| For around four years, starting in 97-98, I looked for a Z32. They seemed so inaccessible until I realized I could get into an N/A for around $11k. I was in college driving a 280zx turbo. I really wanted a silver Z32, but in Montana they are a little hard to come by. So during the summers while I worked in Oregon, I looked for a good condition N/A. This went on for two years, knowing that I would store it during school if I found one. I never wanted to settle on a different color or tranny. Then my finances came into the range where I was faced with the choice of low mileage N/A or high mileage TT, but in silver. I found an auto TT in silver and bailed at the last minute, knowing I'd hate myself for getting the auto tranny (my 280 was an auto). I bought a toyota 4x4 instead. So I went back to school promising myself the Z as a graduation gift wasting time here to get my fix. A week after I graduated, I put my pickup up for sale and sold it in a weekend. So with about $8k in my pocket, I went shoping for my Z. At first, my search was within 100 miles then 300, then ALL. I finally had it narrowed down to 2 Z's... one tt.net member's silver '90 TT in florida and a 'grey' '93 TT in Newport Beach, CA. I had a week before I started a job and needed a car. I convinced myself that the Oxford Grey was a great color and maybe even better than silver at times. So I bought a one-way Greyhound ticket to Newport Beach. 20 hours of staring out the window. I finally arrive and call the guy, he says he will be there in a minute... Okay, fine. I'll just sit on the bench outside. I make sure I have my cashier's check on me for $17,200, knowing I'll either destroy it or finally own a Z32. I look up and see a silver Z with chromies turning onto the street. At this point time my Z32 ESP was honed... I could pick them out in parking lots off of the highway at 80 mph. I shrugged it off a an interesting but cruel coincidence that I was there to buy a grey one and I see a silver one drive past. I told myself-Eh, silver's not that great.. The grey looks more upscale. I stood up to get a better view of it going down the street.. but he was in the turning lane with his blinker on. He made a u-turn and pulled up right next to me... rolled down his window and asked "Are you Brian?" uh yeah.. is all I could manage. Then a 6'4"+ guy in his late 50's got out of the driver's side. It was late on a very hot day in August and the california sunset cast a glow over the Z. You want to drive it? Yes! I sat in the driver's seat while he walked around to the passenger side. I looked around noting the black suede that I hadn't seen before, having only driven 90-91. We got on the 405 back to house to finish the deal. After we took his exit I pulled over and asked if he would like to drive it again.. he did, taking me on a white knuckle ride over the last 5 or so miles.. When we got back to his house he got out a folder of all papers associated with his Z... records etc... He showed me his new Corvette that was taking the Z's spot in his 2 car garage. I signed the check and handed it to him. At this point, the family had gathered around the Z when we went outside. The took pictures with it and the wife looked at my previous owner's expression and said.. "End of an era, huh?" He nodded. Having loaded everything up in the Z including a well wrapped stock exhaust. I got in and pulled away slowly, seeing the family on the front lawn watch as I drove away. I turned the corner and pulled over, to take it all in. In disbelief that it all worked out how it did.. I had a very long drive ahead and very little sleep. Around Sacremento, CA I was passed and waved at by a guy in a white Z32TT. In northern CA, I had a guy that used to race Datsuns come over to talk to me. When I got home.. I considered sleeping in my new Z. Within a week I loaded up the Z and drove to MT spent 3 days loading up stuff and set off for my cross country drive... over 3000+ miles from Newport Beach, CA,> Bozeman MT, >Fargo, ND >Madison, WI > Southbend, IN >Troy, NY. Nothing like buying a Z with around 53k on it and putting more miles on it that the previous owner did in three years. Three years later I moved to Detroit Z has 80k on it now...
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