A $100k 240z...?
 

Not my car:

They’ve gone up in price, but not $100K when “restored”, especially a 73.

https://charleston.craigslist.org/cto/d/charleston-rare-opportunity/7248244014.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608261938.jpg

Maybe. If you put 85K and 3 years into it. A crap shoot to break even at that rate. One did go for 250 awhile back on BAT but I have no idea how that even happened

He's confusing BaT prices on perfect '70/'71 240Zs w his car. prices are way up but it would take $30k to make his into a $30k car. So it should be free. :)

Exactly.

One went for over $300k but it was factory original, extremely low miles documented and perfect. Restored cars are never worth what original cars are. The unicorn car was an early '70, Z collectors are crazy about the small production details that changed midyear on that car, etc. It gets very arcane.

Easiest cars in the world to get sideways. Not a lot of them left. I remember those things rusting badly 20 years ago.

What was the deal they had where Universal City Nissan was buying up all the 240s in the 90s? I seem to remember they were restoring them and selling them as "new" cars? Anybody know how much they were?


I often miss my 280Z. Was a low mile car in great shape. Wonder what it would be worth today.

Nissan actually rebuilt a bunch of original 240Z cars and resold them, those cars are now worth a lot and fit in somewhere on the scale of valuable 240Zs. Probably Universal was procuring them for that program.

What he meant to say was that it would cost $100K to restore....;)

I think two things are going on with the rising demand of classic sports cars.

One is the guys and gals wanting to obtain the car of their youth, perhaps they owned one in the past and want another or always lusted after one and are now in a position to buy one.

The other may be that current offerings by manufacturers aren't cutting it. The few out there may lap the Nurburgring at blistering speeds but are overloaded with tech, weight and Govt. mandated styling that enthusiasts aren't interested in. Yes, there are plenty who want a new 992 (for example) but many more who want a simple, driver focused, light weight sports car that the auto makers are unable to build even if they wanted to. The MX-5 and BRZ may come close but not everyone likes the styling or wants the added tech. The screen sticking out of the dash on the MX-5 is a non starter for me personally.

So they turn to Bring a Trailer with a wide selection of makes and models.

The 240z has a soft spot in my heart. One of the first cars I ever say my dad work on up close. He fixed some dents, refreshed the suspension, repainted it and gave it to my Mom to drive. It met an untimely demise as she hit a bridge abutment one icy morning. The car doesn't look horrible but that rusty steering wheel makes me think there that a whole lot of water has leaked into that car over the years. Peeling back the carpets would likely reveal a rusty ***** show.

My neighbor bought his Datsun 240Z brand new in 1973, so he is the original owner. At 76 years old, he drives it seldom now and is ready to pass it along. It has two very rare options, dealer fitted vented hood to address vapor lock on the SUs AND working R-12 AC. I would rate the car as a solid A, it has perfect interior, zero rust and perfect glass and trim. I've driven it several times and it is lovely. He would take $35k for it.

Here's a picture of the car, in my driveway.

https://scontent.fhou1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...c4&oe=60010AEC

Well, Japanese cars are hot and Z's are leading the way. Who thought 914/4s would be 50-60K cars at auction? 911Ts for $100K plus.. No reason for lots of money to not flow into other markets if folks have been priced out of other cars.

It has been said many times before, a car (or anything else) is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I am always astonished that some of the "art" sells for millions and it is crap in my opinion.

The 240Z is a cool car. This car is way cooler, and earlier.

<iframe width="1234" height="694" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qdck07wTRXo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This is a Honda I would love to have. Totally as a toy, impractical as car, but really cool.

The $300K car on BAT was far from perfect, and had many incorrect details for the model year. It was a product of very good marketing by the seller and a buyer that had less than optimal knowledge of the marque. He grossly overpaid, which is fine for him since he ended up with what he wanted.

The Nissan restored 240z's in the late '90's sold for just over $30k. They completed around 38 if I remember correctly, although they had purchased around 200 used 240Z's for the program. Lack of demand and a dwindling parts supply killed that program. The program was set up as stop gap since Nissan dropped the 300z and had no premium sports car offering in the lineup in North America at that time.

In the recent past, the Datsun Roadster and 510 has outpaced the used sales pricing of the flag ship Z car. Currently, this trend is reversing and the Z car is finally coming around and being recognised for the classic that it has and deserves to be ,and,sale prices are rising accordingly.

Supply and demand as always will factor in pricing. Z cars rusted away, were poorly modified in the '70's - '90s and were generally throw away cars. Very few good, original ones are left. The stigma around Japanese cars isn't what is was years ago and collectors now see them as valid additions to their collections. Nicely restomoded Z's are also commanding large money.

$100K 240z's...absolutely, and then some.
Cheers, enjoy the ride


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608324593.jpg

Nissan has been in the news again recently for offering factory restos of Skylines.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/12/13/skyline-gt-r-factory-restoration/

That is one cool car! The video tells a lot that I didn't know about it.

Good example of why asking and selling prices are often very different things. If I were in the market I’d be sending a PM to Yasin ASAP about his neighbor’s car, because that sounds like a very fair price.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-datsun-240z-65/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-datsun-240z-127/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-datsun-240z-93/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-datsun-240z-39/


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

Beautiful Z and probably worth $35k. With those later model wheels, does he have the correct wheels/hubcaps?

