Does a “Numbered Z� have additional value?

[Zulaytr]

In your opinion if a manufacturer identifies a car with a production number plate does it provide any additional value? As an example the 10th Anniversary Z and the new NISMO Z have small plates that said they were car # XX. If you are either a short term owner or a long term collector does having a production sequence number on the car impact your buying intention or ownership of one of them?

All comments are welcome.

[AndysPlit]

In your opinion if a manufacturer identifies a car with a production number plate does it provide any additional value? As an example the 10th Anniversary Z and the new NISMO Z have small plates that said they were car # XX. If you are either a short term owner or a long term collector does having a production sequence number on the car impact your buying intention or ownership of one of them?

All comments are welcome.

From my understanding all limited edition Z's are going to be worth more.

For example: black pearl edition 280Z

84 AE 300ZX

10th anniv edition like you mentioned

[Sailor Bob]

It's worth more if someone is willing to pay more. Doesn't do much for me.

[sblake01]

It's worth more if someone is willing to pay more. Doesn't do much for me.

My sentiments also. This brings to mind a certain Red/Black 10th Anniv 280ZX that has been on ebay etc., as well as various Z car sites throughout the country with no sale for at least a year, maybe longer. Remember the guy that gave us mileage updates every so often? It's just a ZX with an appearance group type option and a plaque. A BP or a Zzzap doesn't even have the plaque. Nothing special to me.

[xray]

yep..."they" keep saying the low-VIN cars will be more valuable, but there's no published evidence to support that as of yet. Anecdotally, some claim they see a trend but the data is not made available, and auction results currently are too few to support that claim.

There is NADA opinion that 1970 models are more valuable, but low Vins and "special models" have not yet fully emerged--except for the Vintage Z program cars, the early race cars, etc. I hope they (low VIN and special ed models) will, as it will likely raise the value of other "unspecial" cars (like mine).

Since the 280ZX and 300ZX are not considered by many to be collectible, the Anniversary editions, Shiro edition and final run 1996 300ZXs will most likely not emerge as valuable in the near term.

[Carl Beck]

.... It's just a ZX with an appearance group type option and a plaque. A BP or a Zzzap doesn't even have the plaque. Nothing special to me.

But very special to many Z enthusiasts.

Take a 1980 280ZX with 25K original miles - on the market for close to a year. First asking price was $8,500.00... six months later it was $6,500.00. I tried to talk several people into picking it up as a daily driver - where are you going to find an all but new car for $6,500.00?; let alone one that is so much fun to own and drive? Finally the car sold to the buyer that showed up with $3,500.00 cash in hand. This car was in Florida, in the hands of the Original 72 year old Owner. Always garaged etc... This was last year.

Now take a like condition 10th Anniversary Edition - Several in the past year have sold within days or weeks of being offered at $20K+

"It's just a ZX with an appearance group type option and a plaque".... No it's at least $16,500.00 more dollars and a faster selling car - - -

But I think the real question being ask was - would Buyer A pay more for the #1 of 3000, than he would for the #2345 of 3000. In that case the #1 would sell quicker, and for a couple thousand more - all other things being equal. But location/proximity - attitude of the sellers - etc would also have a part to play.

Having the #1 car of any model carries some talking points if not bragging rights - it's just a little more special and will usually sell for a little more money.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Carl Beck]

Since the 280ZX and 300ZX are not considered by many to be collectible, the Anniversary editions, Shiro edition and final run 1996 300ZXs will most likely not emerge as valuable in the near term.

What would you consider "valuable" to be?

I'd say that $25K for a ZX 10th AE is fairly Valuable today. The car was sold in Texas by an authorized dealer - so at least that one's value should be documented in the Sales Tax records...

Shiro's don't bring much - but they do sell quicker and bring more than most like condition Z31 300ZX's. The 50th AE's in excellent conditon will sell for over $12K today, where like condition 84-88 Z31's will bring $2,500.00.

