Datsun 240z Jensen Interceptor

Hello Arno; When I'm interested in a specific car/s, I join a forum/s dedicated to that car/s.

Here's a Jensen owners website...

http://www.joc.org.uk/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=11

and for the 240Z...


http://www.classiczcars.com/

Is it correct that a car older than 25 years pays no road tax in Holland?...Mark

The Datsun 240Z is a wonderful car. Fun, nimble roomy. Reasonable on fuel. You will not be disappointed. Series one cars are the most desired but have a few compromises, one being that the popular 5 speed transmission swap from later cars requires a little hacking of the transmission tunnel. The engines are practically bulletproof and parts are absolutely abundant. I think there's something like 16,000 items listed on Ebay at any given time.

Hello Arno try Joop Stolze into De Lier he has both of them ,good ones and projects..
Simon

Another thought, you might consider the 260Z or 280Z. They are a little easier to find and it's not hard to lose the ugly bumpers. The engines are larger and the 280's were fuel injected. If not already fitted, the transmission tunnel will fit the five speed. And they were available with factory A/C, nicely integrated into the dashboard, while early 240Z cars had dealer added A/C. The 260Z and 280Z 2+2 variants are an acquired taste and you'll get a bit of a back seat.
One last thing, the ealiest series one cars had the small R-180 open differential, later cars had the R-200(?) to which LSD differentials can be fitted.

ps: you won't need the Gurney Bubble in a Z. I'm 6'-3" and I can move the drivers seat too far back.

240Z is a good candidate for a V8 swap.

Dago, 240Zs are rust-prone just like a Pantera (or really, any foreign car from the '60s- 70s), especially in and around the front fenders. This is likely a large part of the price differential you see. And in autocrossing our Pantera for over a decade, I've noticed that engine-swap 240-Zs are no quicker at this game than well-maintained, modified stockers. So how it works will depend on your intentions for the completed car.

At our local autocross events there is a gentleman who has an early z car. Last year he won the trophy for being the most frequent fast time of the day. Seriously capable cars.

I have a 1978 280Z (last year of the original body) that I've owned since new. Beautiful car to look at and while I'm "only" about 6'-3", I don't even move the seat all the way back there is so much leg room. I have the 5spd and everything is original. I don't drive the car at all because it feels like an old car (and not in a particularly good way). It is underpowered and doesn't feel as solid as my much older Pantera. Everything in the trunk area is hard plastic so it emits all sorts of creaks and noises of plastic on plastic. I suppose as a custom project where you redo the cheap surfaces with leather, add power under the hood, change some of the handling characteristic etc. it would become both a beautiful and potent automobile that would be fun to drive.