1971 Datsun 240Z 4-speed with $17k in receipts, priced under driver money

Why we picked it

This is an early 1971 Datsun 240Z (VIN HLS3031755) with the 2.4-liter L24 inline-six, twin SU-style carburetors and a 4-speed manual, finished in bright red over a black interior with chrome bumpers and 14-inch alloy wheels. The seller says it is mechanically sound and includes $17,019 in receipt copies covering 1989 to 2023, plus factory literature.

Early 240Zs with manual gearboxes and normal-use miles have been selling in the high $20,000s to low $40,000s, and even tired or modified drivers rarely go much below $18,000. At $19,950, this car is priced near the bottom of that range, and the receipts suggest it has been looked after for decades. Beverly Hills Car Club cars often need some sorting, so we see the price as room to cover that rather than a reason to skip the inspection.

The value check

The seller is asking $19,950. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $18,600–$41,250, so the middle of the market is about $29,925. That put this car 33% under.

Unrestored or lightly modified US-market 240Z drivers sold for about $18,600 to $41,250 on Bring a Trailer, Hagerty and others from Aug to Oct 2026 (midpoint about $29,900). At $19,950 this car is about 33% below that midpoint, before allowing for condition surprises.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1971 240Z, 77k mi, sold $27,000 (BaT, Aug 2026)
• 1971 240Z, 73k mi, sold $26,500 (BaT, Aug 2026)
• 1971 240Z, 60k mi, sold $18,600 (BaT, Aug 2026)
• 1973 240Z, 32k mi TMU, sold $21,500 (BaT, Oct 2026)
• 1970 240Z, 51k mi, sold $34,000 (BaT, Oct 2026)
• 1971 240Z, 29k mi, sold $41,250 (BaT, Sep 2026)

What to check

• Beverly Hills Car Club lists the odometer as 0 and does not state mileage, title status or sale terms. Confirm a clean title, as-is terms and actual mileage before sending money.
• Check for rust in the floor pans, frame rails, battery tray area, rear wheel arches, rocker panels and the hatch bottom. These are the usual S30 weak spots.
• The red paint may be a respray. Look under the hatch seal, door jambs and engine bay for overspray or filler.
• Check the SU carburetor tune and linkage, the condition of the 4-speed synchros, and the rear differential mounts.
• Go through the receipts and match them against the VIN to see what was done and when.

Making it drive like new

The L24 responds well to triple carbs or modern EFI, a 5-speed swap from a later Z or a 280ZX gives better cruising gearing, and bolt-in coilovers, poly bushings and a 4-piston front brake kit transform how it drives. Many owners also add a stiffer subframe connector kit and an electric fan while keeping the early-car look intact.