ZZZZZAP! That's one ugly Datsun. Please save it!

"turbotiny" (turbotiny) 10/25/2013 at 15:36 • Filed to: None

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I'm a big fan of Datsuns. Specifically anything before 1977. However I have to say that this guy is one of the best examples of a car falling victim to the poor taste of its era. Now don't get me wrong, I know that some of you got caught up in the Tom Selleck mustache fad, and we're all glad you're past it. I like to think of this car as the same type of thing. It's old, it's lost a step or two and it just cant seem to move past someones poor taste.

The Craigslist ad that this particular example of poor taste hails from claims that this car is indeed one of the coveted Zap editions, and has "Over $3,000 in dealer acessories"

They include:

"List of Add-ons on original bill of sale:
"Thorough-Guard"
"Quaker Koat" H.D. Undercoating
"Granitized Glaze Finish Sealer
Heavy Duty Desert Cooling Package
Deluxe vinyl side moldings
Rear Shade Kit
280z Stripe
Rocker Moldings
AM-FM 8 Track Miracle Stereo (no longer have although I am looking)
Special Wheels
Racing Mirrors
Factory Air Conditioning (needs charged)
Cruise Control (havent tested)
Custom Pin Striping
Deluxe Interior (one of a kind) *dealer special"

It is specifically because of this "One of a kind" interior that I must beg someone in or around the Dallas/Fort Worth area to save it.

Witness the horror:

Damn son! so bad it's plaid!

I'm sorry but the only way that this was ever a good idea was if you had a matching leisure suit made to go with the interior, and even that's a stretch. That's the color that wallpaper turns after it's been subjected to constant cigarette and meth fumes for twelve years.

The rest of the car looks like it's in decent shape, except for a few trouble spots. According to the original poster and the photos, the only areas that have any rust are, under the battery and under the fuel filler.

However I personally know that if anyone can find it in their heart to save this thing, that they should check the passengers side floorboard. It wasn't uncommon to see rusting out in that area because of a leaking heater core that would pool up fluid over time.

The rest of the car is in decent shape though:

It's even got love for louvers! You can find the original post !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I think this has a ton of personality and even though the price is pretty high ($13,000!). Besides, if you do buy it and save that "One of a kind" interior, you know that you'll eventually find a matching suit if you hit up enough yard sales.

It needs a home, someone save it.

CalzoneGolem > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 15:37

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I'm looking for the ugly but I am no seeing it.

GhostZ > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 15:38

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That is priced three times higher than its worth. I am 99% sure it is not a ZZZAP as well.

RMudkips > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 15:45

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13k is CP, but not as big a CP as the one the buyer smoked when purchasing this thing.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 15:50

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I actually kind of like the plaid....and I blame Oppo.

But 13k is too much for me. If I spent 13k on it I'd need someone to come save me.

More Power!!and also some brakes. > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 16:06

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LOL CP.

Frank Grimes > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 16:20

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I love the plaid. Ditch the bumpers and wheels and I am good with the whole thing.

turbotiny > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 10/25/2013 at 16:55

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It does seem to be a bit on the high side for pricing. I've seen full restorations of 280z's that sell for less than that. Let alone one with so many rough patches.

turbotiny > GhostZ 10/25/2013 at 16:56

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Just curious, is there any way to tell other than a vin check?

turbotiny > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2013 at 16:56

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Beauty is subjective. No question.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 16:58

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I think a lot of older people still make the assumption that "all original" is better than restored. But really, I'd rather spend more on a restoration, depending on the shop or person who did it.

I can see why you'd want all original, but when it's in a shape like this you can throw that out the door. Plus, who has the money nowadays to really take on a full restore? Not me lol.

GhostZ > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 17:16

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Every single sign of a ZZZAP car is either removed for replaced on that car. The paint is the right color (ish, faded) but the paint should have lines where the original decals were, since it doesn't, that means it was repainted when the decals were removed or it's not a ZZZAP and never had them to begin with.

ZZZAP cars are only work 1000-1500 over a regular 280z (2500-3500) anyway. I think some of the confusion (since there are easily twice as many fake ZZZAP cars as there are real ones) is because a lot of dealers would market any yellow '77 280z as a ZZZAP car, and there wasn't much beyond luxury options and decals that differentiated them.

Casper > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 17:26

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That is a lot of money for the work that car needs.

turbotiny > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 10/25/2013 at 18:20

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Are we getting to the point where a "numbers matching 280z" could begin to fetch that price if it was kept in good enough shape?

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 18:30

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Possibly. I think it's becoming enough of a classic and wanted now that we may be to that point. Not to mention that on craigslist and ebay you can easily find more that have a V8 swap or something non-factory.

turbotiny > GhostZ 10/25/2013 at 18:44

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But if you go to the craigslist ad, the OP says that this was a dealer special. I'm not saying he's correct. But there was a significant amount of dealer modification that was done to it. Maybe the ZZZAP decals were removed in the showroom.

GhostZ > turbotiny 10/25/2013 at 19:30

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It's far more likely that the showroom added their own decals and called it a ZZZAP than it being an original ZZZAP. Besides, a dealer-modified isn't going to be worth more than the ZZZAP edition anyway, which is definitely not going to be worth $13000, especially with rust.