A 240z You Could Buy at a Nissan Dealer in the 90s?? One of 37 Factory-Restored Z Cars

There was a dark time in the late 90s - between the 300zx and the 350z - where we lived a life with no new Z car. So what did Nissan do in the meantime? They didn’t just chill on the laurels of the last Z car. They got to pristinely restoring a small number of their legendary 240z with factory fresh parts. Only 37 of them. And of course, Z daddy Randy Jaffe has one in his collection. Even though at one point he owned 8 of them.
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[@LarryChenPhoto]

If you want to support Autofocus directly head over to larrychenprints.com/. Each print comes with Larry Chen Peeker stickers and more! This week only each one comes with a Leen customs Supra camera car pin.

[@glenjones5365]

Exactly why I've never let loose of my 73 I bought in 79 at 17 years old. Still less than 150000 on it and about to go for a ride right now.

[@JB-sv5pr]

Fuck ! Sounds like a dream I always wanted to ride in a Z I had a rx7 85 An a rx7 86 But never a Z

[@tony_5156]

Jesus mate at 17? What a dream I’d love to own a triple carbed 270z with a walnut wood shifter and a gated shifter and alcontara on the dash, and maybe a different tachometer and everything maybe from a Honda. (Just something very visible and easy to see that’s simple and is neutral, so it blends in well)

[@TigerRogers0660]

I bought a '73 model also in '79 at 19 years of age. Restored it from the ground up. Wish i never sold it !!

[@TactileLoki]

I know they were cheap but I didn’t know that cheap. I wish I was able to fully get into cars a couple years earlier so I could find some of these cars for cheaper

[@halleffect1]

about 15yrs ago I looked at a local 240Z for sale. mint condition but hole cut in roof for aftermarket sunroof. he wanted something like 5 or 6k, i passed. still kicking myself for that

[@billyreyes2706]

“Yeah, there’s a lot of detailed pictures” said while casually strolling through a vintage Playboy 😆😆🤩

[@RadDadisRad]

Absolute legend of a car. Definitely a dream car.

[@gav240z]

28:11 - The US got low VIN #'s because they had their own VIN # prefix for their market. HLS30. In Japan they were just S30 or PS30 in Australia/UK/NZ they were HS30 and each respective prefix had its own range of VIN #s. For example I own HS30 00051 and there is a North American HLS30 00051 car. Different cars for different markets, both #51 of their own respective VIN series.

[@Twashington215]

Lemon Lime Z is a priceless work of art!!! That car is a legend and it should be kept in a climate controlled museum! "Z for life! " 🍋🍋🍋🍋

[@kevintaylor113]

Larry, so cool to watch your video on the Vintage Z Car Restoration Program! It brings back so many happy memories of working on the VZ program with Pierre at Pierre Z in 1997. Randy you are a very blessed man. I can recall going to Pierre Z Service Center to discuss getting my Gold/White 77 280Z coupe restored (I have to agree with you Randy on the White interior). I was given Pierre’s business card by a fellow Group-Z club member and placed it on my refrigerator saving it for a “Happy Someday When” where it stayed for a couple of years. Then the day finally came, I drove to Pierre’s shop on Crenshaw Blvd in Hawthorn Ca. just south of the airport where Jack Northrop use to work, at little company designing and building aircraft during WWII. Lightening struck twice within less than a quarter mile. I can remember pushing the cars to and from the assembly buildings that Pierre had and hearing rivet guns from the factory blasting away. I was so excited while I walking and talking with Pierre about my Z car between those buildings that day and then I realized that this was the Shop that Nissan was using for the VZ Program that we all heard and read about as we stood next to a stack of shipping crates of new 240 instrument panels. Hey, I just had to ask Pierre if he needed help, being a licensed A&P Mechanic, and yes a total Datsun Dork hehe 🙃 It was the time of my life. The Rick Cole car that is pictured in Randy’s scrapbook is next to my first VZ shell. Randy is spot on about the undercoating. I was tasked with masking and shooting the undercarriage coating of the Rick Cole car the morning it had just came back from the body shop the second time with a $8,000 paint job, nothing like the sparse coatings that the Dealerships did for the additional charge of $$?. Luckily , I acquired the Pierre Z body dolly it’s on from Datsun Alley in Long Beach and used it for my own personal restoration of my 76. Unfortunately, the dolly went to Germany when I was forced to abruptly put up a 100% rust free 76 Coupe shell for adoption during my move to Seattle in 2006. Fortunately though, it went to a really good new owner/fabricator and racer at VA Motorsports Engineering a first rate prep house in Sint Oedenrode, where it was reworked into a Group 4 FIA rolling Chassis and sold for 75,000 Euros. During the VZ Program I was moonlighting between Restoring Z’s by day at Pierre’s and building DC-9’s (aka…Boeing 717-200’s) commercial airliners by night in the old McDonnell Douglas factory in Long Beach. I made the necessary sacrifices to work 14-16 hours a day just so that I could live the dream of a lifetime. Being apart of the factory restoration program. The other thing I’ll forever be grateful for is when the entire shop went up Willow Springs on a Saturday where Pierre showed me the race line around the “Street’s of Willow” and how the car is meant to be driven, at speed, @ 5400 RPM going up the hill into turn 1. Thanks Pierre 🙏 for the opportunity of a lifetime and for sharing the knowledge from your days at BSR. A Big shout out to Randy for showing us all the history and the artifacts of the VZ Program. Randy, I’d love to see your collection sometime and then sit down and share some Z stories? Thanks again! Cheers, Kevin Taylor [e-mail]

