I am the original owner of this 1972 240Z which I special ordered just before going to Vietnam in 1971. She didn't arrive until about a month after my return in 1972, and was silver metallic (Code 901) with red interior. This picture is as she looks today, and (pretty much) as she looked back then.
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This picture was taken in April 2006, just prior to my embarking on a five phase restoration project. I have completed Phase IV and am taking a break to save up some more moola before I start Phase V - Engine Compartment. Read on if you would like to follow the project - but first - some history:
----------------------------------------------------------SOME HISTORY-------------------------------------------------------------
My first car was a 1962 Fiat 500 which I bought from my brother Richard, so he would have a downpayment on his new Simca.
In case you can't tell - I lived in upstate New York at the time, and the Fiat 500 was surprisingly good in the snow.
When my Fiat 500 died I bought a 175cc Bridgestone 175+ Hurricane Scrambler and just before I shipped out for Vietnam in 1971 I sold it, to come up with a down payment on my 240Z.
These black & white photos are the only three pictures I can find of my 240Z when it was new. Lucky the car was silver.
When I was stationed with the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) at Fort Lee, VA, I had a small accident with the 240Z. Since the silver metalic paint had not held up well during the time I was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, and would not be able to be matched very well, I repainted it a dark red - for a change.
Then, when my new family and I were reassigned to Bremerhaven, Germany, I asked my brother to store my beloved 240Z in his garage in Buffalo, NY for three years. He put it up on blocks, and religiously started it up at least once a month to keep it well lubed, until we returned to the United States in 1981. This is my brother and mother taking my car away - it was a very sad day!
After my return from Germany, I got out of the US Army after 10 years, 11 months and one day of service, and got a job with the Department of Defense. I once again decided to change colors on my 240Z and to add a spoiler, an air dam, a pair of 280Z mag wheels, and side moldings. This picture is the exact time that I had put 100,000 miles on the old girl. My passenger is my stepson, Tommy, who I will someday let drive my car (since he is now 36 years old).
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PAGE 1 - HISTORY
PAGE 2 - PHASE I - MECHANICAL
PAGE 3 - PHASE II - PAINT JOB
PAGE 4 - PHASE III - UPHOLSTERY
PAGE 5 - PHASE IV - RECONSTRUCTION
PAGE 6 - PHASE V - ENGINE COMPARTMENT
PAGE 7 - COMPETITION RESULTS
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