Thanks again so much to all my supporters on Patreon, who are making it possible for me to work on such a large project! If you're also interested in following and supporting this project you can join me on Patreon www.patreon.com/mymechanics. I'm posting daily vlogs with current updates from the workshop!
It's called a wink mirror (because you have so much visibility you only have to give it a wink to see everything around you) Truckers in America used to use them, too.
Given that the cassette deck isn’t original, I’d prefer to see it removed and replaced with something that actually fits properly. I don’t know if an original/replica could be sourced.
920 Safarigold sieht toll aus. Das Leder mag zwar billig aussehen (liegt meiner Meinung nach an der Farbe), scheint aber gut bis sehr gut geschnitten zu sein. Ich würde es behalten, jedoch auf eine etwas konservativere Farbe umfärben (Braun, Schwarz).
The original owner would be proud to know that his baby was inherited by M.M. and will be turned into the classiest 240Z around... That red will get some attention.. Those were very classy cars backing the day.. Thx for bringing us along M.M.... Take care my friend...
One thing you might consider for the radio is what I did for my 1963 Studebaker Avanti: I found an original one for sale on ebay, which I bought for just $25, since the seller didn't know if it even worked. That was fine; I didn't need it to. I sent the radio out to be rewired with modern electronics, bluetooth capability, and there's also a port that tucks up under the dashboard to allow one to plug in an iPod. It's also now a 4-channel stereo radio, where the original was mono with a single speaker in the dash. The final result is a radio that looks completely original, but has modern stereo performance, plus the ability to play your own music.
This!! ^^^ I remember when I was a lad an electric aerial was a thing of wonder, a sign of something a cut above the mundane. And later when I was a young guy and had one on my vauxhall cavalier, I always loved it! Gotta keep it, especially if it was an original fitment from the factory. Truly a fantastic car, great decisions on the restoration - can't wait to see more!
@@ThomasLachat Has FM actually been replaced by DAB anywhere? Have toured through most countries in Europe and have got on fine with FM. Where DAB present official traffic announcement channels seem to be signposted in both FM freq and DAB channel number.
Keep the automatic antenna by any means. This is such an outstanding feature of these vintage cars, and back in the 70s it was a real luxury addon. Plebious car owners had to extend/retract by hand 🙂
@@lawrencehoagland2321 Most stereos today have a remote turn on wire that will trigger the antenna to raise and lower. They are also used to tell external amplifiers to turn on. Should not be difficult to get a radio that will do this. I would definitely keep the antenna
Does anyone have proof that this inexpensive car actually came with that motorized antenna? I remember these cars when they were new, and that is not a feature that I recall. I do remember the motorized antenna being a very big deal later in the 70s and into the early 80s.
I went out of my way to find an OEM antenna switch and radio faceplate for my 280z. Much too way cool to replace with a different stationary antenna or one that raises and lowers itself.
Independent of the color you choose, I‘d keep the antenna, as this was a really cool part of the 80‘s and I think that it belongs definitely to the look of the car. Best regards, Mike
@@snorlax4021// Using that logic would then render the whole car useless and without purpose since it too is made up entirely of parts from made "back in the day." Btw; 3-4 months ago when you posted your comment-it was 2024.
I would definitely say keep the antenna. Also, there are several companies who make modern style radios that look exactly like the original. Looking forward to how it goes!
I’d love to see as many videos of this process as possible, even if it means posting only part of each step and following up later with the completed step. Thanks for your quality work!
If you're worried about being able to put it back to original shape, leave the radio antenna. Also, I originally voted for the gold color, but hearing you talk about how you like the chrome details, I think you might dig the car in a darker original color so the nice subtle chrome parts stand out more.
The rear spoiler and louvers in matte black will contrast nicely with the new paint. My favorite color would be safari yellow, typically 70's. It will do potential extra work but if you can keep the deployable antenna would be the absolute must! Thank you for informing us in advance about what you want/wish/imagine doing in detail, it's the first time you've done this and it's very appreciable. Like a good old Columbo, we already know that you will reach your goal by delighting in the way of doing it. See you soon!
It's not the original radio, though, so IMO there's no point in keeping that broken thing in there. If he really wants a retro look, you can buy retro-styled but completely modern head units, so it should be really easy to get a new radio in that looks relatively fitting but still works properly. 🙂
Two very important plus points about that car. Firstly, it is in very good, mostly original condition, and secondly, it is assembled with screws, bolts and nuts rather than plastic clips and rivets! As you were taking it apart I was amazed at how often you could just use a regular screw driver or wrench to remove a part. We know that you will not spare any amount of effort to make the restoration as perfect as possible. Take your time and enjoy the work. We understand how much time and efforts the videos take. Thanks for all of your efforts to share your passion and expertise with us.
these cars look great in any color, so do what makes you happy. any shade of metallic grey or silver is always my go-to for cool cars. many say it’s boring, but it’s my favorite & I don’t build or restore cars for others’ approvals. I have a silvery grey metallic 3.2L 911S Coupé with black Fuchs. I painted modern brake calipers red on one side & blue on the other, to see which I liked best. that was 12 years ago & I haven’t changed it…it’s impossible to see them both at once. a good friend of mine thought that I’d kept repainting them until I told him that they’re intentionally different & that blew his mind. do what makes you happy & you’ll be satisfied, regardless of what UA-cam comment section Professionals of Everything state or demand. a Datsun 240Z is always cool & fun in any language. good on ya, for snagging this one. I look forward to seeing & hearing from her soon.
I have enormous respect for what you do! My pinball restoration hobby has blown up to the point that now I do it professionally, and watching you disassemble a whole car was fascinating to me. I have to be very thoughtful about the order of operations in disassembly and reassembly; what you’re doing here is an order of magnitude more complex! I vote for the orange paint job, rebuild the antenna motor (it’s such a period signature it feels worth preserving/upgrading), and am a hard no on the fender mirrors 😂 To my eye, those mirrors just break up the lines of the car badly, where all the other choices you’re making seem informed by preserving the overall contours of the body style. But, that’s just my personal preference, I have no doubt that when this is finished it will be stunning, whatever choices you decide on along the way. I’m really looking forward to following your progress, and appreciate your careful documentation of the process. 🙏
My dad had a 240Z. Such a cool car. Personally, I like the gold color. Love the changes to the car that you're making and the behind-the-scenes. So excited to see the progress!
I would stick with door mirrors instead of fender mirrors, just to maintain the clean lines of the fender/hood. So excited to see this one come to life!
I would try to save the antenna if you can make the radio work! So cool and retro to have it extend out. Otherwise i would just get rid of it and fill the hole. As for the color, go with the orange! I think its the best. The gold is a close second though. Can't wait to see it all done! I can only imagine your excitement.
That sounds pretty reasonable. I need to test if it still works, and if it does, how it looks. Also need to test the radio. Currently I like orange too, but the 920 is my actual favorite right now. We'll see...
The louvers were very popular in the early 80's, before everyone started using tinting instead. I think the matte black spoiler would be okay, but I tend to prefer the monochromatic look better. Definitely a car worth restoring. This car brings back so many memories of equalizers, louvers, aftermarket airconditioning, etc. My wife's 1979 Scirocco had an aftermarket airconditioner. I met her in 1982 and I had a 1982 Mustang GT. The cars we drive now are so much better than those, but I wish we had them back, just for the memories.
I vote you go with the BRE lip on the front instead of the full dam. Also, check out matte or satin paint jobs as an option - I personally think satin especially looks really unique and nice!
