what do you guys think this will go for/

[oskidunker1]

Never liked Orange, but it looks pretty good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-1996-DATSUN-240Z-REBIRTH-MODEL-UNREAL_W0QQitemZ220450376307QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item3353ddca73&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A317

[Inf]

Frankly, I'm surprised bids for THAT car are already as high as they are in THIS economy ($17,600 at time of this posting, reserve not met). It makes me think one of the seller's friends has been bumping it up, which is very common.

All those modifications are a huge turnoff to me, personally. Especially if it was truly a legitimate Vintage Z program car. Couldn't they have just found a similar original one to play around with?

I guess I like them more or less original looking, same as I prefer a woman who hasn't had a bunch of "work" done on her.

FWIW, I am a fan of the orange. My opinions of colors have changed over the years - I used to think the pale yellow/greenish color you see on a lot of series I cars was awful, but now I really like it. I guess it was because the first 240Z I looked at buying years ago was that color, and it was heavily oxidized and flaking off. Bad association, I suppose.

Edited July 17, 2009 by Inf

[hls30.com]

I have to agree, someone took what was a rare program car and turned it into just another modified Z-odds are the program engine and the pieces sacrificed to modification are long gone. They seriously shrank thier market with modifing that car-but then it only takes one person with money to make a market, and two people with money(or a sellers buddy) to make for a bidding war. If the auction is won and it comes for sale again, from this bidder or the same seller, we'll know what happened.

I would think the program cars would ultimately have the potential of values slightly less than #1 early cars, but only if left as finished and documented in the program. In my slanted way of thinking, it went from an interesting historic car to just another modified Z, and will take a good many years before it gets put back to its most valuable condition-I hope the owners in its history, and what will be its history, keep all of the paperwork...

Will

[Mike B]

We discussed this car before in another thread http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34222. It was first listed in April and the auction closed under $18k. It has been relisted continually since then, but I don't think it ever got above about $20k. Someone that has owned several of the VZ cars called and talked to the dealer that is trying to sell it. They were asking $39,900 for it, so I would guess the reserve is very close to that. Maybe at some point they will drop the reserve to a more realistic level.

-Mike

Edited July 18, 2009 by Mike B

[Carl Beck]

If I owned it - I wouldn't sell it for less than $27,500.00

Start with a Vintage Z at $26K+, then add $10K to $15K of modifications.. and the original owner was most likely into it $35K to $40K+.

Although highly modified - it IS A VINTAGE Z.

If the right buyers show up - it could easily bring $25K+.... if the right buyers aren't in the market today - it won't sell. $25K would be a super deal "IF" that is the type of Z one wanted.

I personally do not believe that it needs a 4.44:1 rear gear.. that engine should be able to easily pull 3.9's or even 3.7's... Gobs of torque and HP there...

Even in the present economy 90% of the people are still working. About 12% of them have incomes above $100,000.00 per year - that's about 16,000,000 people.. E-Bay is all about reaching that one, two or three of them that wish they had a Datsun 240Z ready to drive and enjoy.

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Oiluj]

I'm torn on this one. The car would have been better left original as an investment, but the mods appear to have been done well and it's very nice...

I think it will eventually sell for around $25 k, and it's a reasonable price for that car, given the cost to find and restore a less perfect example to that state.

[Mike B]

I also noticed the eBay ad says "FEATURED IN SPORT COMPACT CAR MAGAZINE". I assume that was after the car had been modified. It would be interesting to read the article.

-Mike

[Travel'n Man]

If I owned it - I wouldn't sell it for less than $27,500.00

Start with a Vintage Z at $26K+, then add $10K to $15K of modifications.. and the original owner was most likely into it $35K to $40K+.

Although highly modified - it IS A VINTAGE Z.

If the right buyers show up - it could easily bring $25K+.... if the right buyers aren't in the market today - it won't sell. $25K would be a super deal "IF" that is the type of Z one wanted.

I personally do not believe that it needs a 4.44:1 rear gear.. that engine should be able to easily pull 3.9's or even 3.7's... Gobs of torque and HP there...

Even in the present economy 90% of the people are still working. About 12% of them have incomes above $100,000.00 per year - that's about 16,000,000 people.. E-Bay is all about reaching that one, two or three of them that wish they had a Datsun 240Z ready to drive and enjoy.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Well stated......and a hot VZ. I believe (IMO) that this would be the ultimate Z. If I were looking for a hot engine on a beautiful car I'd grab it. To bring an older car to that status would take more than $35K. All and any of us (unless we have done the work ourselves) have some big money in our restorations - refreshes. A good paint job along with minor body work is in the $10-13K.......a new interior........engine bay detail.......engine work........ujoints, it all adds up fast. To grab this VZ that is maxed would be a lazy man's dream........turn the key on and drive.

It's just not what most of us do. Most of us like to work on our cars, use a little (or a lot) of GO-JO and after the end of a project stand back and be proud of what we accomplished and the state of progress our Z is in. I know I still have several projects left and they will still take a lot of money and time.

Bottom line - if I had the funds and more garage space, I would buy it.

[Unkle]

''Not much on the street that can handle this one '' is car salesman's lingo overselling his customer's car. Give it a rest already and focus on the vintage and rarity maybe . No 16 year old is going to buy it , Mr. Fast and Stupid...

[oskidunker1]

Who cares how fast the car is. I am not looking to race it or get alot of traffic tickets. I also , would be more interested if it did not have the modifications.You wonder why people can't leave a good thing alone.Kind of like the kids removing the badges from Hondas and adding big pipes.

[DeesZ]

To each their own. Different tastes and preferences is what makes life interesting. Otherwise we'd all be driving the same thing and be married to women that all look alike. To someone this is a dream car. To some others it's a butcher job. Personally, I didn't care for it at first, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. FWIW.

[Arne]

I'm of the opinion that we should cut the owner who modified it some slack.

Let's imagine that it's shortly after the end of the Vintage Z Program. And here's a guy who has come into some money, and has dreamed of owning a hot, modified 240Z since he was young. Now he can afford to build it (or rather, to have it built).

Now if you want to build a fast 240Z, you want to start with the best, most solid car you can find. What better car to start with than a well-documented Vintage Program car? Logically, it was the obvious starting point. Don't know if he was the original purchaser from the Program, or bought it at some later point. But either way, I can't think of a better platform for a car like this.

Did he "ruin" the collector value of the car? Maybe. And if he did, should we care? I don't think so. At least he had the good taste to do it right, using the right stuff. Rebello, Panasport, Willwood, OE-style light covers, etc.

I think we can agree that if it does sell one of these days, someone will get a really nice driving 240Z....