11/22/2013 Update: This 240Z has sold in less than 24 hours. Thanks for all the interest! We look forward to following the restoration!

From 11/21/2013:

This 1969 Datsun 240Z (chassis HLS30 00051) was built in October of 1969 and is the 18th earliest surviving 240Z in the world according to the Z Car Registry. Many of the very early cars were designated to be either factory test cars, press cars, or race cars from new, and most of these no longer exist. Car #13 was the first car sold to the public. This one will require a full restoration. There has been plenty of talk about where the Japanese collector car market is headed, and the earliest examples will be the most coveted of the 240Z street cars. The seller purchased a complete Series 1 parts car that is also included as shown below. The entire package shown is now available in Santa Barbara, California for $15k.

Early production cars from the first 50 units produced are extremely difficult to find, and rarely appear on the market. Here on Z Home there is another registry that lists each of cars which are known to have survived, and it also verifies chassis #51 to be a green car with tan interior. Further 240Z history can be found here.

These Datsun historical videos are of interest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ44yu6hsGM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59mxi6WVc0

The number plate is shown below. The engine number matches the block casting, and the car number matches the body etching. The seller has re-affixed it with proper screws as it was removed from the car for safe keeping along with the interior plate shown in the document photo.

This is a California car, and the rust is minimal, and it is structurally very solid according to the seller. It features clear window glass (non-tinted with no rear defroster – only found on the early cars). It also has the rear decklid vents and its correct early reclining (but not the flip forward) seats with new correct upholstery kits. It also has the early style rear platform that was factory “swiss cheesed” for lightness, and this predates the later cars which included storage bins with opening lids. The original jack & tool kit is included.

When the seller bought this car, it was missing its engine. He was determined to locate the original if at all possible, and started by tracking down a previous owner through the Early Z registry. Amazingly, he still had the matching number engine in storage, along with some other misc. parts from this car. Unfortunately, he was on the East Coast and the engine was stored in Los Angeles. Long distance negotiations took place over several months, and he has now reunited the car with its matching number engine. The engine has had a lower end rebuild with approximately 10,000 miles on it. It was a struggle to get this, but well worth the effort for the future value & collectibility of this car.

The numbers show it to be engine #L24 2239 (matching number verified by VIN plate and historical data).

To make sourcing parts easier, the seller bought another Series 1 car (rusty but complete) for a donor vehicle. Both cars are included with the sale. There will still be a number of ’69 – only parts that will still need to be located, but the seller’s research shows that there are a large number of correct parts that can be supplied from this donor.

Both cars are located in Santa Barbara, CA and can be inspected anytime. A California title is included, and the seller can assist with shipping arrangements if needed. The seller would like to thank the owners of the “Z Car Registry” and “Z Home” websites, as well as MaguireAutoGroup” and “Mightycurt” for the Datsun historical videos on Youtube.

Check out the additional photos here in the Flickr album and slide-show below.