Huge Z car fan. Owned a '78 out of college. Was 60% through with a ground up resto of a '70 15 years ago when it was tragically stolen, long story. Own a '74 260 2+2 now but haven't done anything to it yet. When you panned the interior with the camera i can smell it, its unique smell, love it. I'll be following along, will probably inspire me to get started again. Forgot to mention i also have a '71 I bought years ago in parts for my son in HS. Put it back together to be his daily driver then i bought it back from him later when he wanted something else. It sits in east Texas
As a California resident, I can attest to our hot, dry climate. Little to no snow means that road salt is extremely uncommon. This past winter being an exception. I would vote to close the antennae hole and install a modern bluetooth radio with a retro faceplate if possible. Those retractable antennae were always quick to break (you have to be careful when washing the car). I had one on a 95 Integra and it got stuck half way up. Overall, I'm excited to see the work on this car.
Definitely thinking the 918 Orange for the colour. Looks kind of similar to the original colour, and is just pleasant to look at. Also, doing amazing so far! Can't wait for Episode 2!!!
I'm so looking forward to following this restoration. I actually like the antenna. Back then the automatic antennas were *very* chic. It would be a cool retro-upscale detail to keep. I would assume that you can find a modern radio unit for inside that has a retro look, but modern features, such as bluetooth. And it would be great to add a mic for phone calls, and a USB charging port, all for modern convenience (or almost necessity, really). Have fun!
Here comes my two cents on the subject. I would definitely keep the rear window bezels, they give the look of the car you drove in the first missions of gta liberty city and it somehow fits perfectly to the Datsun. I myself would also keep the side lights, first because I find it visually nicer (because they are filigree they do not disturb the clean look in my opinion) and secondly because it is the US version and these lights give a clear indication. Regarding the front spoiler I plead very strongly to the second option, the first you are considering I find much too brachial. Color is my favorite the 918 orange. The leather diamonds do look cheaply produced but in real leather with professionally stitched diamonds it could look really good. Quasi upgrade the original design. Rim choice I second your choice and also the idea to attach clean bumpers. For a cleaner look, however, I would paint the rear cover again, as the previous owner did. Antenna I am unsure about, probably would keep it though. Roll cage and mirrors need to come out. I love this project and the car you choose 🎉
918 orange body with chrome metal trim and polished clean smooth bumpers with matte black wheels and chrome lug nuts. Black trim pieces like the rear spoiler and others will tie in with wheels. Interior, I'd say go with a two tone color scheme. Black secondary as internal trim matched against a light color so it doesn't overheat in the sun. Carpets for areas that will need to be cleaned occasionally but leather in others. Maybe do a few hidden upgrades on safety features, like keep the old headlights and breaklights but replace the bulbs with new brighter leds, thicker firewall, reinforce the body and frame in some areas, etc.
Vielen Dank dafür! Ich liebe das Projekt schon jetzt und freue mich auf die nächsten Schritte. Mir gefällt das Orange persönlich am besten. So oder so, es wird großartig!
The choke lever is mounted from underneath the console with bosses molded into it. Mounting screws were used to mount the lever into the bosses. Keep that original desirable antenna.....the pointed finial tip is prized. Those were dealer installed ac systems installed when new.....very common. AC became available from the factory in 1974 on the 260Z. BTW, the extra switch on the ac control is the factory antenna switch which used to be mounted above the radio. Good luck. Also, keep in mind, the diamond interior trim is an iconic trademark of the 240Z. But its your car so, build it the way you want it. For color, I choose the red.
I had a ‘77 280Z. It had been painted metal-flake Sky Blue and had the original wheels replaced with Tru-Spoke chrome wire wheels. That was a classy combination with the slate grey rear panel and you might want to consider it… I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. The Tru-Spokes had fat T/A Radial tires mounted and that car stuck to the road like glue.
Definitely keep the antenna. It's such a cool feature that you rarely see anymore. New cars are fine without it but this antenna is a cool throwback to the past eras.
Having owned a 260Z and a series of 280Zs (fun to drive cars) back in the day, I love this project and I agree with many of the changes you plan to make; get rid of the antenna and fill the hole, get rid of that silly mirror and the roll bar, update the wheels, omit the Air Conditioner, upgrade the stereo to include Bluetooth, etc. I don't know what you mean by "chop lever". What is a chop lever? I would upgrade the headlights and change the color to something more contemporary, but that's a personal choice. If it was my car, I would replace that 240 engine with a more powerful 280 engine and install disc brakes all around. The triple Weber carburetors are very snazzy, but they do need filters. Looking forward to watching your progress.
No opinions, just a question. How do you keep all the parts organized after taking everything apart? Do you label everything or put them in labeled boxes? Do you plan on following existing drawings? Do you already know everything by heart? Or will you use the video as documentation? I'm very excited for this series! I love your channel, despite (or maybe because) I have no DIY bones in my body. Your videos give me a really unique sense of calm, maybe because I'm watching someone who is so incredibly skilled at their craft.
I bought my Z as a basket case, and thank God they followed pretty strict rules about disassembly. All the hardware was grouped by assemblies into ziploc sandwich bags with paper tags inside containing info about where they went, L or R, etc. All the bags were stored in common sense groupings in cardboard boxes. Videos and photos are definitely crucial to getting things put back right. Luckily for me, this video and hundreds others on youtube cover just about every square inch of the Z cars in one way or another.
I had the same question once I watched the first video. I think that the experience plays a role here, but I believe that labeling and organizing is very important if you want to put everything back with minimum hustle. And owning the repair manual for the car must be very helpful!
@@TheSaturnV As someone with a good visual memory, I don't need to label parts if I've removed them carefully. I usually remember even after several years. But sometimes I do, and masking tape comes very handy. Just put a piece of tape and write down where it goes. Done. For small parts, screws and fasteners, zip lock bags and a marker will do the trick. Buying a car in parts though, if you don't know the car, is a bad idea.
Most DIY'ers have a pretty decent visual memory and can memorize the exact location of parts while taking it apart. Parts organization will only be necessary once larger projects are started, as there will be more parts than can be memorized. I've been working on/off on a push reel lawn mower restoration for the past 4 years and although nothing is marked, I still remember where everything goes. But if I were to restore a motorized lawn mower, I would definitely use some sort of parts organization, probably taking pictures of the exploded views of all parts and then put them into ziplock bags with a tag identical to that of the picture, so I know exactly what I'm dealing with.
Thanks for uploading this video, it gives us more details. As a previous owner of a Datsun 1200 and a Datsun 200SX I would strongly encourage you to keep the restoration as original as possible. I could write a lot, but at least I want to say, KEEP the antenna! Get a radio with a cassette player! In the end, do what you want to do. It's your car. Being so meticulous and a perfectionist as you are, whatever you decide to do, it's going to be epic. I am looking forward lots of "I make a new one". 😍😍😍
My dad had a ‘72 that was just gorgeous - black interior with the 919 orange paint job. Personally, I’d love to see it orange! Following your videos closely and eager for more!
Fantastic. With these cars having such unique colors available, I feel it'd be a shame to paint it red. That Safari color really fits the car well in my opinion!
Not just that, i think the gold and orange colours just suit the shape of the car. Most cars don't look good in yellow, but the ones that do, look really good in it.
I agree with everything 99% except the mirrors For me, it's a distraction to be out there on the Fender and ruins the clean lines of the front fenders. I know cars came this way but I don't personally like them. I think the red would really set it off But the other colors are nice too. This guy is such a perfectionist and true Craftsman. Can't wait to see more of it. Thank you
Personally I love the safari gold. Even the orange looks quite distinctive. Red is overused on so many other sports cars. The extendible antenna is too interesting of a mechanism to not get working. If you don't reinstall it, maybe you could mount in on a stand for decoration and demonstration. Those rear window louvers look really cool externally but hurt visibility when driving and give it a tougher appearance than the style you're going for.