I had a ‘73 240Z with SU’s that was a lot of fun.
I’d like another one, but I’m not willing to pay the price now.

Thanks Matt, I agree it is a very well priced as his car is lovely. I just helped him rebuild all the brakes and clutch hydraulics this past summer, so it stops and shifts perfectly.

Life is crazy too, what are the odds that two gearheads live next to each other and we both have Datsun Zs? If I didn't have mine plus I've run out of garage space, I would have bought his in a hearbeat.

Yes he has the original steel wheels, hub caps plus a set of 14" wire wheels that were all the rage back in the '70s when people added them to make them look E-type-ish, PLUS he has the original window sticker and bill of sale which shows that the car had 11-miles on the odo when he bought it.

Yasin, I'm flying into Dallas on the 24th. Any chance I could come down and see the car after Christmas? Would like to see the car but also meet you and see your 928s.

I had a ton of these cars. This one popped up on CL a few years ago and I'm pretty sure it was mine from 1984. Seller sold it before I could see it. Would love another, one of the most fun cars I've ever owned with Webers and headers.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1608386160.jpg

Do it Shaun! Seems like you’ve been looking at Zs forever.

Shaun - that would be great and equally great to hang out as well.

I sold my '87 S4 a few months ago but still have the '88 (manual).

Please send me a PM and we can take it off line and sync up our schedules and contact details. I'll have to give my neighbor a heads-up as well.

Looking forward to it.
Yasin

Cool, sent you an email! The week is open except I'm photographing a customer's car we did a ton of work on for a Pano ad and seeing other friends in the area and may hit Austin for some BBQ. Just let me know what day is good for you and him and we'll plan a day trip down.

I didn't receive an email or PM, here is my email address: slownrusty@yahoo.com

Chat soon and safe travels.
Yasin

If your elderly neighbor has managed to avoid Covid19 in Texas this long, I would not let him get within 50’ of someone who just flew in from another state, had multiple contacts with different people, etc. Sounds like a recipe for a dirt nap.

Maybe if you could get your hands on a couple of biohazard full suits, (for you and the neighbor), otherwise, make him stand across the street w binoculars to look at your cars. :)

I should add that I don’t know the latest Texas numbers but we had 53k new cases in one day yesterday in CA w 350 deaths in one day.

All very valid point Denis.

Oh definitely. I'm going with best practices from the Flying covid thread.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1079431-flying-travel-during-covid.html

Right now flying with N95 mask and a shield and nitrile gloves. Eric didn't think I needed a Tyvek paint suit but I may still go with one. At this time I'm the only one in my row on my side of the plane and think it will stay that way. Flight is pretty open and it's a direct flight from Boston to Dallas.

Of the four people I'm seeing in Dallas, the one I'm staying with is Taiwanese and she is as strict as it comes to covid.

Certainly will be social distancing and wearing masks when seeing you Yasin and your neighbor.

Glad to hear that you're being careful. I flew once about a month ago and it did not feel particularly dangerous at the time, (uncrowded airports w everyone following guidelines and uncrowded plane). I want to fly to MN. to pick up my truck and see relatives right now but everyone says that it's not worth it. The surge is just too huge right now. Best of luck in your travels.

$100,000 clams for a Datsun? Not on this planet, I would guess $25,000-$28,000 max on a good day. Good looking car but its no Ferrari.

Then you have no idea about what has been going on in the collectible car market in recent times. 6-figure sales of 240Z cars are commonplace. One went for over $300k on BaT this year with obviously more than one bidder taking it to that level.

That looks and sounds like a gorgeous example. And not an unreasonable price. If I hadn't purchased the 964 about a year ago (and run out of garage/driveway space)... And I have family in Houston to check out the car/garage it temporarily/etc.

There were even links posted in #18

It certainly appears that there are fewer 240Z out there than early 911s. Maybe it’s just my perception but there seem to be far fewer for sale.

I missed the 240, but I did own a 75 280Z, that I bought new for 6,550
Silver with Black, and override bars to protect the nose and ass
I kept that car for 13 years. one clutch, a few electric antennas , Semperit ( I think) tires , a paint job, and I think that was mostly it.

Zig, do recall if your 280Z felt heavy? First, I'm surprised 240s weight as much as they do. The ones I had 30+ years ago (back when you could get a car that needs work for $500, yes hundred dollars), you could lean on a fender and push in the sheet metal easily. Crazy tossable my cars always were and so easy to drift or just push the back end out around a corner, let off the gas, correct your steering and then punch it to finish the turn. They all felt lighter than they really are. I asked on a FB Z forum if the 280 was much heavier than a 240 and many said you could get them down to 240 weight by backdating the bumpers and then of course backdate the tail lights.

What's your sense on the 280 in terms of weight if you recall?

Maybe on the Left coast, but around the fly over states, no body would pay that kind of cash for a clapped Datsun. Sorry Charlie. With that kind of cash Id get a Ferrari, hell Id buy a twin engine beechcraft barron, Datsun lol!;)

I’ve noticed this too Matt but there were many times more Zs built than 911s. But I think they were considered throwaway cars compared to 911s needing the same amount of rust repair. Still, you would think more be on the market than there are.