We had that rumour as you say, about 3 years ago. It was proven untrue, but some concluded it came from the States , where there at the time, there was a company recycling Zeds by refurbishing the shells and rebuilding the mechanicals. Some suggested 1600's were getting a similar interest but we couldn't confirm this.
If you really want a good 1600 shell, they still exist. I have bought two rust free originals in the past five years. One is a genuine 1600SSS, and the other one a "grandpa" driven '72 Auto. The auto I had to buy, despite having no real use for it at the time. After 4 years of reading the Trading Post religiously, I spotted "no rust anywhere" bargain ($600 ONO). The owner said the head was off as it had a blown head gasket and she didn't think it was worth the cost to repair it, but it was a "lovely car which her grandfather bought new and had given to her 6 months earlier" and she was "sure it could be restored". She had receipts for heaps of minor works done to get a RWC when it was transferred to her name. (Brakes, steering, tyres, battery, windscreen and a replacement auto.) I couldn't get there fast enough. I told the seller I wasn't interested in haggling for a lower price and handed over the cash as fast as I could to secure the deal before anyone else turned up. I removed it immediately before others had a chance to set up an auction. The seller's mobile phone must have rung 3 or 4 times as we loaded it up to take it away. I resprayed the body, (original colour), installed a W53 head from a Stanza, head gasket and new radiator core. It is now my son's fianc�'s "daily driver" and hasn't missed a beat. The SSS I got by paying a negotiated price. I found this one in the Australian Rally Newspaper. It was advertised as a 510SSS as the seller thought only rally enthusiasts would know what a "510SSS" was, and its rarity. It was a two owner car that had been sitting in a shed for over ten years. Complete, totally original and very low mileage. I had to promise the seller it would not be turned into a rally car. He was only selling as his "rare car collection had got too big" and he was living in another state from this car was stored and registered. Despite this had just been over the pits for its annual renewal inspection. The hassle of organising this from interstate motivated the reluctant seller to advertise it. (Some people have too much money!) Last year I saw a perfect shelled original '68 1600 sold for $2800. I thought it was a very reasonable price. I believe you have to be prepared to spend money for a good body and, in my view, it's well worth at least an extra two or three grand to get one. Repairing a rusty one quickly runs up the dollars and is rarely as good as a rust free original ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harris, Jason" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, 20 September 2002 12:12 PM Subject: RE: one for the dato historians... > Anyone heard the rumour (Well Suposed rumour) that Shells are till > available (Brand New 1600 Shells) from Japan ? I heard this several > years back and dismissed this. Apparently they sell for between $8-10k. > > Would be nice if it is true. > > -----Original Message----- > From: mick ralph [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, 20 September 2002 11:29 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: one for the dato historians... > > > Andrew > What a great find!! > All those brand new NON RUSTY dattos mmmmmmmmmmmm > Interesting mix of cars on the assembly line. > What interested me most was that with all those cars and out of 4 pics I > can > only see 3 guys who actually look like they are working...LOL > Says something about something I guess > cheers > Mick > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "GREENBURY, Andrew Robert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 5:42 PM > Subject: one for the dato historians... > > > > Hi Guys, > > > > I came across these photos in a limited edition victorian > > automotive chamber of commerce publication on the history of the car > in > > Vic: > > > > http://opax.swin.edu.au/~185404/old_dat_photos/ > > > > Thought some of you may be interested in seeing the manufacturing > origins > > of our beloved, being built alongside (of all things) Volkswagens!! > > > > Andrew > > > > > > > > > > ********************************************************************** > This footnote confirms that this email message has been swept by > MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. > ********************************************************************** > > > --membersozdat------------------------------------------------------- OZDAT Mailing List Please Note:- Send (un)subscribe requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] No unauthorised redistribution of this email http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/index.htm http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/listindex.html http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