My first car was a 1974 260Z! As far as mirrors, I think you'll find that even the stock rear view mirror comes down into your field of view. When driving it, take extra care with the blind spot that creates on your right hand side!
And as far as getting rid of the roll cage, you might consider adding a stiffener rod between the two rear strut towers, to stiffen against body roll and improve handling. Currently the roll cage is adding some of that and you'll miss it when it's gone.
I had six of these cars since an original purchase in Texas of a 240Z. Over the next 40 years, I had three 260Z and three 240Z. The main problems I had were with worn out wiring. It was easy to burn out the old wires, so I would advise replacing the wiring, since you have the car unassembled. I, too, had the triple weber carburation and was very happy with it over the years.
Lots of excellent details here, can't wait for more! The moto-lita style steering wheel is a popular aftermarket option for taller and broader people, since the stock steering wheel is super wide diameter and drives the car like a bus. Frenching the side markets is also a popular mod, even in the US. The antenna is a nice addition to the body and gives an asymmetrical look, but if you're already frenching, might as well keep the panels clean! The BRE-style front lip is SO COOL and sleek. Good choice on the original 240 no-rubber bumper. Clean look. I still think the Safari Gold is a classic color you cant go wrong with. If you plan to go with a chrome bumper, i recommend silver wheels. Ties the whole thing together. Choke cable or cold start is a MUST if you plan to drive the car during winter. I believe they were originally secured to the plastic console itself, but a popular modification is to create a plate and secure it to the transmission tunnel. For research and potentially OEM part sourcing you may need, I highly recommend getting in touch with my friends at Z Car Garage, based in California! They have decades of knowledge in modded, stock, and vintage racing Z-cars. This series is gonna be awesome.
I wish I had known you were going to do an automobile restoration before you bought a car. I was in the middle of restoring a 1958 Packard Hawk, one of 588 ever made and one of about 250 left in the world, when I had a stroke. Now I have to give up the project to someone that can continue to completion. I wish it had been you. You're such a perfectionist that I know it would have been something to behold.
This is a million dollar project! What a beautiful car you have chosen to rebuild! Almost took it all the way from scratch. I can’t wait to see the second part of this project. Have to be patient!
That 'Butterscotch' color interior is the same I had in my old Datsun B210 with matching exterior paint. I have not seen that color since. It brought back instant memories, watching this. Well done!
What a great project! I like most of your restoration ideas. For the color I would prefer 918 orange. I would definitely leave the antenna - if at all possible, install a modern radio with a classic look and use this or a modern, self-extending antenna. I think the sunshade for the rear window is super cool - can't it be replaced with a high-quality part made of carbon or plastic? I would be unsure about the lowering - maybe I wouldn't do it at all. When it comes to the interior lining, I'm thinking of a high-quality felt - medium gray or dark blue. I'm excited to see how you get on - good luck!
I believe newer radios have a blue 12v wire just to turn on the amplifier/antenna. It is just a signal, so you can use it to make the antenna rise! That red color is beautiful and I would definitely paint it that color, but always remember that it is your car now, so your opinion matters more. The black wheels are just superb too, very pretty, nice choice!
Can't wait to follow this journey, will check your channel frequently for new additions! 2 cents: The 918 orange *really* jumped out to me. It contrasts amazingly with both chrome and black, is not cliched like the red, and will match beautifully with the interior colour (if you keep it a similar colour). I'd even choose the orange over a black/gunmetal. Keep antenna for sure, easy choice. What a fun detail.
You have so many comments that you may not have time to read this but I hope you do. This is such a great project and you tell the story so well. My family bought a 1973 Datsun 240Z brand new from the Harbor Datsun dealership in Southern California when I was a little boy. It was orange with a black interior and so sporty and small compared to all the other cars on the road at the time. We had the same wheels on our Z that you have on your car. They were very common in Southern California as most people preferred them instead of the hubcaps which looked cheap. We also had the metal louvered cover over the back window which was also very common in Southern California at the time. The interior of the Z would get so hot unless you had those louvered windows even if you had a/c in the car (which our Z had). They were trendy at the time, but you're right, they were cheap and rattled a lot. Both the wheels and the louvers on the window came on the car from the dealership. I love the ideas you have for your car except for the fender mounted mirrors. In my opinion, it's not an attractive look and spoils the line of the long hood. However, this is YOUR car and you do what you desire. I have such respect for your attention to detail and I love that you are saving this special car from the past. If you no longer need the California license plate, I wouldn't mind buying it from you. Those are my initials. 😁
I like your plans on the car. To me the factory front apron with the BRE front lip looks the best. I also think the car would look better with no rear spoiler. I also prefer a factory color. The Wink mirror works really good, but I agree it doesn't work with this car if you aren't racing it. Really looking forward to seeing this process. I am sure to be amazed with the results.
Honestly, it'd be a whole lot cooler to see this awesome ride in a factory color(imo). If I had to pick any of the colors from the Z catalog itself, than ones I'd like to possibly see are the 611 Wine Red or 362 Dark Purple Metallic (they were on the 260 and 280z if I recall). If it had to be a 240z specific color code....905 Red or 920 Gold would look absolutely gorgeous on it. Sorry for all the text here, but I know for sure this bad boi is gonna look good in the end. Hopefully one of these 4 make it onto the vehicle in the future. Good luck with the Restoration!
Every time I watch a restoration video of yours the colors you choose for them are beautiful. I would go with whatever makes you smile. I really liked the Safari Orange though.
I really like your plan and style. Since you asked for opinions, here goes. The black rims look awesome, I think the orange color would look good with them. Get rid of the antenna (and the side thingies). I'm not sure about spoiler. Maybe something bit more narrower winglike would be cool. I think the louvers after good paint would look good but if they block rear-view, then I understand of getting rid of them. I wouldn't lower the car. It's fine at it is. Steering wheel looks great, but transmission knob needs an upgrade. Overall, great find and really nice looking car. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
I really like the gold color you showed in the video, but it would clash pretty badly with the seats unless you re-upholster them - not sure if that was already part of your plan. If you plan to keep the seats the same, I'd say either the original red or dark grey would fit the best.
Out of the choices, I like the thought of orange, though it would look good in almost any color. Even a white pearl, with satin black tail panel, spoiler and the "scallops" that the headlights sit in. I know it's going to turn out awesome. 👍 There's so many directions you could go, and none are wrong.
I owned the same model in Australia in late 70's. Was even used for my Honeymoon road trip. :D Brings back so many memories. I hope it will give you similar.
I can not WAIT to see how this turns out. We've watched your channel for a long time. My little girls love to watch you restore things. I have two little engineers in the making. If anyone can get this car back into shape, it is you.
i think the first 2 colours red or orange would look amazing, especially with the matt black highlights like the rims, spoiler, tail light garnish. personally i really love the orange/black combo but i think the red would look great on this. i cant wait to see all of this project come together. i am located in Sydney Australia, although i dont have any parts to help with the restoration, i will offer to help you with any parts you do find here, i could help with checking them out for you and posting them to you.
I know I've said this already, but I'm a fan of restoring a car to stock as closely as possible. That being said, it's your car, so it's completely up to you. I'm sure it's going to be jaw-dropping when you're finished.
I was all about modding cars when I was younger, but want to see cars get restored to original while Im older. I wonder if thats how people generally feel.
Stock is crap. It needs an electronic ignition. Distributor rotors and points wear immediately they are new throwing off dwell, advance and retard. This then effects idle effects complex Weber carburettor tuning.
I really prefer the standard front over the lip and airdam. I think it just looks a lot better for the sideview of the car. A great example of a nice 240z in my opinion is the one from OS Giken Power in Black. But I look forward to see your build, no matter what you decide on. Always a treat to see a video of yours!
