Maybe I'm too much of a purist, but...

[dkd021]

I have been riding the fence on whether or not to sell mine but lately I've been leaning on the side of keeping it for a few more years. Personally, I'd like to see a jump where the $18-20k cars become $28-30k cars. I think that would make my mind up real quick.

But on the original part of the thread, I have suspicions about the seller of this car. Now I'm not saying it's the same person, but in June I got ripped off on Ebay buying some new front turn signals from a seller in Tigard, OR. They're different usernames but the person I bought them from did tell me they were selling them for someone else when I asked a question.

[Carl Beck]

I have been riding the fence on whether or not to sell mine but lately I've been leaning on the side of keeping it for a few more years. Personally, I'd like to see a jump where the $18-20k cars become $28-30k cars. I think that would make my mind up real quick.

Depending on the actual, very specific, Judged by a Qualified Judge... condition of the car today...

In the Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Car Market - there are a couple of demarcation lines that are important to keep in mind, as we consider the relative market values... now and in the future.

If we use the usual Condition #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5 categories for example... you will find that the values of these cars

First - and IN GENERAL...

Condition #1 and #2 Cars are very very close in over-all condition. They would both win National Level Car Show Competitions in their Stock Class. A #2 car will win, so long as a #1 Car didn't show up and so long as the Judges really know how to judge the specific models.

In the Collector Market - the #1 and #2 Condition cars demand/hold values 50% to 80% more than a #3 Condition Car. So if a #1 or #2 Datsun 240-Z is selling for between $25K and $30K today... a #3 Car will sell for between $16.5K and $20K.

Over time from this point forward ... as the #1 and #2 condition cars grow steadily in value at between 10% and 15% per year.. the #3 cars will simply hold their value if they are maintained in #3 Condition. So several years from now a #1 or #2 240-Z might very well be in the $35K to $40K range... that #3 car will still be $16K... and maybe by then it will become a #4 Condition car...

So we have at this point in time - a demarcation point .... between the #1, #2 Cars and the #3 or lower cars.

The reason is that #3 Cars are driven.. everything on them gets older and more worn. They are kept in the garage (non A/C and non Humitity Controlled space). Restoring them in the future will cost far more than it does today - as all parts and services go up in price.

Over the next five to ten years you will most likely see the difference between the #1, #2 cars and the #3 cars grow ever wider. Past the ten year mark, as true #3 cars become ever more rare... "IF" the Concours Examples are fetching $50K +... then you'll see the values of the #3 cars start to close the gap again....

The bottom line is - if you have a real #3 Condition 240-Z today - it would win most local or even perhaps a few State Level Z Car Shows... and may take 1st in the "Import" category at many open car shows... If you drive it and enjoy showing it every once in a while... Keep it and Enjoy it... but know that it will cost you something to own.... if you maintain it in great shape it should hold it's value... but it won't keep up with the real Collector Quality examples.

#4, #5 quality cars will stay about the same in value for many, many years... "IF" they stay in the same condition they are in today - but that usually is not the case... usually they wear with more age and it shows...

FWIW,

Carl B

[=Resurected280=]

Ohhhhhhh boy, its up again , $10,500 buy it now, no reserve this time though. Bids are starting at $5,000, probably a little more reasonable.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240z-fairlady-z-look_W0QQitemZ230016349990QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6187QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[dzrt1st]

Ohhhhhhh boy, its up again , $10,500 buy it now, no reserve this time though. Bids are starting at $5,000, probably a little more reasonable.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240z-fairlady-z-look_W0QQitemZ230016349990QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6187QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That car has the same license plates as this car now on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230029840187&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr2_PcY_BID_IT&refitem=230016349990&itemcount=2&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CategoryProximity&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

Different VIN's - Same plates. Kinda smells fishy

[gramercyjam]

Mmmmmmmmmm. yummy BRAISED fuel lines. Very tasty indeed.

[MikeW]

Different VIN's - Same plates. Kinda smells fishy

Same seller. Same item location. Perhaps Oregon allows you to transfer plates between vehicles and the seller likes (what appears to me to be) a vintage plate with a "Z" in it.

[Arne]

Same seller. Same item location. Perhaps Oregon allows you to transfer plates between vehicles and the seller likes (what appears to me to be) a vintage plate with a "Z" in it.

Oregon does allow plates to be moved from car to car, with some limitations. The red tag on a plate beginning with 'H' indicates it's registered through Aug. '07. The yellow plates were issued from very late '73 through '87. So while they are 'vintage' plates, they aren't quite vintage enough for most 240Zs. Most people in Oregon (myself included) would prefer the earlier blue plates which most 240Zs would have been issued.