The Classic Sale At Silverstone Festival 25th - 27th August 2023

+ buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter 153 Registration: YTA 822L Chassis No.: HLS30147821 Estimate: £35,000 - £45,000 Specialist: Simon Langsdale Telephone No: 07496 556325 Lot 651 1973 Datsun 240Z Having been identified as ‘best of breed’ due to its provenance, history file and apparently corrosion-free condition, this 240Z, finished in Datsun White (904) with a black interior, was chosen and imported into the UK from the dry state of California in June 2015 by a private individual and was immediately UK-registered for use on the road. In early 2016, in accordance with the owner’s plans, the car was subjected to a professional, right-hand-drive conversion and treated to a full mechanical and cosmetic overhaul that saw the car transformed into the superb example on offer today. During its conversion to right-hand drive, it became apparent that the body structure was as good as our vendor had hoped, and required no chassis or bodywork repairs. The car was then subject to a carefully crafted deletion of many of the typical hallmarks of an average US-import. Gone are the ugly American bumpers, replaced by UK-specification items, professionally re-chromed and fitted with genuine Datsun rubbers on each corner. Removed are the rear side-repeater lamps and installed are UK-spec front indicators. The rear light assemblies, unsightly and unmistakeably from across the pond, have been discarded and replaced with the prettier UK-spec items. The silky-smooth 2,393cc in-line engine with original matching numbers has been stripped and rebuilt with hardened valve seats and refitted without any of the emission control systems that stifled the US-cars. It’s mated to the original factory optional 5-speed manual gearbox to provide long-legged cruising and 21.6mph per 1,000rpm in top gear, making this car a delight to drive over here. Most 240Zs suffer from the usual malaise of a tired and tatty interior, however in this case, the interior presents really well with the healthy looking original diamond- patterned vinyl trim being retained, and the seats have been reupholstered in black Ambla to provide beautiful-looking and supremely comfortable seating with genuine safety belts. The carpet set was renewed throughout and is fitted on to original-specification insulated floor-pan padding. It’s also somewhat unusual for a US-import of this age to arrive with any paperwork of value, but within the history file you’ll find annual registration renewals over a number of years together with a raft of service and maintenance invoices, made out in the name of its keeper at the time, that appear to substantiate the indicated mileage of 66,307. The current owner has done a good deal of research in this regard and has no reason to suspect that the indicated mileage is not accurate, with just a handful of those miles covered in the eight years since the car arrived in the UK. Add in adjustable dampers, new suspension bushing and a set of unmarked period Wolfrace wheels and you have an excellent example of Japan’s legendary sports car ready to be enjoyed as one of the ‘greats’ of the 20th Century. An ex-California car, carefully converted to UK-spec by our fastidious vendor and impressively presented. More Details Lot 651 Bid On Lot 651