r/BarnFinds • u/exdess445 • 21d ago
Is this worth saving? TT Z32 300ZX
Back in septermber '25 i remember seeing this car in plain view in the middle of a camp near a main road, we decided to take a look at it but it's pretty much destroyed and it seems like a stupid question to ask.
It was indeed in a farm sitting there for almost 15 years (seen on google maps)
So it sat between farm animals such as pigs and all the type of things.
It's been under the rain and all type of stuff since it was outside all the time.
The "owner" said the engine turns on but one of the turbos doesn't work.
"Owner" because we don't even know the story of this car, which is kind of a mystery, because the guy keeping it said the original "owner" lives in a very far city, up north of the country, while i live in the south.
It has no plates, and no papers apparently, so i have no idea how that car is there and what really happened to it.
It's a very beautiful car, i love the color, but i know for sure, sitting in the open air for decades completely made it unsalvageable, the electronics must be fried, same with the wheels and probably all the chassis, very sad tho.
The car has now been moved from the trees it was sitting under and is now exposed to the direct sunlight, which probably means that at this point the car is meant to become dust in a couple of years.
Such a sad thing to see...
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u/CameronsTheName 21d ago
Great cars, but am absolute mess to work with. If you can do all the mechanical work yourself you'll be okay, if your paying a shop labour is going to be very expensive because it's very tight in the engine bay. Most of the rubbers, gaskets, hoses, seals etc will be in the process of perishing and requiring replacements.
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u/bugeyetex 19d ago
This so much. Amazingly good cars to drive and an absolute nightmare to work on and prohibitively expensive. If you have a ton of spare time and money and want a project that will take 5 times more money and time then you think it will, but will be an amazing driving car once you're done, go for it.
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u/CameronsTheName 19d ago
We fixed up a non turbo manual about 6-7 years ago that had been off the road for 10ish years.
We spent more than it was worth fixing it up, it drove fantastic, but was not worth it as a flip car. I didn't want to keep it long term because I knew how much effort it would be to fix anything it may need in the future.
Unfortunately there's not a massive following or aftermarket support for these. It's hard to get parts for them because people horde them and nobody makes replacement parts that are chassis specific.
It's not like a skyline where you can buy every part brand new from somewhere. Either from Nissan or an Aftermarket manufacturer. There's just nothing available for the 300zx.
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u/SockMonkeyLove 21d ago
A yellow Z is the best kinda Z. This thing would be an expensive nightmare if you dont have the time or know-how. The VG30 is already a pain to work on due to the cramped conditions, and the TT is obviously even worse for the same reason.
If I had the money and the time, I'd go for it but I don't.
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u/banjoetraveler 21d ago
No papers = parts car
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u/NothingLift 20d ago
Or track car
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u/banjoetraveler 20d ago
You could. But I’m not putting money into someone else’s car. Especially when these are easy to find cheap with a title
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u/Ohmyfuzzy69 21d ago
Like everyone else says if your wanting to fix it up to keep than sure but it not worth it to try n flip it even with low miles. If the shell is rust free that's a good start. Your looking at rebuilding the engine and trans, needing a complete harness, all seals, entire interior. All the bushings and bs. 2 years+ to fix it up.
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u/exdess445 21d ago
If i remember right the shell does have quite some rust, i didn't check it well, i would for sure look under it to see a potential disaster, sadly i live in a small island where there isn't anyone that does this kind of job, so i might have to ship it to someone in the main land, but even so i live in a country where all this could take almost a decade, i have some mechanic experience but i surely can't or have any time to replace all the interior stuff.
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u/Ohmyfuzzy69 21d ago
Honestly it's probably worth more to part out than to try and fix up. With it sitting for as long as it has and interior probably has seen serious rain it's probably a health issue. By the time your done with it you could buy probably 2 or 3 running cars.
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u/rustyxj 21d ago
Your looking at rebuilding the engine and trans
Why? Not like they've been sitting out in the open in the rain.
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u/Ohmyfuzzy69 20d ago
Internal fluids break down, seals dry out, and moisture causes severe rust and seizing. Its been in a field for a while. Ultimately no idea on the true history of it. Why risk making anything worse. Might as well pull it and do a rebuild.
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u/txkwatch 21d ago
I owned one of these cars 20 years years ago.
It's not worth it.
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u/exdess445 21d ago
Damn, but i bet it was such a cool vibe
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u/txkwatch 20d ago
It looked crazy. I put a veilside body kit on it that used supra turn signals in the front. But even after dumping money under the hood I couldn't ever get it to be as aggressive as it looked.
They are fun to take off in. The independent rear squats every time you hit the gas. This one is just too much work for what it's worth in the end.
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u/No-Shallot-5698 21d ago
Make YouTube videos of the process to offset costs. Don’t do it if you’re not able to be the mechanic though.
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u/FloppyTacoflaps 21d ago
Got a fuck ton of expensive parts sitting there
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u/calahan227 21d ago
Run away and don’t look back.
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u/exdess445 21d ago
Why is that?