[@lonelydriver1421]

Nissan went with this color for the new Z, and still looked perfect. If they ever release restored ones like this again, it would still sell like hotcakes

[@berzerkrobot]

As a 240z owner, I love this content and this gentleman's stories.

[@ryandunlavey650]

Show us the caged Nissan hardbody on the lift please.

[@stiffygoats5337]

So I’m not the only one who caught that in the back 😂

[@SDesigns2023]

My Dad has an orange Z that Pierre Z built for that campaign. He had to clean it back up but since then he's won a ZCCA Gold Medallion Award and multiple concours wins! Couldn't be more proud of him!!

[@JGAbrams]

My parents bought a 240 in '74. Lime/yellow. I got it in '82 and drove it all through high school. I was young and stupid and got "tired" of it. I sold it in '89. But here's the thing, I still have an old insurance card on it and it was a "1969"!!!!!!! I'm 56yo now and I'd love to have that car back.

[@norrekaka3ks1]

Great video @Larry thank you so much for sharing!

[@caseycallahan2547]

Thanks Larry&Hoonigan industries. All of these vintage Nissan vids are just the best! All the stories...just tell me the hard body is coming up next!!!

[@norrekaka3ks1]

This car is so beautiful!

[@PotatosPotatoes]

I live in Atlanta, have a 1970 240Z that is bone stock and fully restored. I should probably talk to Randy.

[@joequixotic3039]

I remember this program. Interesting but way too expensive for a college kid and I was more in to American Muscle Cars which were still pretty attainable back then.

[@homefastfundinginc.777]

I have the dealer brochure from 1996 for these cars.

[@BUCK4NIER]

Poor old Larry couldn’t pan away from the magazine fast enough when the owner of this amazing Z said Playboy.

[@charlesshamseldin9555]

That D21 on the rack though 😃

[@rockkhound943]

I know right ..hopefully it's special enough to "focused" on lol

[@jacobzepeda1127]

I’m lovin that red hardbody in the back.

[@familyfuncarscrypto9879]

That intro brought tears to my eyes literally! I want one so bad!

[@TVtwarn]

These videos have been amazing ❤️

[@aaront4494]

Thank you so very much for this.

[@bong4538]

Wow just watching Jay Ataka in Jay Leno's showing his white Z before this

[@fugazi5150]

back in the dayz my dad bought three 280Z.One for me and one for my brother.I enjoyed it so much during my high school dayz.I also bought a 1971 Datsun 510 4 door in Vista CA.I had it for 3 years and sold it to a japanese guy that i met @ Japanese classic car show @ Queen Mary long beach.Those were the fun dayz.My next car that i wanna buy is the 1970’s Datsun Roadster 2000🤙🏼

[@JB-sv5pr]

Ur dad is a hero go dam ! That’s so kool !

