Car, mechanic meet again at All Wheels
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-Chronicle photo
Daryl Zumhofe of Kennewick, right, discovered that his one-owner 1972 Datsun 240-Z rubbed elbows with mechanic Jim Cornelison of Walla Walla, when the racing-green sports car was awaiting its first owner at Midway Datsun in Moscow, Idaho.
DAYTON–Visiting with Daryl Zumhofe of Kennewick about his nice racing green, 1972 Datsun 240-Z, it was surprising to learn Zumhofe has been the sleek sports car's one and only owner.
The Z originally was powered by an in-line, 2,393 c.c. six cylinder engine–rounded up to 2,400 c.c.'s for the "240" in the name–and came from the factory with a four-speed manual transmission. Fast forward to 2023, some 51 years later to a spot in front of the Columbia County Courthouse, and the car has received some improvements: a more powerful engine from a 280-Z and a five-speed transmission from a 280-ZX.
Zumhofe bought the car from Midway Datsun in Moscow, Idaho, for $4,200, "plus some change and tax" totaling $4,600.
In the process of learning about the car, Jim Cornelison of Walla Walla joined the conversation, and it was learned that Cornelison, who at one time worked for Eldon Vories Motors in Walla Walla, was actually turning wrenches at Midway when Zumhofe purchased this Z car.