If you're going for an overall clean look, I think closing up the antenna hole would look a lot better on the car. I can't wait to see the upcoming videos on this car. You're easily my favorite restorationist on UA-cam for your great machine work and amazing fit and finish.
I doubt that motorized antenna was original to this car. It seems so out of place on an inexpensive sports car of that era. I could be wrong, but I just don’t remember that on these early 70s Z cars. Maybe on the later 280 ZX, but by then the car had lost its hard sporting edge. Also, the one you removed looks exactly like the aftermarket motorized antenna my brother installed on his 1978 Pinto.
This is a huge job. My advice is "Make a new one." I am looking forward to watching you work through this project. Congrats, in advance, for owning such a ridiculously cool car.
Es wird interessant sein zu sehen, wie die Restaurierung verläuft. Ich bin mir sicher, dass es gut wird. Danke, dass du dein Hobby teilst. Danke aus Schweden!
Hey it's very amazing to watch your videos. I have bought a 280Z that was driven in California. It was built in 1978 and has the same shape as your 240Z . Unfortunately I need/ want to change to the small bumper's as you will do. I also will close the side lights to get the clean looks. But I would definitely keep the Antenna as this will keep the classic look. About the rust, I was quite lucky as I grinded all the blue paint of and also the original gold paint, by hand , to the bair metal I have zero rust at all. I guess this is not the norm. I have been searching for reputation videos since year's in the Web. I want too say yours are absolutely the best, detailed and professional l have seen so far. Yesterday I followed your way of removing the two U metal protections by drilling the welding points open. It worked many thanks for sharing your videos. Real great craftsmanship. Greatings from Germany
This is crazy exciting! As for the colour, has anyone mentioned RAL 5021 (Water Blue) yet? That would look very classy with the chrome parts :) Of the original colours, I think the Safari Gold looks best, with the orange a close second. Looking forward to the next parts of the series and to the choices you make along the way!
Safari gold, remove antenna. The BRE apron suits the cars simple elegant design and looks balanced to the rear spoiler. Great job so far, you make it look so easy!
I used to work for an auto repair shop that specialized in only these Z cars. You have a very solid car to start with. Datsun had a nice EFI system in these cars ten years before the domestic auto makers did.
Definitely voting for the original red color! That paired with the black wheels and chrome accents is going to look absolutely nuts. Still can't believe you got your hands on this in Switzerland. This car is in such good hands.
I think a nice racing green would look great on that, but those oranges you showed are pretty cool too. I think if you're going to paint the back panel, you should probably paint the spoiler to match. Also agree with folks saying keep the antennae, even if it doesn't work. Adds some style to it 😄 Looking forward to the rest of the series!
This is a great project and thank you for the narration! Red + delete antenna + matte black spoiler + air dam. That appears to be what you did on the model car and it looks amazing. Can't wait for the next episode.
Nope. Mistake. Satin or metallic Gold. Chrome mirrors on doors. Unpainted brushed magnesium wheels. Matte black rear. Matte black louvres. Maybe matte black or gold small spoilers or delete. Chrome bumpers with no rubber. Black vinyl , leather, wood, and carpet interior. Keep the pwr antenna. Keep the chrome trim. Keep the steering wheel, carbs and headers. Everything else oem stock original. No mods. No flares. No lowering.
@@user-tb5ns7hc5ixactly! Thank you! Haha I know this is *taste* but red and black and low dam etc are just not what this slender car can be at its finest
@@user-tb5ns7hc5iactually I think I would even go tone in tone, the satin orange leaning to ‚naples yellow‘ - and no black at all, just a slightly darker gold/orange and ochre/wood interior
I'd vote for the orange paint scheme, would look great with the black rims and maybe you can bring some black accents into the interior to tie it all together
I've loved the Z since I first saw and rode in one. I'm surprised at the amount of damage the original owner did to the car in only 11 years before storing it. I'm glad to see you doing such a good job restoring it.
Two opinions: 1) Hard no on the fender mirrors. 2) Keep the louvers (in matte black or very dark gray, matching the color you intend to paint the center panel on the rear). Excited to see progress on this!
I actually love the diamond interior cover, but it is your car and I'm sure you're going to end up with something amazing. The Gold exterior colour would be fantastic! I can't wait to see your rebuild!
I moved to California in 1972 (from Boston) and soon met a girl who had a '72 Datsun 240Z that she had bought new, possibly even this one. I wasn't that interested in the girl, it was the car I lusted for! She let me drive it once on the Angeles Crest Highway, a twisty mountain road near LA. I think Jay Leno takes some of his cars up there. This was the most exciting Japanese car that ever came to America, certainly the first exciting one. It really showed America that there were other ways to build cars. And that was before we started regarding Nissan, Toyota and Subaru as the best mass produced cars in the world.
Thanks again so much to all my supporters on Patreon, who are making it possible for me to work on such a large project!
If you're also interested in following and supporting this project you can join me on Patreon www.patreon.com/mymechanics.
I'm posting daily vlogs with current updates from the workshop!
It's called a wink mirror (because you have so much visibility you only have to give it a wink to see everything around you)
Truckers in America used to use them, too.
There are cassette to BT adapters.
Given that the cassette deck isn’t original, I’d prefer to see it removed and replaced with something that actually fits properly. I don’t know if an original/replica could be sourced.
Thanks for sharing! I need more videos!!!
920 Safarigold sieht toll aus. Das Leder mag zwar billig aussehen (liegt meiner Meinung nach an der Farbe), scheint aber gut bis sehr gut geschnitten zu sein. Ich würde es behalten, jedoch auf eine etwas konservativere Farbe umfärben (Braun, Schwarz).
The 918 orange is amazing
Seconded
Against. Red
Prefer red, but I also like the orange.
Yes, and I think it fits the black rims the best.
Out of the colors he listed I think that is the best one.
The original owner would be proud to know that his baby was inherited by M.M. and will be turned into the classiest 240Z around... That red will get some attention.. Those were very classy cars backing the day.. Thx for bringing us along M.M.... Take care my friend...
yes, if UA-cam can be seen in the place he live now 😁
Classiest 240? Bold claim. One I'll have to refute.
Personally, I’d go with orange or gold - they both look amazing and are a bit more unique.
Orange is my favourite!
Midnight blue gang rise up!
@@robertbernard7844 No competition to the midnight blue. The one and only!
Yep, I'd go with orange, too!
+1
The 918 orange looks amazing. If there will be a survey for the colors, I definitely vote for 918 orange
One thing you might consider for the radio is what I did for my 1963 Studebaker Avanti: I found an original one for sale on ebay, which I bought for just $25, since the seller didn't know if it even worked. That was fine; I didn't need it to. I sent the radio out to be rewired with modern electronics, bluetooth capability, and there's also a port that tucks up under the dashboard to allow one to plug in an iPod. It's also now a 4-channel stereo radio, where the original was mono with a single speaker in the dash. The final result is a radio that looks completely original, but has modern stereo performance, plus the ability to play your own music.
Keep the antenna!! It's a timeless piece of engineering and specific to vintage cars (up until the early 2000s or so)
This!! ^^^
I remember when I was a lad an electric aerial was a thing of wonder, a sign of something a cut above the mundane. And later when I was a young guy and had one on my vauxhall cavalier, I always loved it! Gotta keep it, especially if it was an original fitment from the factory.
Truly a fantastic car, great decisions on the restoration - can't wait to see more!
For a guy like my mechanics, I’m sure it’d be no problem rigging up a cool rising antenna
Yes, but it will be useless as it is an FM antenna and it's replaced by DAB...
Yeah it just adds something when it actually works.