[@fugazi5150]

@@JB-sv5pr ya he introduced me to the Z car world back in the dayz.He passed away 3 years ago but our memories lives on🤙🏼

[@JB-sv5pr]

@@fugazi5150 aye right on! That’s pretty Kool my dad had a 79 rx7 from the dealer! He told me plenty stories of him racing z cars and 510z! Glad the memories live on......! Always keep our family and lost ones close! 🤙🌺 the fact your dad brought you and your brother z cars that’s so kool! What colors where they and years if I may ask ! Rip to your pops! Sounds like a real cool dude!

[@fugazi5150]

@@JB-sv5pr my dad had a white one.I got a red one and my brother got the champagne color.1980 and 1981’s

[@chasebrunner]

Amazing Video Larry Chen

[@darrylleigh7514]

And I thought I was a Z nut. I've had my 77 280Z for 40 plus years. Was a Nissan/ Datsun master tech since 1987. I bleed Z. Thank you for sharing.

[@motoroadrunner9589]

Can't wait to build my 72 that's going to look a lot like this so excited

[@boxedfender4810]

This was a long one and they've been covering a lot of z's lately (no prob here) but guys make sure you stick around till around 15 minutes in THAT WAS GOLD

[@samrubio3983]

Please feature @RVAE38 Z31, completely restored with the upmost attention to detail I have ever seen. Hands down the best Z31 I have ever seen

[@loganharris5175]

Yes

[@travismassingale7801]

I have been saying this since he went to "z car garage". I 2nd this motion. Please find @rvae38 Z31 LARRY! I DMed them on IG and told RVAE too. Hell id be happy if he did just anybody's Z31 at this point. I was wanting to see the z31 pace car. Z31 Larry!

[@samrubio3983]

@@travismassingale7801 facts bro, the Z31 just gets no love from anyone. Z31 owners are a rare breed

[@nismox6460]

These are awesome 😎

[@nismox6460]

Nashville is now a new bucket list trip

[@lancelaprarie6128]

Absolutely gorgeous car

[@OakleyOptions]

As a Z owner, i can not thank you enough for showing off these beautiful cars.

[@CraigSmith-qq3sr]

Here in Chattanooga TN. Ray and Buzz Standifer of Standifer Nissan had 2 on the showroom floor for years.

[@hookerkrewfishing626]

There’s a low miles blue 240 still driving around SoCal and it’s a old lady that drives it

[@oldskool1979]

Honda should do this with a CRX.

[@cj41079]

ive seen this car in real life....its gorgeous 😍 2 Z33 Nismo in da background 💘

[@joelane7146]

Excellent video! I hope they have Datsun 240 -Z in heaven!

[@Supraknexlover96]

I literally just saw Mark Lamberts orig240z on Sunday. It's everything randy says it is and more

[@travismassingale7801]

lucky dude, i plan on going to zcon, it better be there,and rvae's z31 too

[@Supraknexlover96]

@@travismassingale7801 it won't be

[@patrickdean9797]

Larry you have the best job in the world, keep up the great work sir.

[@johnsmulders8535]

If you did an autofocus for each of these fabulous cars, I could watch them all day.

[@25mL]

Wish I had the chance to cash in on this program, I have an old 1970 series 1 that would be perfect. Sadly, I’ll have just have to restore it myself. 😏

[@MindDezign]

Cry me a river !!! Waah ! Z cars are simple. And fun to restore if you do it your self. Sucks if you have to give it to some one to restore.

[@25mL]

@@MindDezign hence the smirk emoji. I don’t mind 😂

[@dtna]

Pierre of Pierre's Z Car Center in Torrance, CA was commisioned by Nissan to rebuild these Z cars for them when they were in Gardena. He is no longer in business, but got very poor reviews from his customers. I first met him back in '73.

[@Tracksidebench]

Beautiful car and nice color

[@shaneanderson8358]

My z is this colour. I always wanted to paint it red but this colour is getting so much traction lately. (112) lime

[@slowridefpv9668]

The myth is true, I buy the playboys for the articles!