I guess value and/or worth have to be relative terms rather than absolute..

FWIW,

Carl B.

[26th-Z]

A low VIN is but one of many possible "conversation points" that will ad value to a car. I think Carl called it "bragging rights". No question about it, Carl offered an excellent illustration; a low VIN will help a car sell faster and for more money. Gosh guys, everybody knows that ! ! ! #1 of 3000 is far more collectible than #2345 of 3000.

And then the comments about "if someone wants that sort of thing" are spot on. Couldn't agree more.

[jmark]

I think my Nismo 350Z #0007 will be worth something more than your standard run of the mill 350Z. It is the first Nismo factory tuned car imported to the US and it will be a limited run for sure. Not to mention it is a great handling car. While some of the items can be ordered and duplicated some things cannot. The car is pulled off the standard Z production line and has additional seam welding done by Autech. Autech builds alot of Nissan's special vehicles raced in Japan.

This report & video sum up things well. Although the ride is not near as harsh as they say. Easily a daily driver.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Followup/articleId=121814?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*

[xray]

What would you consider "valuable" to be?

I'd say that $25K for a ZX 10th AE is fairly Valuable today. The car was sold in Texas by an authorized dealer - so at least that one's value should be documented in the Sales Tax records...

Shiro's don't bring much - but they do sell quicker and bring more than most like condition Z31 300ZX's. The 50th AE's in excellent conditon will sell for over $12K today, where like condition 84-88 Z31's will bring $2,500.00.

I guess value and/or worth have to be relative terms rather than absolute..

FWIW,

Carl B.

Carl,

One sale does not make a trend. The person who bought that one might have had a case of "gottahavit-itis" and overpaid. BTW, didn't someone recently pay close to $20k for a low mile 280ZX that was not a special edition? (could be wrong, as I don't follow S130 sales trends) As I said earlier, the sales of these cars are so few, so sporadic, that trends are difficult to establish with statistical clarity. The only viable exception currently are the Vintage Z program cars. Low Vin Series I cars are establishing themselves as well.

Certainly, one would hypothesize that low VIN, special edition versions of Zs would be more valuable. Works for most European and US muscle cars, so why not? Well, I think the answer so far is that Japanes cars are still barely gaining a foothold of interest in the collector car market. They are still regarded as "entry-level" "Bargain classics" so to distinguish particular versions as special is probably accurate in the long-term. In the near-term it is probably overspent money to pay a premium for a "special" Z of any kind, unless it's nearly flawless in all other aspects.

Of course, it's all conjecture until some true bona fide auction trends establish themselves. Or, perhaps we could maintain an open log of these sales to self-establish market trends....

[xray]

A low VIN is but one of many possible "conversation points" that will ad value to a car. I think Carl called it "bragging rights". No question about it, Carl offered an excellent illustration; a low VIN will help a car sell faster and for more money. Gosh guys, everybody knows that ! ! ! #1 of 3000 is far more collectible than #2345 of 3000.

And then the comments about "if someone wants that sort of thing" are spot on. Couldn't agree more.

I agree that it "should" bring more money, but where is the empirical data to support that for Z cars? Not many low-Vin Zs are being sold! Can't make a trend off one or two private sales. The ones that have been offered for sale recently have been basket cases and the car's condition has as much or more to do with the sale price than the VIN.

I certainly hope there develops some stratification in value of Zs. IMO, that is an indicator of a maturing collector market and some sustained interest in the Z which will have a positive impact on all restored/well-cared for cars. But let's see some RESULTS!

[sblake01]

But very special to many Z enthusiasts.

Which doesn't really decribe me. If anything, I'm a Datsun enthusiast hence the statement "Nothing special to me." I'm sure there are many levels and types of enthusiasm for these cars so as you say, value and/or worth have to be relative terms rather than absolute. Based on that, there really isn't any real stratification in the value of Zs and all we really can discuss is what someone will or won't pay for one.