@@ThomasLachat Has FM actually been replaced by DAB anywhere? Have toured through most countries in Europe and have got on fine with FM. Where DAB present official traffic announcement channels seem to be signposted in both FM freq and DAB channel number.
Out of these colors, I like the gold the most, very period defining & also looks great with the black accents imo!
Even with the chrome and it's not a color you see very often.
Totally agree!
You are correct, sir!
The gold colour is great. Its not an overdone gold but looks remarkable.
Agree but not with painted black wheels. Yuck. Has to be brushed magnesium wheels. Black interior - vinyl, leather, wood, carpet.
Keep the automatic antenna by any means. This is such an outstanding feature of these vintage cars, and back in the 70s it was a real luxury addon. Plebious car owners had to extend/retract by hand 🙂
My '79 Caprice Classic had DUAL power trunk-mounted antennae; it was like being a diplomat.
Strongly agree on the antenna motor. If you can rig up a new radio to raise it automatically even better. It was such a cool feature back in the day.
@@lawrencehoagland2321 Most stereos today have a remote turn on wire that will trigger the antenna to raise and lower. They are also used to tell external amplifiers to turn on. Should not be difficult to get a radio that will do this. I would definitely keep the antenna
Does anyone have proof that this inexpensive car actually came with that motorized antenna? I remember these cars when they were new, and that is not a feature that I recall. I do remember the motorized antenna being a very big deal later in the 70s and into the early 80s.
I went out of my way to find an OEM antenna switch and radio faceplate for my 280z. Much too way cool to replace with a different stationary antenna or one that raises and lowers itself.
Independent of the color you choose, I‘d keep the antenna, as this was a really cool part of the 80‘s and I think that it belongs definitely to the look of the car.
Best regards,
Mike
100% as a kid in the 80s watching automatic antennas was cool!
But it's also 2023 and would not serve a purpose like back in the day. I'd lose it.
@@snorlax4021 You do realise it can be modified for DAB?
@@snorlax4021// Using that logic would then render the whole car useless and without purpose since it too is made
up entirely of parts from made "back in the day." Btw; 3-4 months ago when you posted your comment-it was 2024.
Looks like everyone else is saying keep the antenna, but I personally like the cleaner look. Excited to see what you'll choose!
I would definitely say keep the antenna. Also, there are several companies who make modern style radios that look exactly like the original. Looking forward to how it goes!
Yes, i agree 100%
Absolutely agree!
Yes. Keep the antenna.
Yeah I would say keep. there is something super cool about the antenna extending when needed too.
Agreed.
I’d love to see as many videos of this process as possible, even if it means posting only part of each step and following up later with the completed step. Thanks for your quality work!
Absolutely agree!
Yes, absolutely if he has time to do so i wpuld love it too!
Yes, this!
There's Patreon for that... ;-)
im rebuilding one of these over on my channel as well if youre looking for more datsun content!
The original orange color looks great, I'd choose that. Keep up the great work, I'll definitely keep watching the following episodes 🙂
Orange with the black wheels would look AWESOME!
If you're worried about being able to put it back to original shape, leave the radio antenna. Also, I originally voted for the gold color, but hearing you talk about how you like the chrome details, I think you might dig the car in a darker original color so the nice subtle chrome parts stand out more.
Agreed on the color. A 907 Green would probably look pretty good
Don't think he's worried about that.
According to your approach, when you are doing your best to make everything just perfect, this restoration going to be legendary!
Great timing! My pre-work coffee just got a lot better! Thank you!
Whatever choices you make, don't let the internet bully you. It's your car, there are no wrong decisions
918 orange would look great!! This series is amazing. One of the best channels on youtube
I think the 918 Orange with the matte black rims and air dam would look astonishing.
The rear spoiler and louvers in matte black will contrast nicely with the new paint. My favorite color would be safari yellow, typically 70's.
It will do potential extra work but if you can keep the deployable antenna would be the absolute must!
Thank you for informing us in advance about what you want/wish/imagine doing in detail, it's the first time you've done this and it's very appreciable.
Like a good old Columbo, we already know that you will reach your goal by delighting in the way of doing it.
See you soon!
It's not the original radio, though, so IMO there's no point in keeping that broken thing in there. If he really wants a retro look, you can buy retro-styled but completely modern head units, so it should be really easy to get a new radio in that looks relatively fitting but still works properly. 🙂
Two very important plus points about that car. Firstly, it is in very good, mostly original condition, and secondly, it is assembled with screws, bolts and nuts rather than plastic clips and rivets! As you were taking it apart I was amazed at how often you could just use a regular screw driver or wrench to remove a part. We know that you will not spare any amount of effort to make the restoration as perfect as possible. Take your time and enjoy the work. We understand how much time and efforts the videos take. Thanks for all of your efforts to share your passion and expertise with us.
these cars look great in any color, so do what makes you happy. any shade of metallic grey or silver is always my go-to for cool cars. many say it’s boring, but it’s my favorite & I don’t build or restore cars for others’ approvals. I have a silvery grey metallic 3.2L 911S Coupé with black Fuchs. I painted modern brake calipers red on one side & blue on the other, to see which I liked best. that was 12 years ago & I haven’t changed it…it’s impossible to see them both at once. a good friend of mine thought that I’d kept repainting them until I told him that they’re intentionally different & that blew his mind. do what makes you happy & you’ll be satisfied, regardless of what UA-cam comment section Professionals of Everything state or demand. a Datsun 240Z is always cool & fun in any language. good on ya, for snagging this one. I look forward to seeing & hearing from her soon.
Красный, только красный! Отличный проект. Удачной реставрации, по другому у вас не бывает
Oh man I am massively excited to follow this one along. Knowing how MM does things, this car is going to turn out incredible.
I have enormous respect for what you do! My pinball restoration hobby has blown up to the point that now I do it professionally, and watching you disassemble a whole car was fascinating to me. I have to be very thoughtful about the order of operations in disassembly and reassembly; what you’re doing here is an order of magnitude more complex!
I vote for the orange paint job, rebuild the antenna motor (it’s such a period signature it feels worth preserving/upgrading), and am a hard no on the fender mirrors 😂 To my eye, those mirrors just break up the lines of the car badly, where all the other choices you’re making seem informed by preserving the overall contours of the body style.
But, that’s just my personal preference, I have no doubt that when this is finished it will be stunning, whatever choices you decide on along the way. I’m really looking forward to following your progress, and appreciate your careful documentation of the process. 🙏
Agree. Hard no on the fender mirrors.
My dad had a 240Z. Such a cool car. Personally, I like the gold color. Love the changes to the car that you're making and the behind-the-scenes. So excited to see the progress!
Mine too. Just texted him the original video. Used to love sitting in the car just running errands with him.
I have a gold 280z Im building over on my channel right now. its likely the same colour code!
I would stick with door mirrors instead of fender mirrors, just to maintain the clean lines of the fender/hood. So excited to see this one come to life!
I hope he does. the fender mirrors look so stupid.
I would try to save the antenna if you can make the radio work! So cool and retro to have it extend out. Otherwise i would just get rid of it and fill the hole. As for the color, go with the orange! I think its the best. The gold is a close second though. Can't wait to see it all done! I can only imagine your excitement.
That sounds pretty reasonable. I need to test if it still works, and if it does, how it looks. Also need to test the radio. Currently I like orange too, but the 920 is my actual favorite right now. We'll see...
@@mymechanicsinsightsYes try to save the antenna. The orange is good but I like the dark gray you mentioned as well, tho not so much original.
