OK... so my friend has a diamond in his garage... whats it worth... can you believe this car sat in a garage for 20 years? 90K on the ODO.. He cleaned the tank and new injectors... fired up and it drives. So what is the market for something like this... it is all original and those are tru-spoke wheels.

Help would be appreciated as usual.

Looks pretty nice. It doesn't appear to have the SAP. I'd lose the true-spokes and either go with the hubcaps that were standard or the wheels that are on my 78 which were optional. I'll defer to Carl Beck on the market value since I personally don't think they're worth any more than any other 78 280Z, especially w/o the SAP. JMO

Nadaguides.com values for a 78 280Z show a pretty wide range....

Low Retail = $3,300; Average retail = $5,750; High Retail = $9,000

My muscle car friend uses NADAguides when he checks on some of the classic cars, I think they stay pretty current

Something I've done in the past is search closed ebay auctions for similar cars and keep an eye on Craigslist to watch local prices

right now we are in a buyers market. if your buddy in no need to sell than id hold onto it till re recover from this recession. remember a buyers market means bad for sellers.

Ya I would use NADA... but this is a BLACK PEARL... LIMITED EDITION... only like 1500 produced.. and have never seen one sold.. the market here in western Montana is kinda not in line with the rest of the country.. it has to say bow tie or blue oval to actually count as a car here! He surely isnt going to sell it... I dont think but he would like to insure it for something close to replacement value.

Crap forgot to add.. this car comes with the SAP... original window sticker shows extra cost option. It was repainted by the dealer in 81 and stripes were not put back on.

It's doesn't have the dual mirrors. That must have been changed also when it was painted. The SAP consists of the stripes, the louvers and the dual mirrors.

Yes he has the factory mirrors as well. They are in a box.. I dont know why he used the big ugly mirror. I kinda like the look of the factory mirrors myself. JMO.

Actually, the mirror on the driver door looks aftermarket as well.

I personally like the wheels, the paint looks very nice(at least in the photos). But, as the ole saying goes, its only original once and a repaint would take away from the value.

I wouldnt hazard a guess to the value either, its worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

EDIT

Sorry, you posted about the mirrirs as I was writing this

First off, your friend has one beautiful 280Z. Looks really nice. I did notice when I enlarged the photo that the side black plastic piece on the front bumper looks a little pushed in??? Or maybe it's just the way the light is reflecting on it?

Hate to tell you but the fact the orig. S.A.P. items that are no longer on the car like the stripes, orig. dual racing mirrors, orig. wheels that came on the car new will indeed decrease it's value. That being said though I believe if your friend wanted to sell that Z, he could still get a damn good price for it IF everything is as good as it looks in the photos. I'm not sure of the exact market value either for his Z but personally if I was looking for another one and it met my expectations (No rust, ran really good with no major mechanical problems) the most I'd probably pay for it would be 7 to 8 grand.

OK... so my friend has a diamond in his garage... whats it worth... can you believe this car sat in a garage for 20 years? 90K on the ODO.. He cleaned the tank and new injectors... fired up and it drives. So what is the market for something like this... it is all original and those are tru-spoke wheels.

Help would be appreciated as usual.

Hi IBZINYA:

With 90K miles and a repaint - it is no longer in the "Collector" car category. Collector Quality #1 and #2 examples can usually bring $25K to $30K+. The absolute BEST - - all original, with about 650 original miles - went for over $65K.

Depending on the quality of the repaint - and the over-all condition of everything else on the car, it is usually easier to resell a Black Pearl than any other stock color in like condition. People that like the 280Z's to begin with, might place a small premium on the rarity of the color. That may result in a grand or two more out of the sale if it hits the market at the right time...

I do believe that NADA's values are at present lower than the market outside the Dealer Lots. NADA's "High Retail" is about the same - definition wise - as a mid level #3 Condition car. I've seen 78 280Z's with less than 45K miles, in stock and exceptionally well cared for condition sell for $16K and above pretty easily over the past five years. These are exceptionally low mileage, pure stock, and with no body damage, scratches, dings, dents etc.... With a minor clean-up and good detailing these cars can win Local Club Shows etc.

About 85% of the market value is dependent upon the actual condition of the car, and about 15% is dependent upon its location and the sellers willingness to work at selling it. We'd have to have a lot more specific information about that cars condition in order to even put a price range on it.... Nonetheles we can discuss it in general terms.

If we say that your friends Black Pearl received a decent repaint ($5K job) - with all trim and glass removed etc {no masking lines etc}... and we say that the Black Pearl paint was mixed to OEM spec.'s... Lets say that the car is as rust free as one would expect a well cared for 280Z to be if it was stored in the Winters etc. - If he paid less than $6,500.00 for it he got a deal..... The Picture makes the car look great!!...

If it hadn't been started in 20 years - he can figure on putting a few thousand in it right up front... Easy to spend $600.00 to $850.00 for new OEM injectors alone...then things like rear wheel cylinders, brake and clutch hydraulics, cooling system work, tires etc etc... So as long as he'd got less than $10K in it, by the time it is road worthy... he's in good shape...

BTW - I see the rear shade is on the car. The original Racing Mirrors were delivered to the Dealers in the car - in the typical DATSUN box, same as you would have received if you purchased them over the Parts Counter at the time. If they are still in that box - it is quite possible they were never installed at the Dealership.

If you get a chance - show us some more pictures of the car - including the engine compartment and interior... the door jams etc.

Also tell you friend to see: http://ZHome.com/History/BlackP.htm

He should e-mail his information to:

RWilliams@cognizant.com

Ross maintains a Black Pearl Register - and he can send a lot more current information to the owner.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Well, learn something new (or many things) every day. I thought you were being metaphorical and I find out it's an actual model. :stupid:

I would guess having the original wheels will make it more valuable. My muscle car friend was telling me the original honeycomb wheels that came on the early 70s Trans Am's (that everyone tossed) are now selling for a ridiculous amount of money. His 74 with the 455 HO has them, they look awesome on the car now