Barret Jackson BS

[DatsunZGuy]

I’ll reserve any email comment to SPEED TV until lot #408 hits the stage on Thursday (1/27). Maybe Mr. Yates and company will have some positive comments to express about the 240Z and other Japanese imports this time around.

[Gav240z]

All very well but I'm afraid that a real 432r is already way out of my budget. that applies for a 2000GT aswell. The ZG however is a little more friendly in price but finding an actual ZG may be a little tricky as alot of mockups are around in Japan.

I wouldn't stress too much about it from the reaction my car gets on the street and almost any other place i take it. I'm sure you'll find most of the public think it's worth alot more than what I'm afraid it actually is.

These collector car experts all drive British Sports cars and we know what there like. Let bygons be bygons

[TomoHawk]

Maybe Mr. Yates and company will have some positive comments to express about the 240Z and other Japanese imports this time.

A long as he mentions that the Z-car is the MOST POPULAR SPORTSCAR in the U.S.A.

the Corvette people will go nuts over that.

I did agree that the 2+2 Ferraris are (slightly) less desireable than the coupes, but, to me, as long as it has a cavallino ON THE GRILLE,and it comes from Modena, it's a Ferrari, as opposed to the ones with the stick-on hood badge.

[hls30.com]

You guys seem to have forgotten, an auction is never about the cars, it is about selling the cars. The whole thing is geared to sell, and that is why everything said will be to make the buyers feel good about parting with more money than it would take to reproduce some of those cars from parts bins, and aftermarket sources. Tires, asphault, gasoline and most importantly addrenaline dont care about authenticity-education(read propaganda) tells all of us that it is important. A red Shelby 500 can't be told from a well made replica from the drivers seat, and that is where a sports car was made to be enyoyed.

Buying a car from a BJ auction is exactly like buying a camcorder, you aren't buying a collection of metal plastic and glass, you are buying the memories and emotions it captures.

Will

[chickenwafer]

the Toyota 2000GT (reguarded as the first import sport compact) change hands rarely, partly due to there only being about 2,000 left in running order. And when they do change hands, it is a big thing- they command an average $100,000 for a prestine example. I always found it funny that the engine was built and designed by Yamaha, not Toyota .

In my eyes, some Japanese cars are VERY valueable, like the 2000GT, a 432R, and some of the very first JDM Datsun's such as the ridiculously rare Fair Lady S211, of which only 12 were every produced and a rumored 6 still exist (excluding the one in the Nissan mesuem, of course).

And let us not forget the first 1957 Skyline, or the premier 3rd generation Skyline GT-R. Those babies came with the coveted L20A- a 2 liter, 24 valve, dual overhead cam, triple-carb monter of a straight 6. The engine went to 7000 rpm in stock trim and more than 8000 rpm in race form, which is no small feat for such a long crank. Those engines, ALONE, minus car, go for $20,000 plus. And don't forget the R390 Le Mans race car with the twin turbo V8 and 6-speed sequential. Even though they were never "officially" for sale, one of the couple handfuls of examples out there still end up in the hands of collectors for an astonishing 250 grand plus.

So, sure, Japanese cars are desireable. .

Dave

[Alfadog]

Some people have got their priorities all wrong... Are we forgetting the PURPOSE of the Z car was a cheap sports car any person could afford? Why do you want them to increase in value so much that most will sit in garages collecting dust and trophies? I would much rather see them being driven on the streets as they were intended.

Talk about vanity! eesh

[Inf]

the Toyota 2000GT (reguarded as the first import sport compact) change hands rarely, partly due to there only being about 2,000 left in running order. And when they do change hands, it is a big thing- they command an average $100,000 for a prestine example....

Not true, only around 350 were ever MADE, and only around 50 were exported to the United States.

I also dispute it being called a "sport compact." the 2000GT was a true sports car in every sense of the phrase. Sport compact is what they call something that ISN'T a sports car yet they want to market it as being sporty.

And i'm not exactly sure about your cost figure there either, I have seen them go for various prices in great condition over the years. It is not like going out and buying a Z where there is an expected value for a car that is pristine : if you don't like Seller X's price, you probably won't find another one up for sale.

[TomoHawk]

Alphadog is right-

It's in OUR best interest to keep the dollar-value of the Z-car down, and the value Up. I think what I should be complaining about is the general disinterest of the car from the SPEEDTV commentators.

They should be saying better things about the Zed. How about one of those video drive-bys like you may have seen of some of the cars being sold.

thx :knockedou

[hls30.com]

TomoHawk,

That "general disnterest" is a really strange phenomenon given their earlier statement indicatinfg that too many were made for them to appreciate. If there are that many still around, it can olnly be because the owners value the cars enough to take good care of them-indicating a vast following, and quite an available audience for television viewers-I guess the powers that be hear what they want to hear.

maybe it is time for a new channel:

ZTV Sounds like a new thread...Lets make our own show...contributors?

Will

[DatsunZGuy]

Sometimes I think we are trying have our cake and eat it too. We work hard to preserve our cars and advocate their virtues. We proudly display them at shows and put our best foot forward to the general public when questioned about them. I believe we want Zs to be respected by the collector car community. Of course, with respect and recognition comes interest and speculation. As a result, good old supply and demand kicks in and prices start to rise. All I’m trying to say it’s a tricky dance keeping a classic car affordable while praising it to the rest of the world.

[chickenwafer]

Not true, only around 350 were ever MADE, and only around 50 were exported to the United States.

I also dispute it being called a "sport compact." the 2000GT was a true sports car in every sense of the phrase. Sport compact is what they call something that ISN'T a sports car yet they want to market it as being sporty.

And i'm not exactly sure about your cost figure there either, I have seen them go for various prices in great condition over the years. It is not like going out and buying a Z where there is an expected value for a car that is pristine : if you don't like Seller X's price, you probably won't find another one up for sale.

Ok, yes I was wrong about the total number made- got confused- it was late . But as for a Sport Compact, I respectfully disagree with your definition- or at least that's not how I use it all. To me, a Sport compact is a small sports car- just as the name reads. The name came about when the Import sports car were coming over; they were smaller and had smaller engines, thus being compact when compared against a Vette or Mustang. Maybe today it means that, but I still don't think so. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR is a "sport compact" yet it still does 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and can hang with some Porsche's (I.E. only naturally aspirated Porsche's like a Boxster or the base model 911 maybe). I would consider the Evo a sports car, wouldn't you?

And about the prices on the 2000GT- I got that price number from an issue of Sport Compact Magazine. They had a section on a Toyota convention where one 2000GT sold for over $100K. If you would like the exact issue number and date I can get it to if you so desire.

Not trying to start anything, just want to tell my side of the story

And Tomohawk is right- we are getting away from the Z was marketed and meant to be- a cheap, well performing sports car that anyone could afford.

Dave

[Rick Bolus]

Remeber when Brock Yates had to sue everyone in sight to keep "his thing", the origianl Cannonball from becoming the freak show it became? I met him once back then when I worked for Oscar Kovaleski, I had a silver 72 Z my brother had bought new, hls30-48103. It was lowered and all racerized (RIP). He said with this nice Z car you should run it in the Cannonball with Oscars kid, Bobby. I didn't but Bob and Al Sibio would have won that year in a Camaro Z28 if Bob hadn't got freaked out over a roadblock. Anyway, not everything at these auctions are as nice as these guys think or say, I have been there and do this collector car business everyday. The 2+2 Italians are slowly going up because the 2 seaters get traded with few worrying if the timing breaks up at 6500 rpm anymore. They worry about paint chips. I say let em, take your Z car out and have some fun, when they want em, we will have them all and they won't.