I don’t normally post about crazy car sales prices, but this is insane

[McLovin]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-datsun-240z-124/

[McLovin]

[herr_oberst]

Crazy money.

I was trying to watch a Mercury Marauder that was on at the same time, but the Z auction crashed the BaT server.

I reckon every 240Z in any condition is now fair game.

[speeder]

Yeah, I was watching that one because I was interested in another car that ended about the same time. I'd dare say that was more than a '71 911S in the same condition would go for and it set the 240Z world upside-down.

[manbridge 74]

Money is just numbers on a page to many nostalgic people and they MUST have that unrestored artifact be it a watch, car, Frank Lloyd Wright house etc....

[MBAtarga]

I sold my '72 z for $1600 back about 30 years ago.

[pwd72s]

My problem is remembering these cars when they were new. In many cases, how they drove out. The actual driving fun just isn't there to justify the prices they sell for.

It's about status and egos...has little to do with a driving experience or nostalgia. It's "I can write a bigger check than you."

[manbridge 74]

Status and ego often go hand in hand with nostalgia.

Agreed on the driving experience, though I doubt it’ll ever be driven. Could’ve had a new GT2RS or the like is a common response. Thing is, they probably have other super expensive cars already.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Insane. Just insane. Amazing car but for the money, no thanks.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

My problem is remembering these cars when they were new. In many cases, how they drove out. The actual driving fun just isn't there to justify the prices they sell for.

It's about status and egos...has little to do with a driving experience or nostalgia. It's "I can write a bigger check than you."

Did not watch the bidding progression.

However, I can't imagine that someone with that much disposable coin would want to show off his financial wherewithal on THAT car. A car that can't weather one real winter without fading into dust.

There has to be an obsession in play and I think nostalgia hits the nail on the head.

Just sayin'

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I follow all Datsun Zs on BaT, want to sit down and read through this auction sometime this weekend. Clearly one of the very few ways you can buy time.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

I sold my '72 z for $1600 back about 30 years ago.

I bought my first of 5 240s for $500 starting at 16. These were, and still are, fantastic driver's cars, in some ways better than a 911 being so tossable. You could always throw the tail out and reel it back in, so much fun. My last car had dual Webers and headers, used to race another kid with a Dodge Demon 340. My car was the slightest bit quicker to 80 or so. Great times. Really want another one.

[aschen]

I must be missing something that is 10x what i would have guessed.

A similar condition 911s or even e30 m3 i might be able to see, but seems insane for such a pedestrian car even with the outstanding condition. There must be others just as nice

[Macroni]

Elon Musk made a few billion today......sanity left the stage along time ago.

[slow&rusty]

My neighbor who is now 75-years old, bought his 240Z brand new, it now has 44,000 original miles and is mint mint mint! I showed him this green BaT 240 this evening and he had to sit down and pour himself a Jack a Coke, to think he was going to sell the car recently for $30k.
Pic below:

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Forget the ZX wheels, the heck did he do to the hood?

[slow&rusty]

That hood is a rare dealer installed hood to help with vapor lock as the head is non-cross flow and the exhaust would boil the SU carbs if it sat in traffic. It is called the Datsun Competition Hood.

He also has the original 14" steel wheels with the same hubcaps (that look brand new) as the BaT car.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Did not watch the bidding progression.

However, I can't imagine that someone with that much disposable coin would want to show off his financial wherewithal on THAT car. A car that can't weather one real winter without fading into dust.

. . .

Not to mention that they are ridiculously slow (not that everyone values power and speed in a sports car, even a vintage one, as peeps on this forum often make clear - "it's all about the character" ). I drove one when I was about 19 and was basically shocked by how little thrust it had.

[lgb240]

I'm a long time 240Z owner. I have (2) 1971 240z's. One I've had for 35 years, the other for 22 years, so I follow Z sales quite closely.

I'm glad to see that Z values have finally started to rise over the past couple of years.
A Z432 sold for $250K last fall - which is a much more rare Z car that justifies the big spend (more so than the BAT Z) and Z 432R (equivalent to a 911 RS) sold for over $800K

This sale, however, is just unreal, or even insane. It was VERY well sold. This car is a very good example of an unmolested Z, but definitely not the best, or even close to it, be it original or not. (there's a lot of not original if that's what drove the high price)

If this was shown at a Nation Z Convention, it would probably place, but would be far from a "Gold Medallion' winner (Think Top Flight Corvette for the Datsun world)

Now that this sale is on the books, Z prices will climb like 911 prices. At the very least, I'm hope parts availability will get better as they become more financially viable to restore.

The winner was definitely the seller and the runner up bidder. Sure the buyer got a nice car, but if they can afford $300K for a z car, it's probably the runt in their collection.

[manbridge 74]

The winning bidder joined in Jan 2020. First and only car bid on, he was willing to keep upping bids no matter what it took. Maybe he had to have this shade of green....