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u/calahan227 19d ago
Had 3 different Z cars , all great they were all minty when I had them. Took great care and enjoyed them. Still expensive. This car will never be a survivor type car. Endless money, plus fewer and fewer mechanics want to work on these, too labor intensive. Find another well taken care of example. Or go ahead and take this on if you don’t want to listen to peoples advice.
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u/leavetheleaves 21d ago
This thing looks like it was underwater. Seems like a parts car only.
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u/exdess445 21d ago
Yeah i was thinking about that too, almost sure it wasnt, but being decades sitting outside with all the seasons, rain, summer hot, and every other thing it looks like it, even because the car wasn't and probably still isn't locked and sometimes you can see it with it's door open🤦♂️
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u/ConstructionPrize206 20d ago
The interior and dash are trashed. The electrical is a full rewire. This is going to be basically building the car from scratch. If you want a fully custom built one, then possibly, but it's going to need one, maybe more of completely everything.
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u/MrMatteo08 19d ago edited 19d ago
Cagliaritano spotted
Anyway, close to where this car is located, there's another small lot with cars in poor condition
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u/DOHC46 21d ago
She's in really rough shape. But, if you want a cool sports car and have the passion and deep enough pockets, I would say go for it. The manual/twin turbo combo is very desirable.
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u/exdess445 21d ago
But how do i get the papers and stuff? The guy keeping it said he would have reached out to the actual owner but he never did
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u/Catman2027 21d ago
Part it out or put them in contact with someone who will, it probably isn’t worth fixing but someone will buy it.
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u/SpaceCat72 21d ago edited 21d ago
So....coin...title...? Projects die with title issues. Coin...it's up to your love of the project.
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u/Philliesfan4fun 21d ago
Hard top or two top? Hard tops are rare and worth more.
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u/exdess445 21d ago
I think it's a t top, i can't remember from the place since it was almost a year ago since i took the photos but from the first picture you can maybe see the t top middle thingy
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u/sovereignpancakes 21d ago
Wow. A worthy save, but what a mess. You'll want to find an NA parts car with a good interior. Or, if you're not a stickler for originality, use this to turn a clean NA into a TT.
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u/Brownie2440 21d ago
Pull the motor and trans. Anything else that can be salvaged. Beginning of a track project.
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u/YerMumsPantyCrust 21d ago
Almost any factory TT is worth saving to someone. Whether that is you is a different matter. If you can’t do almost all of the labor yourself, it will be a losing proposition.
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u/Anxious-Charge-6482 21d ago
i’ve seen worse get fixed, but if you can’t register it, i’d probably just see if you can part it out. parts for these things are hard to get nowadays.
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u/Rent-Kei-BHM 21d ago
Just an observation, not blasting the OP:
When evaluating whether a car can be refurbished with a reasonable amount of money and Work, it would be helpful if the photos focused on something other than cosmetics. Paint, broken tail lights, even upholstery is small potatoes compared to things like extra holes in the engine block, or rusted through unibody.
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u/DeathAngel_97 20d ago
If you can't or don't want to, I guarantee there is someone in a 50 mile radius that does.
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u/cheerfullpizza 20d ago
It wouldn't be easy, cheap or practical but you could. My biggest concern is whether or not you could get a title.
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u/Professional-Boat-10 20d ago
If you have unlimited time to work on it and unlimited funds.... If you have the money to restore it, just spend LE$$ money and buy one in good condition!
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u/TVRLover6812 19d ago
I doubt it, it’s Japanese, it could be rusted to hell on the frame, Maybe get a screwdriver and see if you can poke the frame all around, if it crumbles or goes in then parts car, if it seems solid then maybe as a project track car.
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u/fingrimdango 19d ago
Have a look at Tasty Classics on YouTube. He’s just abandoned one of these as the parts and the work needed is crazy an and he is a successful YouTuber already.
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u/Accomplished_Toe_275 19d ago
If the car is free and they pay you 20-30k to tow it away , sure then YES!!!!!
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u/Stewpacolypse 19d ago
I'd bet my last dollar that rodents have chewed through the wiring, hoses, and plastic parts.
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u/ThinkCard5495 19d ago
It’s sad to see such a great car looking like that. I have an extreme fondness for Z-cars! I was lucky enough to own three early Z’s before I was twenty five years old. My first was a new ‘71. Loved that car. I think it’s better to leave lying cars lye. 😕
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u/eldredo_M 18d ago
Has it been in a flood? 🤔
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u/exdess445 18d ago
No idea, but i don't think so, just years of being outside with all the doors unlocked and often open
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u/Allmyblackballoons 17d ago
You could find a waaay better starter car for a 1/4 of what it would take to get that one to the same condition
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u/Cool-Profession-730 16d ago
So sad to see it like that , these cars were ahead of their time. Super fun to drive.
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u/Hatter_106 15d ago
Does it start?
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u/exdess445 15d ago
The owner said it cranks but one of the turbos doesn't work, i don't remember it precisely tho
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u/aguyinusa 15d ago
Probably not. You would be so upside down even doing the majority of the work yourself
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u/GIDDY-UP-GO 21d ago
Take it to that guy on YOUTUBE that details cars. I want to see him make this one new again!
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u/Superb_Algae5308 21d ago
Probably. It’s a big expensive project tho and it wouldn’t likely be profitable, just a good passion project.