The louvers were very popular in the early 80's, before everyone started using tinting instead. I think the matte black spoiler would be okay, but I tend to prefer the monochromatic look better. Definitely a car worth restoring. This car brings back so many memories of equalizers, louvers, aftermarket airconditioning, etc. My wife's 1979 Scirocco had an aftermarket airconditioner. I met her in 1982 and I had a 1982 Mustang GT. The cars we drive now are so much better than those, but I wish we had them back, just for the memories.
I vote you go with the BRE lip on the front instead of the full dam. Also, check out matte or satin paint jobs as an option - I personally think satin especially looks really unique and nice!
Yes! The full dam is just too much.
Huge Z car fan. Owned a '78 out of college. Was 60% through with a ground up resto of a '70 15 years ago when it was tragically stolen, long story. Own a '74 260 2+2 now but haven't done anything to it yet. When you panned the interior with the camera i can smell it, its unique smell, love it. I'll be following along, will probably inspire me to get started again. Forgot to mention i also have a '71 I bought years ago in parts for my son in HS. Put it back together to be his daily driver then i bought it back from him later when he wanted something else. It sits in east Texas
Its sad that the car you were restoring got stolen? How come you never found it again?
As a California resident, I can attest to our hot, dry climate. Little to no snow means that road salt is extremely uncommon. This past winter being an exception. I would vote to close the antennae hole and install a modern bluetooth radio with a retro faceplate if possible. Those retractable antennae were always quick to break (you have to be careful when washing the car). I had one on a 95 Integra and it got stuck half way up. Overall, I'm excited to see the work on this car.
Yup. I lived in the San Bernardino mountains for a decade. They use cinder instead of salt, so even winter driving is safe for cars.
Definitely thinking the 918 Orange for the colour. Looks kind of similar to the original colour, and is just pleasant to look at. Also, doing amazing so far! Can't wait for Episode 2!!!
I'm so looking forward to following this restoration.
I actually like the antenna. Back then the automatic antennas were *very* chic. It would be a cool retro-upscale detail to keep.
I would assume that you can find a modern radio unit for inside that has a retro look, but modern features, such as bluetooth. And it would be great to add a mic for phone calls, and a USB charging port, all for modern convenience (or almost necessity, really).
Have fun!
Here comes my two cents on the subject.
I would definitely keep the rear window bezels, they give the look of the car you drove in the first missions of gta liberty city and it somehow fits perfectly to the Datsun.
I myself would also keep the side lights, first because I find it visually nicer (because they are filigree they do not disturb the clean look in my opinion) and secondly because it is the US version and these lights give a clear indication.
Regarding the front spoiler I plead very strongly to the second option, the first you are considering I find much too brachial.
Color is my favorite the 918 orange.
The leather diamonds do look cheaply produced but in real leather with professionally stitched diamonds it could look really good. Quasi upgrade the original design.
Rim choice I second your choice and also the idea to attach clean bumpers.
For a cleaner look, however, I would paint the rear cover again, as the previous owner did.
Antenna I am unsure about, probably would keep it though.
Roll cage and mirrors need to come out.
I love this project and the car you choose 🎉
918 orange body with chrome metal trim and polished clean smooth bumpers with matte black wheels and chrome lug nuts. Black trim pieces like the rear spoiler and others will tie in with wheels.
Interior, I'd say go with a two tone color scheme. Black secondary as internal trim matched against a light color so it doesn't overheat in the sun. Carpets for areas that will need to be cleaned occasionally but leather in others.
Maybe do a few hidden upgrades on safety features, like keep the old headlights and breaklights but replace the bulbs with new brighter leds, thicker firewall, reinforce the body and frame in some areas, etc.
I think the orange would be a gorgeous colour for the car. So excited for this series. It’s gonna be amazing
I really like the smaller BRE front splitter. The look of it feels a little more fitting.
I think you should do it exactly as you'd like it to be. Thanks for posting fine examples of your excellent work.
Vielen Dank dafür! Ich liebe das Projekt schon jetzt und freue mich auf die nächsten Schritte. Mir gefällt das Orange persönlich am besten. So oder so, es wird großartig!
The choke lever is mounted from underneath the console with bosses molded into it. Mounting screws were used to mount the lever into the bosses.
Keep that original desirable antenna.....the pointed finial tip is prized.
Those were dealer installed ac systems installed when new.....very common. AC became available from the factory in 1974 on the 260Z. BTW, the extra switch on the ac control is the factory antenna switch which used to be mounted above the radio. Good luck.
Also, keep in mind, the diamond interior trim is an iconic trademark of the 240Z. But its your car so, build it the way you want it.
For color, I choose the red.
I had a ‘77 280Z. It had been painted metal-flake Sky Blue and had the original wheels replaced with Tru-Spoke chrome wire wheels. That was a classy combination with the slate grey rear panel and you might want to consider it… I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. The Tru-Spokes had fat T/A Radial tires mounted and that car stuck to the road like glue.
Definitely keep the antenna. It's such a cool feature that you rarely see anymore. New cars are fine without it but this antenna is a cool throwback to the past eras.
Having owned a 260Z and a series of 280Zs (fun to drive cars) back in the day, I love this project and I agree with many of the changes you plan to make; get rid of the antenna and fill the hole, get rid of that silly mirror and the roll bar, update the wheels, omit the Air Conditioner, upgrade the stereo to include Bluetooth, etc. I don't know what you mean by "chop lever". What is a chop lever? I would upgrade the headlights and change the color to something more contemporary, but that's a personal choice. If it was my car, I would replace that 240 engine with a more powerful 280 engine and install disc brakes all around. The triple Weber carburetors are very snazzy, but they do need filters. Looking forward to watching your progress.
No opinions, just a question. How do you keep all the parts organized after taking everything apart? Do you label everything or put them in labeled boxes? Do you plan on following existing drawings? Do you already know everything by heart? Or will you use the video as documentation?
I'm very excited for this series! I love your channel, despite (or maybe because) I have no DIY bones in my body. Your videos give me a really unique sense of calm, maybe because I'm watching someone who is so incredibly skilled at their craft.
I bought my Z as a basket case, and thank God they followed pretty strict rules about disassembly. All the hardware was grouped by assemblies into ziploc sandwich bags with paper tags inside containing info about where they went, L or R, etc. All the bags were stored in common sense groupings in cardboard boxes. Videos and photos are definitely crucial to getting things put back right. Luckily for me, this video and hundreds others on youtube cover just about every square inch of the Z cars in one way or another.
Parts organization would be a good short video for this secondary channel!
I had the same question once I watched the first video.
I think that the experience plays a role here, but I believe that labeling and organizing is very important if you want to put everything back with minimum hustle.
And owning the repair manual for the car must be very helpful!
@@TheSaturnV As someone with a good visual memory, I don't need to label parts if I've removed them carefully. I usually remember even after several years. But sometimes I do, and masking tape comes very handy. Just put a piece of tape and write down where it goes. Done.
For small parts, screws and fasteners, zip lock bags and a marker will do the trick.
Buying a car in parts though, if you don't know the car, is a bad idea.
Most DIY'ers have a pretty decent visual memory and can memorize the exact location of parts while taking it apart. Parts organization will only be necessary once larger projects are started, as there will be more parts than can be memorized. I've been working on/off on a push reel lawn mower restoration for the past 4 years and although nothing is marked, I still remember where everything goes. But if I were to restore a motorized lawn mower, I would definitely use some sort of parts organization, probably taking pictures of the exploded views of all parts and then put them into ziplock bags with a tag identical to that of the picture, so I know exactly what I'm dealing with.
Thanks for uploading this video, it gives us more details.
As a previous owner of a Datsun 1200 and a Datsun 200SX I would strongly encourage you to keep the restoration as original as possible.
I could write a lot, but at least I want to say, KEEP the antenna! Get a radio with a cassette player!
