Dear Lord, please let someone tool up for a reproduction of the chrome center trim for a 240Z tail light. That way, those of us who want nice taillights for our non-trailer-queens will be able to afford them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=110008839825&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Man, for that price it seems like reproduction would be possible...

I can't imagine paying that much for a set of tail lights.

Here you go, Arne, something more fitting a normal person's budget!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240Z-Tail-Lights-Taillights-NR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33716QQihZ018QQitemZ280009969930QQrdZ1

Well Arne, like your hubcaps, I think I'll hang on to my NOS left side taillight!

Has anyone thought about going this route?

http://www.cvvacuumplaters.com/exterior_parts.htm

I wonder how their prices are. It would be nice to have them replate the tail light trim and chrome AC vents.

Here you go, Arne, something more fitting a normal person's budget!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240Z-Tail-Lights-Taillights-NR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33716QQihZ018QQitemZ280009969930QQrdZ1

I'm watching those already. Any bets whether they go for at least $300?

Just think the first bids were at 24.00 I got out at 156.00. really is getting crazy again.

What I would really like to see are some good expert opinions on the price of such rare NOS parts at the moment, and what trend they could follow. Is it better to hold onto your rare NOS bits for the future hoping prices will rise MORE, or sell them now? How much further can prices go? Take into account inflation.

Is holding onto your thousand dollar tail lights a worthwhile investment? Or would you be better to buy some blue-chip shares?

What do you think?

Only the shadow knows! Of the cars that are left, I would only use $1000 tailights on those with or undergoing concorse restoration-having said that I have a complete set of NOS lighting, interior parts, and removeable body pannels for my project-as well I have several sets of spares in wonderous condition as well as several NOS spares. The people who are doing a concorse restoration will pay what it takes to finish their cars.

The real worry about holding on to parts comes from reproductions that are visually indistinuishable from OEM, but made from current materials. If you could have a hatch hinge boot that would not deteroirate-but looks exactly like the OEM rubber one which would you rather have? If reproduction taillights were 100% dead ringers for the NOS OEM but with better lens, bulb, and body seals, which would you rather have? Unless car show Judges start manditory parts testing looks exactly like an OEM part, it gets counted as one!

When the top notch reproductions come out the prices of nos parts will fall. Because having the exact look with lower maintenance and replacement costs is preferable to having the look and not!

Will

What I would really like to see are some good expert opinions on the price of such rare NOS parts at the moment, and what trend they could follow. Is it better to hold onto your rare NOS bits for the future hoping prices will rise MORE, or sell them now? How much further can prices go?

What do you think?

Car prices and parts go up and down according to market demand, just like everything else. My friend had a 1927 Essex that was once worth over $25,000 and in a few short years, it had lost value down to less than $10,000. Why? Because collectors who remember the Essex were dying off and no one wanted the cars anymore. At the same time, his 1967 Chevelle 396 was rapidly appreciating. Those who are buying now are the ones who couldn't buy it when they were new. Now, they're older and have money. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, 20-30 year old cars of certain interest start to increase in value and older ones start to decline. Look at the American Muscle Car craze going on right now, being fueled by the retiring Baby Boomers who couldn't buy them new, but can buy them now.

Sell your parts to someone who NEEDS them and give them a fair price. eBay madness is capitalizing on greed and total lack of respect for the cars and their parts.

my 2 cents

Exactly. Perhaps I was too subtle. I'm just saying that prices won't increase indefinitely - quite a few people have said that they're holding onto parts to sell later... but perhaps - all things taken into account - it's actually quite a good time to sell right now?

Now, to pack away my 30 sets of 300ZX tail lights to fund my retirement....

Haha even they are going to cost you $600 a set! maybe $10K in 20 years....