Iconic 70s 'Z cars' are highly sought after - this might be the lowest mileage example of all in the UK
Mechanically it needs some work but the interior and exterior are spotless
Vehicle sat in storage for 21 years after owner's lengthy search for the best 260Z in 1994
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The engine doesn't looks quite as pristine as the exterior, but once cranked over by hand by a Z car specialist it is described to be in good running order
The follow-up to Datsun's 240Z - the first of the iconic Z cars - this end of production model has just 8,285 genuine miles on the clock, meaning it could be the lowest-mileage 1970s Z model in existence today.
And it was already in excellent nick when it was stashed away in the mid-nineties. hence, the £22,000 auction estimate, which could be smashed if bidding becomes fierce.
The car ended up hidden away in storage just a year after its owner had bought it, having spent a considerable amount of time searching out the finest 260Z they could.
However, having not been started for some 252 months, the motor in this example might need some TLC to have it back to its roaring best.
During an inspection by a Z-car specialist, the engine had to be turned by hand and connected to a small auxiliary fuel tank to bypass a potentially perished fuel tank and lines. According to CCA Classic Car Auctions, it ran smoothly with 'no obvious issues' once it was cranked into life.
The Datsun expert also recommended a thorough going over of the braking system as part of an all-encompassing mechanical service to have the Japanese two-seater roadworthy again.
But apart from this, everything else about the incredibly low-mileage 260Z is in surprisingly good order.
The interior of the right-hand drive motor is described as being as good as it was in 1995 when the current owner put it into storage and the bodywork is in fine fettle despite some traces of micro blistered due to the vehicle age.
To the untrained eye, it looks almost showroom pristine (before you put the bonnet up or try to start it).
Much of this could be down to the painstaking search the existing owner endured to find the 'best 260Z possible' a year before being forced to store the vehicle.
Seen as a potential classic back then in the mid-nineties, it's now blossomed into a highly collectible and rare example - in this case showing no obvious signs of excessive use.
Guy Lees-Milne, auction manager of CCA, commented on the vehicle, saying: 'This car is an unrepeatable opportunity to own what could be one of the lowest mileage 'Z' cars in existence.
'This fantastic car is a rare find ready for recommissioning or preserving, and will make for a very rewarding and straightforward project for the winning bidder.'
Included in the sale is the car's history file containing past MoTs, original hand book and service book, original tool roll, jack and wheel chock and a letter from the Datsun 'Z' Car Register confirming its mileage.
Built from 1974 to 1978, the 260Z featured a longer-stroke 2.6-litre engine - increased in capacity from the 2.4-litre unit in the 240Z - producing just over 160bhp.
As a time-warp example, this car is expected to sell for £18,000 to £22,000 when it goes under the hammer at Classic Car Auctions' sale on Saturday 24th September at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.
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