In the end, do what you want to do. It's your car. Being so meticulous and a perfectionist as you are, whatever you decide to do, it's going to be epic.
I am looking forward lots of "I make a new one". 😍😍😍
My dad had a ‘72 that was just gorgeous - black interior with the 919 orange paint job. Personally, I’d love to see it orange! Following your videos closely and eager for more!
Fantastic. With these cars having such unique colors available, I feel it'd be a shame to paint it red. That Safari color really fits the car well in my opinion!
i agree fully
Not just that, i think the gold and orange colours just suit the shape of the car. Most cars don't look good in yellow, but the ones that do, look really good in it.
I agree as well. Happen to prefer the orange but the original colors are so cool. At Porsche they´d be a 20k custom option these days!
I agree with everything 99% except the mirrors For me, it's a distraction to be out there on the Fender and ruins the clean lines of the front fenders. I know cars came this way but I don't personally like them. I think the red would really set it off But the other colors are nice too.
This guy is such a perfectionist and true Craftsman. Can't wait to see more of it. Thank you
Personally I love the safari gold. Even the orange looks quite distinctive. Red is overused on so many other sports cars.
The extendible antenna is too interesting of a mechanism to not get working. If you don't reinstall it, maybe you could mount in on a stand for decoration and demonstration.
Those rear window louvers look really cool externally but hurt visibility when driving and give it a tougher appearance than the style you're going for.
agree with your color choice statements.
Everything I would have wanted to say.
Definitely like the orange or the gold. Love that vintage orange color on the interior.
I agree. Make it a Cali car again.
My first car was a 1974 260Z! As far as mirrors, I think you'll find that even the stock rear view mirror comes down into your field of view. When driving it, take extra care with the blind spot that creates on your right hand side!
And as far as getting rid of the roll cage, you might consider adding a stiffener rod between the two rear strut towers, to stiffen against body roll and improve handling. Currently the roll cage is adding some of that and you'll miss it when it's gone.
@@arlomiller5254 The roll cage is after market not original.
I had six of these cars since an original purchase in Texas of a 240Z. Over the next 40 years, I had three 260Z and three 240Z. The main problems I had were with worn out wiring. It was easy to burn out the old wires, so I would advise replacing the wiring, since you have the car unassembled. I, too, had the triple weber carburation and was very happy with it over the years.
918 Orange looks amazing! I'm so happy to see you working on a car!
I am going to really enjoy this process with you! Thank you for all the videos you have produced. This series will be special! Good luck!!
918 Orange looks really cool.
Lots of excellent details here, can't wait for more! The moto-lita style steering wheel is a popular aftermarket option for taller and broader people, since the stock steering wheel is super wide diameter and drives the car like a bus. Frenching the side markets is also a popular mod, even in the US. The antenna is a nice addition to the body and gives an asymmetrical look, but if you're already frenching, might as well keep the panels clean!
The BRE-style front lip is SO COOL and sleek. Good choice on the original 240 no-rubber bumper. Clean look. I still think the Safari Gold is a classic color you cant go wrong with. If you plan to go with a chrome bumper, i recommend silver wheels. Ties the whole thing together.
Choke cable or cold start is a MUST if you plan to drive the car during winter. I believe they were originally secured to the plastic console itself, but a popular modification is to create a plate and secure it to the transmission tunnel.
For research and potentially OEM part sourcing you may need, I highly recommend getting in touch with my friends at Z Car Garage, based in California! They have decades of knowledge in modded, stock, and vintage racing Z-cars.
This series is gonna be awesome.
I wish I had known you were going to do an automobile restoration before you bought a car. I was in the middle of restoring a 1958 Packard Hawk, one of 588 ever made and one of about 250 left in the world, when I had a stroke. Now I have to give up the project to someone that can continue to completion. I wish it had been you. You're such a perfectionist that I know it would have been something to behold.
This is a million dollar project! What a beautiful car you have chosen to rebuild! Almost took it all the way from scratch. I can’t wait to see the second part of this project. Have to be patient!
That 'Butterscotch' color interior is the same I had in my old Datsun B210 with matching exterior paint. I have not seen that color since. It brought back instant memories, watching this. Well done!
What a great project! I like most of your restoration ideas. For the color I would prefer 918 orange. I would definitely leave the antenna - if at all possible, install a modern radio with a classic look and use this or a modern, self-extending antenna. I think the sunshade for the rear window is super cool - can't it be replaced with a high-quality part made of carbon or plastic? I would be unsure about the lowering - maybe I wouldn't do it at all. When it comes to the interior lining, I'm thinking of a high-quality felt - medium gray or dark blue. I'm excited to see how you get on - good luck!
I believe newer radios have a blue 12v wire just to turn on the amplifier/antenna. It is just a signal, so you can use it to make the antenna rise! That red color is beautiful and I would definitely paint it that color, but always remember that it is your car now, so your opinion matters more. The black wheels are just superb too, very pretty, nice choice!
Can't wait to follow this journey, will check your channel frequently for new additions! 2 cents:
The 918 orange *really* jumped out to me. It contrasts amazingly with both chrome and black, is not cliched like the red, and will match beautifully with the interior colour (if you keep it a similar colour). I'd even choose the orange over a black/gunmetal.
Keep antenna for sure, easy choice. What a fun detail.
Switches and buttons back then just hit different. The cockpit toggles are so cool.
You have so many comments that you may not have time to read this but I hope you do. This is such a great project and you tell the story so well. My family bought a 1973 Datsun 240Z brand new from the Harbor Datsun dealership in Southern California when I was a little boy. It was orange with a black interior and so sporty and small compared to all the other cars on the road at the time. We had the same wheels on our Z that you have on your car. They were very common in Southern California as most people preferred them instead of the hubcaps which looked cheap. We also had the metal louvered cover over the back window which was also very common in Southern California at the time. The interior of the Z would get so hot unless you had those louvered windows even if you had a/c in the car (which our Z had). They were trendy at the time, but you're right, they were cheap and rattled a lot. Both the wheels and the louvers on the window came on the car from the dealership.
I love the ideas you have for your car except for the fender mounted mirrors. In my opinion, it's not an attractive look and spoils the line of the long hood. However, this is YOUR car and you do what you desire. I have such respect for your attention to detail and I love that you are saving this special car from the past. If you no longer need the California license plate, I wouldn't mind buying it from you. Those are my initials. 😁
I like your plans on the car. To me the factory front apron with the BRE front lip looks the best. I also think the car would look better with no rear spoiler. I also prefer a factory color. The Wink mirror works really good, but I agree it doesn't work with this car if you aren't racing it. Really looking forward to seeing this process. I am sure to be amazed with the results.
Honestly, it'd be a whole lot cooler to see this awesome ride in a factory color(imo). If I had to pick any of the colors from the Z catalog itself, than ones I'd like to possibly see are the 611 Wine Red or 362 Dark Purple Metallic (they were on the 260 and 280z if I recall). If it had to be a 240z specific color code....905 Red or 920 Gold would look absolutely gorgeous on it. Sorry for all the text here, but I know for sure this bad boi is gonna look good in the end. Hopefully one of these 4 make it onto the vehicle in the future. Good luck with the Restoration!
918 orange! That looks so good!
I really like the gold! No red please, but that’s up to you, right? I remember that car back in the 70’s! Can’t wait to see it again!
Every time I watch a restoration video of yours the colors you choose for them are beautiful. I would go with whatever makes you smile. I really liked the Safari Orange though.
