. It is manual rack and pinion steering so it loads up under strain to let you know the handling tolerances of the car. If you’ve only driven assisted steering before, it may feel a bit heavy, but that is something you get used to quickly Suspension: The suspension is stock (no funky upgrades), and in great shape. The ride is comfortable with no knocks or rumbles, and the car corners very well sucking up bumps in corners and unpredictable surfaces with ease. There are just a few soft squeaks that do not affect the performance of the suspension and that you would expect in a car that has been driven and could most likely be easily and cheaply rectified if you so desire. Body: There is no evidence at all of any type of accident, and only very minor surface rust on the bottom edge of the body just behind the rear wheels. There is also no evidence of any type of bodywork conducted on the car before. The doors shut and latch easily (a common problem on the Z-series of cars), and engage firmly. They are aligned well with no droop. The underside of the car is rust free, with completely solid floors, frame, and even the rear pan. There is no rust around the windows or in the window channels. It has a rare moonroof that is manually operated from inside the car. The seals are still good and it doesn’t make noise. The optional/removable louvers on the rear window have somewhat old paint. This can be corrected with a repaint flat black and look great. Glass: The glass is in great shape, clear, not cracked pitted or scratched, and lacking the ghosting that comes with delamination around the edges due to age and sun exposure. The regulators work very well for opening the windows, and the weatherstrip is in good condition for its age. HVAC: The heater core, motor, and distribution valves work well, and it makes the car nice and toasty when you want it. The A/C is there, and appears to function, but we haven’t charged it or even really tried to make it work since it’s really pleasant in Colorado anyways. My guess it can be recharged and will work, but that isn’t for sure at all. All the pieces are there. Paint: Like all silver Japanese cars of that era, this car has been repainted with original but better quality silver. It presents well, but not perfectly. We thought about having it repainted, but after a rehab period got it looking pretty good. It could use a clear-coat on the top surfaces, but the sides and other surfaces are excellent. Electrical: All the lights, switches, and motors work. The headlights are bright and good, the turn signals work fine, as do the hazards. The interior lights work, including the little reading light in the dashboard. It has electronic ignition, which works very well, much better than points and maintenance and trouble free. The original radio is even still in the car, which functions (with a weak tuner on FM only), as does the adjustable power antenna. If you want good sound other than the engine and exhaust, I would recommend upgrading the sound system. If you prize originality or are not particularly attached to the radio, definitely leave it in. It does work though. Interior: The interior is all original except the armrest has been recovered. The driver seat has cracks and in a couple places a little bit of vinyl missing. (see pictures). The other seats are supple, comfortable, provide firm support, and have good vinyl. The rear seats are fine, and I have sat in them before and rode for 20+ minutes. There isn’t much legroom, but I am 5’10” and it was definitely doable for that period of time. Many 2+2s from this era had completely unusable back seats for kids only. Brakes: The disc brakes work well, stop the car easily without pulling or fading or any drama whatsoever. The rotors are in good shape, as are the calipers and the cylinders. Tires and Wheels: The tires were new when we got it eight months ago and are still like new. They’re a little bit wider and lower profile than original, for improved grip and performance. The wheels are the optional aluminum slots and look very good with no curb rash or corrosion. CONCLUSION: You will not be disappointed with this car. If you had one of these back in the day, expect the same sort of driving experience you had back then, as this car has been given TLC all its life. It’s not exactly a time-warp, but it is a really nice original Z with no funky mods that mess it up. Keep in mind I am not a professional mechanic, and this was not a 100 point Nissan Certified Pre-Owned Inspection. It is based on use and experience with the car, as well as years of experience in saving cars like this and getting them back on the road. Please feel free to ask questions, and I encourage local inspection so you can develop your own opinion about the car. I live about 60 miles north of Denver, CO. I will assist in the shipping process and can drive it to be picked up. If you want to fly in and drive it home, I think it would make it just fine based on the past few months with the car.