Image via Dennis Collins/YouTube
For many, the Datsun 240Z was a first love, or at least one that has slipped away. To see one almost perfectly preserved in a US Army veteran’s personal garage is enough to take your breath away. It’s even enough to make Dennis Collins, a famed hunter of rare rides, take a step back and marvel.
This barn find Jaguar E-Type hides a big American V8.
Collins has shared his experience of not only seeing this special classic Nissan sports car for the first time, but how it came out after his restoration team aimed to correct even the smallest of issues. Not that there are many of those, thanks to meticulous care paid to the special ride for decades.
The first and only owner of this 240Z tells Dennis he was in the US Army and stationed in Africa, in Ethiopia to be exact, when he bought the car. The Army had the Datsun shipped to him so he could drive it while in Africa, then shipped it back to the States when his deployment was over.
Originally, the guy was supposed to get a red car with tan interior. We’ve seen plenty of 240Zs with that color scheme and they always look nice. But this lime paint (Nissan calls it Yellow along with Code 919, if that isn’t confusing. That’s why some people call is Tennis Ball or Highlighter instead.) isn’t nearly as common and it’s actually pretty cool to see, especially in such excellent condition.
Speaking of that, with just 38,000 miles on the Datsun, there isn’t much wrong with it. Sure, it hasn’t run since the early 90s, but the Fairlady Z isn’t a mess. To get it out of the garage where it’s sitting, the guys just have to install the rear struts and put the wheels back on.
All the original documents for the car are present and in excellent condition. Plus, the man kept his license plate from Ethiopia, which is part of the Z’s story.
After two and a half years of work, Collins shows the breathtaking results. The 240Z has been restored to its original glory and you should watch the video to see it in detail.
Images via Dennis Collins/YouTube
