This is the
story of Zena the 1971
Datsun 240Z.
Zena came to our family June 6, 2002
just 3 weeks after I decided that I would have more fun fixing up a Z
than a 79 620 Pick-Up called
Buzz. I found Zena in Portland Oregon (gotta love the internet)
after speaking with the owner and getting confident that nothing was
being hidden from me I took a 1.5 hr flight from Sacramento California
to Portland Oregon met the owner’s mom and dad, paid for the car and
literally drove off into the sunset. She promptly scared the poop out of
me when I turned out of the parking garage and found out that I should
start my turns a little later now that I am sitting in what would be the
back seat of most cars!
After that we settled down with one
another I soon discovered that she really did need new struts when I hit
the first bridge to freeway joint and she tried going in three
directions at once. The next problem arose when I began noticing that
the awful exhaust odor was not coming from that old pick up in front of
me. So I opened all the windows and dam if it didn’t get worse! I soon
discovered that I could reduce the odor if I closed the windows and
turned on the vent fan full with all the vents open. This worked for
about 15 min until I decided that if I did not do something about this .
. . Zena was going to kill me on our first date! I soon remembered that
I had packed a roll of . . . . duct tape . . . the bailing wire of the
late 20th century. I stopped the car taped the whole rear
hatch seam and it worked. I proceed down I-5 and we spent the night the
KOA in Eugene. The next day was uneventful with the exception of
stopping at every rest stop soaking my shirt to keep cool until the next
rest stop.
Zena is now getting to know Buzz (as
in Buzz Light-year) the 1979 620 Datsun Pickup and Dotti the 1972 510
2dr. I am hoping that Sally (1993 Saturn SC2) my daily ride does not get
jealous. Then there is Vicki (who is a snob) a 1996 Volvo 850 GL.
Shortly she will be getting to know Sue (1992 Saturn SL2) who has been
in storage waiting for my 2nd son to get his license. He thinks he is
going to get to drive Zena I told him to dial 1-800-Fat-Chance.
2003 to 2004
I have been slowly gathering parts
for Zena over the last 2 years so far I have picked up the following
items:
