The car was finished in Persimmon Red (110) from the factory and underwent dent repair and a repaint with a clear coat in July 2015. In February 2016 the paint was wet sanded and polished, and the chrome bumpers were refinished in May 2016. Replacement weather stripping for the hood, doors, windows, and rear hatch was fitted along with the windshield glass and body badges. Additional exterior details include bright window trim, a left mirror, a power-retractable antenna, circular Z badging, a contrasting gray tail panel, and a single exhaust outlet. The seller notes blemishes in the finish.
Black 14″ steel wheels wear Datsun-branded covers and are mounted with 205/70 Michelin XWX tires that show 2018 date codes. Stopping power is provided by power-assisted front discs and rear drums. Work under current ownership is said to have included replacing the wheel bearings and tie rods, as well as machining the front rotors and rear drums. In June 2019 various suspension components were media blasted, coated with a zinc-based primer, and powder coated.
The cabin features bucket seats that have been fitted with replacement foam and reupholstered in black vinyl with grommet air vents in the backrests in August 2015. Replacement diamond-patterned vinyl trims the transmission tunnel and rear shock towers, and the footwells are lined with replacement carpets. Features include a heater, a wooden shift knob, an AM/FM push-button radio, a rear defroster, and carpeted floor mats.
The wood-rimmed steering wheel wears a Datsun-branded horn button and frames a 160-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 7k-rpm redline, while a trio of auxiliary gauges is mounted atop the center stack. The hazard light flasher switch and speedometer cable O-rings were replaced under current ownership. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 30k miles, less than 200 of which were added during current ownership.
The 2.4-liter L24 inline-six features dual SU carburetors and was factory rated at 151 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. A cylinder head overhaul in 2019 included removing carbon deposits from the intake and exhaust ports, machining the head mating surface, lapping the valve seats, installing replacement valves and springs, and installing .020″ valve shims. The car is fitted with a PerTronix ignition system, the carburetors were overhauled, and the following components were also replaced:
- Camshaft sprockets
- Timing chain & tensioner
- Spark plugs wires
- Ignition coil ballast resistor
- Throttle linkage components
- Smog pump hoses
- Fuel pump & filter
- Radiator hoses
- Heater hose
- Freeze plugs
- Washer fluid pump
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The transmission is said to have received a replacement clutch, pressure plate, and primary cylinder, and the flywheel was resurfaced in June 2019. The car is equipped with a Nichira exhaust system.
Partial service records will accompany the car, along with manufacturer’s literature, a jack, tools, and removed lap belts.
The story of this 240Z named “Melo Z” starts in the Bay Area where it was delivered new to Berkeley Datsun in 1972 to a lady by the name of Melody. The car was red with white interior when it left the showroom. In 1975 an exterior repaint was completed in metallic brown. Melody worked at the Oakland airport where the hood of the car was accidently sprayed by a fuel truck. Melody would go on to put the majority of this Z’s 30K miles. She even used it to complete the Bob Bondurant driving school (the plaque is still present inside the car). She continued to enjoy the 240 until she had surgery which would leave the Z stored on jack stands from 1988 to 2012. Z car garage went through the car and would go on to list it here on BAT. In 2015 the current owner acquired the Z and a restoration was requested of our team. It was fully dissembled and repainted back to its original color (code #110) The panels are all original to the car and no rust repair was needed. The dash is original! If you’re familiar with these cars, you know how rare that is. At this time the chassis was refreshed along with all the mechanical components. Most recently in preparation for the sale a full fluid service was preformed which included engine oil, transmission oil, differential oil, coolant. As with every vehicle that comes through our doors it’s turnkey and ready for its next owner to continue the story.