I really like your plan and style. Since you asked for opinions, here goes. The black rims look awesome, I think the orange color would look good with them. Get rid of the antenna (and the side thingies). I'm not sure about spoiler. Maybe something bit more narrower winglike would be cool. I think the louvers after good paint would look good but if they block rear-view, then I understand of getting rid of them. I wouldn't lower the car. It's fine at it is. Steering wheel looks great, but transmission knob needs an upgrade. Overall, great find and really nice looking car. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
All this + please no fender mirrors 😊
I really like the gold color you showed in the video, but it would clash pretty badly with the seats unless you re-upholster them - not sure if that was already part of your plan. If you plan to keep the seats the same, I'd say either the original red or dark grey would fit the best.
Out of the choices, I like the thought of orange, though it would look good in almost any color. Even a white pearl, with satin black tail panel, spoiler and the "scallops" that the headlights sit in.
I know it's going to turn out awesome. 👍 There's so many directions you could go, and none are wrong.
I owned the same model in Australia in late 70's. Was even used for my Honeymoon road trip. :D Brings back so many memories. I hope it will give you similar.
I can not WAIT to see how this turns out. We've watched your channel for a long time. My little girls love to watch you restore things. I have two little engineers in the making. If anyone can get this car back into shape, it is you.
As much as I'd love to see you restore the antenna system : it looks more badass without. So I'm team no antenna ♥
i think the first 2 colours red or orange would look amazing, especially with the matt black highlights like the rims, spoiler, tail light garnish. personally i really love the orange/black combo but i think the red would look great on this. i cant wait to see all of this project come together. i am located in Sydney Australia, although i dont have any parts to help with the restoration, i will offer to help you with any parts you do find here, i could help with checking them out for you and posting them to you.
I know I've said this already, but I'm a fan of restoring a car to stock as closely as possible. That being said, it's your car, so it's completely up to you. I'm sure it's going to be jaw-dropping when you're finished.
I was all about modding cars when I was younger, but want to see cars get restored to original while Im older. I wonder if thats how people generally feel.
Stock is crap. It needs an electronic ignition. Distributor rotors and points wear immediately they are new throwing off dwell, advance and retard. This then effects idle effects complex Weber carburettor tuning.
I've wanted this car since I was in high school. This will be a fun project to follow, your work is next level!
I love the safari gold but the orange is a close second. If you're rocking a classic car you might as well be proud of it.
I really prefer the standard front over the lip and airdam. I think it just looks a lot better for the sideview of the car. A great example of a nice 240z in my opinion is the one from OS Giken Power in Black.
But I look forward to see your build, no matter what you decide on. Always a treat to see a video of yours!
If you're going for an overall clean look, I think closing up the antenna hole would look a lot better on the car.
I can't wait to see the upcoming videos on this car. You're easily my favorite restorationist on UA-cam for your great machine work and amazing fit and finish.
I doubt that motorized antenna was original to this car. It seems so out of place on an inexpensive sports car of that era. I could be wrong, but I just don’t remember that on these early 70s Z cars. Maybe on the later 280 ZX, but by then the car had lost its hard sporting edge. Also, the one you removed looks exactly like the aftermarket motorized antenna my brother installed on his 1978 Pinto.
This is a huge job. My advice is "Make a new one." I am looking forward to watching you work through this project. Congrats, in advance, for owning such a ridiculously cool car.
Es wird interessant sein zu sehen, wie die Restaurierung verläuft. Ich bin mir sicher, dass es gut wird. Danke, dass du dein Hobby teilst. Danke aus Schweden!
Hey it's very amazing to watch your videos.
I have bought a 280Z that was driven in California.
It was built in 1978 and has the same shape as your 240Z .
Unfortunately I need/ want to change to the small bumper's as you will do.
I also will close the side lights to get the clean looks.
But I would definitely keep the Antenna as this will keep the classic look.
About the rust, I was quite lucky as I grinded all the blue paint of and also the original gold paint, by hand , to the bair metal I have zero rust at all. I guess this is not the norm. I have been searching for reputation videos since year's in the Web. I want too say yours are absolutely the best, detailed and professional l have seen so far. Yesterday I followed your way of removing the two U metal protections by drilling the welding points open.
It worked many thanks for sharing your videos. Real great craftsmanship. Greatings from Germany
Thank you very much :-)
Good luck with your car!
This is crazy exciting! As for the colour, has anyone mentioned RAL 5021 (Water Blue) yet? That would look very classy with the chrome parts :) Of the original colours, I think the Safari Gold looks best, with the orange a close second. Looking forward to the next parts of the series and to the choices you make along the way!
Love all your ideas except for wing mirrors! Can’t wait to see it finished
Safari gold, remove antenna. The BRE apron suits the cars simple elegant design and looks balanced to the rear spoiler. Great job so far, you make it look so easy!
I used to work for an auto repair shop that specialized in only these Z cars. You have a very solid car to start with. Datsun had a nice EFI system in these cars ten years before the domestic auto makers did.
Definitely voting for the original red color! That paired with the black wheels and chrome accents is going to look absolutely nuts. Still can't believe you got your hands on this in Switzerland. This car is in such good hands.
I think a nice racing green would look great on that, but those oranges you showed are pretty cool too. I think if you're going to paint the back panel, you should probably paint the spoiler to match. Also agree with folks saying keep the antennae, even if it doesn't work. Adds some style to it 😄 Looking forward to the rest of the series!
But should be an original green, if they had that. The gold/yellow/orange originals also looked very suitable.
This is a great project and thank you for the narration! Red + delete antenna + matte black spoiler + air dam. That appears to be what you did on the model car and it looks amazing. Can't wait for the next episode.
Nope. Mistake. Satin or metallic Gold. Chrome mirrors on doors. Unpainted brushed magnesium wheels. Matte black rear. Matte black louvres. Maybe matte black or gold small spoilers or delete. Chrome bumpers with no rubber. Black vinyl , leather, wood, and carpet interior. Keep the pwr antenna. Keep the chrome trim. Keep the steering wheel, carbs and headers. Everything else oem stock original. No mods. No flares. No lowering.
@@user-tb5ns7hc5ixactly! Thank you! Haha I know this is *taste* but red and black and low dam etc are just not what this slender car can be at its finest
@@user-tb5ns7hc5iactually I think I would even go tone in tone, the satin orange leaning to ‚naples yellow‘ - and no black at all, just a slightly darker gold/orange and ochre/wood interior
I'd vote for the orange paint scheme, would look great with the black rims and maybe you can bring some black accents into the interior to tie it all together
That Safari gold took me back. It's clean enough to rock an original look.
I've loved the Z since I first saw and rode in one. I'm surprised at the amount of damage the original owner did to the car in only 11 years before storing it. I'm glad to see you doing such a good job restoring it.
I vote to keep the antenna. It was a very cool feature in its time and I think it should stay.
I completely agree. It was a luxury in its time, and totally impressive!
Agreed. It looks so unique, it has to stay!
Consider cream white as the base color so you can add colored stripes etc. and play with color over time. As long as the base color stays cream white.
Two opinions: 1) Hard no on the fender mirrors. 2) Keep the louvers (in matte black or very dark gray, matching the color you intend to paint the center panel on the rear). Excited to see progress on this!
I actually love the diamond interior cover, but it is your car and I'm sure you're going to end up with something amazing. The Gold exterior colour would be fantastic! I can't wait to see your rebuild!
I moved to California in 1972 (from Boston) and soon met a girl who had a '72 Datsun 240Z that she had bought new, possibly even this one. I wasn't that interested in the girl, it was the car I lusted for! She let me drive it once on the Angeles Crest Highway, a twisty mountain road near LA. I think Jay Leno takes some of his cars up there. This was the most exciting Japanese car that ever came to America, certainly the first exciting one. It really showed America that there were other ways to build cars. And that was before we started regarding Nissan, Toyota and Subaru as the best mass produced cars in the world.