[@MindDezign]

My father growing up must have loved Z's he had tons of Playboy's

[@zeroswings2]

Lutz FL?... that's a 20 minute drive for me... looks like I found something to do on my next day off!

[@bhcamaro2002]

Wow a rare one!

[@joseguillermoovazquezherna3465]

I just hope you also include video of the green datsun from behind

[@JordanPayneLV]

My Z is nice, but this Z is NIIIICE

[@dougshaw2944]

Isn't Jaguar doing something like that with e-types? Edit: That isn't to take anything away from this 240 story. Super cool & I learned something new today. Thanks for sharing!

[@alanlansdell7533]

Yep Jaguar Land rover have a separate division doing this right now with old Landrovers and jags. I think VW had an approved centre a while ago for restorations too.

[@pkerch]

I actually test drove one of these VZ in Dallas, at Courtesy Nissan. The sticker was $27k; I’m absolutely kicking myself I didn’t buy it, however, the sales guy was a condescending tool, as I knew the MSRP was $25k, and he wanted to play games. That was a total turn-off. What I did instead is I tracked down my 75 280z that I sold in 1993, had Bill Reagan do a frame-on restoration. Just had a resto-mod done on it, so I’m happy that I’m the 2nd and 5th owner of my Z.

[@cobaltlukather9045]

might want to just change the name to HooNissan Autofocus.

[@wetwaredistributor6770]

God, having a Z that clean today would be mind blowing. I love modding cars but I don't think i'd be able to mess with it if I owned this car. Even swapping to different wheels would feel like a sin. The unbridled joy someone would feel cruising in that thing. I'd take that over a 500+ horsepower current car any day. If I owned this and someone offered me a dodge demon, or a lamborghini as a trade for this.. I'd say no.

[@mickeybuzzkill]

Ooh! Is this the inspiration for the new Zs color?

[@nismo1480]

I gave Randy that Road & Track magazine lol

[@randyjaffe1208]

yes you did - THANKS WAYNE!!!!!

[@deebee68]

My 72 looked just like that car.

[@TRUTH4U2NO]

SIMPLE AMMETER FIX: gauge reads in the minus at eng off. HERES THE FIX IT TAKES 1 MINUTE ! Above the gauge use a magnet and move it from 3 to 9 oclock and the needle will bounce back and forth and RESETTLE AT 0. 40years exp s30 tech, builder and owner. I know this is bothering you Randy and it works like a charm. 40 Years of Z tech exp building and owning. Actually worked with Rob in the 90s at Scott Perfoemance. THIS Z IS GORGEOUS BROTHER!

[@sean7139]

When is Industry Garage's 240 video getting released?

[@shawnfletcher4973]

Did he say Pensacola, like Pensacola Florida, if so I need to find out where Mike Rodgers is cause that’d be an absolute dream to see

[@halleffect1]

this guy's taste in cars is identical to mine. too bad our finances aren't.

[@jeremywentworth1833]

This particular car looks like the car from wheeler dealers that they converted to manual I know it won't be the car it's just the same colour, I'm English my Oldman had a new 1 in the 70s most in UK rusted away I know alot of Brits are importing left hand drive from the states or Rhd from Aus.

[@martinhewett5857]

Please if anyone knows how many 240z 69-73 were made and which country got them wed love to know. Please share!!

[@LMCUES7]

Im in Pensacola and would like to get in touch with Mike Rogers about his Z collection here.

[@michaelcalloway4418]

like it ..Larry , are you selling?

[@MindDezign]

Larry JUST KILLING IT !!! With Datsun Content!! It was " TIMING" Great concept, very hard to implement because Nissan had no clue and wasn't prepared , to dig deep with their resources to launch the project. Why do I say that. Because the British did it thoroughly correct with HERITAGE Parts You could get many British Sports cars from the Mini, to MGB, to TR6. They reproduced entire body shells and all the components to remanufacture their cars. This is how Nissan should have had approached it. Remake body shells and all panels, remanufacture all parts. Instead , they cleaned out Good solid cars and OEM new old stock for 34 ish cars. And reproduced nothing to supply existing Z cars. TIMING and Nissan not interested in the success of the hand that feeds it. As a long time and current Z owner. Larry keep the Z content coming ( and 2.0 is finished , you have the right, to talk about ,your Z car. None of us Z guys MIND!

[@justenclark3788]

I love them too but I want sold one that I can mod with a Daytona style and modern air-0

[@MindDezign]

You need to just go to Factory five and do it correct.

[@d0rifto1]

damn i remember when this was happening, but i was only 14 haha

[@gravygraves5112]

And I'm just sitting here wishing I could scrape up enough for a project 280Z

[@RESET1776]

Nearly went thumbs down for the catfish on (Well, your gonna drive it in a minute…..)

[@chodkowski01]

They were supposed to sell for $24,000 but these collectors played games to knock the average consumers out so the project failed.

[@kelvingilchrist5175]

*And then in Playboy Me: 👀 Cameraman: 😏

[@travismassingale7801]

man, i know he has got that pace car z31, please find a z31 Larry

[@bobbyk5557]

My brother Pete says that I have destroyed so many series one cars racing over the years that I could never visit Japan. He says they would arrest me and claims they have wanted poster's up looking for me. Ha ha..

[@hshsgsshhsgsgsgsgshs9004]

When will you do a Lancer EX

[@bigolgreasemangreg1314]

how do you get the money for this???

[@andrzejgardas7629]

👌 ☺

[@rover215]

Just sat through 38:13 waiting to see or even hear this car run. Nope.

[@picklerick7603]

Larry give me a holler I got a 71 z Iam 2nd owner with a cool story to tell

[@rxblx2442]

Where do I get that Rally 240z T-shirt??

[@randyjaffe1208]

Randal - the company that sold those is BLIPSHIFT. Good luck, Randy

[@khanbaffa3153]

Get some ke70s videos please

[@theamishsoylentretailersof1952]

So the question is bone stock is this car actually the poor man's Porsche ? That being said this guy's garage should be a photo background in the next incarnation of the Gran Turismo franchise . Use those connections Larry.....

[@JxnD]

@tommyfyeah 33:09 👀

[@urw877g]

Wrong on that lowest mileage 240Z. There is a brown 72 with less than 3000 miles located in Elkhart Lake, WI.

[@wileecoyote5749]

Was confirmed odometer flipped twice

[@07Calsonic]

Where is the autofocus on that red hardbody?

[@Booosted_civic]

Are them wheels oem?

[@jasonrackawack9369]

I believe they are OEM hub caps on steel wheels.

[@sumvr3619]

outro song?

[@hector_nimrod]

Nissan did 3 times now. They did It again with restore the R32 GT-R

[@paulzellman9632]

Please indicate the names of the official restorers in the Los Angeles area. It would be much appreciated. I am a second owner of the last model Z , that 280Z , that is 1978 280 Z. -- mine is low a mileage 2+2 model with factory sunroof and factory A/C - regretfully automatic trans. Rather a rare car....... Thank you again.

[@randyjaffe1208]

Paul - unfortunately the 4-5 restoration shops that worked on the Vintage Z Program are not around anymore. Pierre who did the majority of them closed his doors a few years ago I understand. The best shop that I know of is Z Car Garage in San Jose - they do all of my Z work. Cheers, Randy

[@wileecoyote5749]

Google

[@chrismccullough5107]

👍

[@Jarot]

Moar Z content

[@birdsarcasm]

one day, if it's meant for me. then i'll have it.

[@DarthMasiah]

👍🖖

[@travismassingale7801]

thats why u should collect ur playboys kidos

[@JB-sv5pr]

That car was in Boston area no fucking way ! I’ve seen a black gold z here in Hawaii !

[@wileecoyote5749]

Thats not a 71. Probably 78

[@fasteddys906]

I wish honda would do this

[@user-ny3be8bf6v]

What’s the name of the green color of the 240 I’m the background @1:21 and 3:57

[@randyjaffe1208]

Noah - the color code is 303 GREEN METALLIC - It's a 1974 color as that car is a 260Z. Cheers, Randy

[@user-ny3be8bf6v]

@@randyjaffe1208 thank you!

[@josph209]

My mans nose is a liiiiiitle runny and some sporadic movements lol