Best Cost for the Buck

[HermanM]

I have looked over different posts and different site to see if there was any dollar difference in a "stock" rebuilt car (matching numbers engine and tranny to chassis) to a Z with a swapped drivetrain. I checked out a few different Z sites and posts to see if there was any major difference and on the NADA site, it just asked for the year of the car and tells info about the value due to the vehicle's state that it was sitting.

This is a question I ponder as I am getting my engine overhauled to put back into my matching numbers car. I have a swapped 260z in it now bc the original one blew a head gasket before I bought it and the owner assumed the piston froze (it didn't) and just put the engine aside, until I bought everything. I am not looking to resell my Z now or if ever, but I was curious if I am getting more monetary value with my car being all original engine and tranny or if I could have just stayed with the swapped engine and had the same value.

Mind you, my car is far from finished, step one was getting the original engine back to good form and then the body work to make her straight and "water tight" (bc apparently she's not) then working on the interior with my own type of flair while LOOKING original. Then of course brakes, steering, etc etc etc. As for right now, she is drivable, reliable and good to go, just not as pretty as I'd like.

[ksbeta]

That's a very interesting question, and it's one I had to wrestle with recently myself. In my '70, the Numbers-Matching block had pitted a bit in one cylinder, and the cost to (a) bore the cylinder, and then ( sleeve the cylinder added about $450-550 to my machine shop bill. I'd have to look at the invoice to be sure, but an L24 block could have been obtained and honed for cheaper than that, to be sure. Whether that ~$500 bill to retain it's Numbers-matching status will impact the sales price when/if that day ever comes, I have no idea. When buying a classic Datsun, would anyone pay an extra $500 to know they're getting a fully-rebuilt, numbers-matching engine in their Z? Would you say it differs by model?

I'm happier knowing it matches though.

[HermanM]

That's a very interesting question, and it's one I had to wrestle with recently myself. In my '70, the Numbers-Matching block had pitted a bit in one cylinder, and the cost to (a) bore the cylinder, and then ( sleeve the cylinder added about $450-550 to my machine shop bill. I'd have to look at the invoice to be sure, but an L24 block could have been obtained and honed for cheaper than that, to be sure. Whether that ~$500 bill to retain it's Numbers-matching status will impact the sales price when/if that day ever comes, I have no idea. When buying a classic Datsun, would anyone pay an extra $500 to know they're getting a fully-rebuilt, numbers-matching engine in their Z? Would you say it differs by model?

I'm happier knowing it matches though.

I'm with you on the fact of knowing that it's matching numbers all the way around. I just know that on MOST classic cars, the value is in the running matching numbers for the vehicles, unless someone is putting in $100k on a fully custom rebuild, which I am not

[Arne]

Matching numbers can either add value, make for an easier sale, or both—provided the car is essentially stock and in very good condition. They don't add much for a modified car. They may make for a quicker sale on a restoration project.

[grannyknot]

After having dumped money into Mustangs, Triumphs, BMW's, Alfa Romeo's, Toyota's and now Datsun's I can tell you

without hesitation that whatever you have spent is gone forever, forget about that money, it was not an investment.

Selling your car as it stands right now, clean it up, be perfectly honest with the condition and have backup receipts for any work that has been done on the car. The market for selling old cars is not very good right now. Be ready to take a soaking

or hang on to it until things improve.

As for original vs modified I have found as long as it is done well both will it sell.

Good luck

[HermanM]

Matching numbers can either add value, make for an easier sale, or both—provided the car is essentially stock and in very good condition. They don't add much for a modified car. They may make for a quicker sale on a restoration project.

Well like I said, my car will appear mostly stock as can be. I did swap out the carbs to SU's with no emission regulations, possibly a 240 steering wheel as well. As for my personal touches for the interior, I'm just making them stock upholstery but adding heating and cooling components to them; but that's it.

After having dumped money into Mustangs, Triumphs, BMW's, Alfa Romeo's, Toyota's and now Datsun's I can tell you

without hesitation that whatever you have spent is gone forever, forget about that money, it was not an investment.

Selling your car as it stands right now, clean it up, be perfectly honest with the condition and have backup receipts for any work that has been done on the car. The market for selling old cars is not very good right now. Be ready to take a soaking

or hang on to it until things improve.

As for original vs modified I have found as long as it is done well both will it sell.

Good luck

Well I don't plan on actually selling my 260z at any point in time. If I did, it wouldn't be for a long time up the road. I was more looking for conformation that I did the right thing by restoring the factory engine. The fact that I don't see many matching numbers Z's that aren't salvaged, excites me that I have one.

[CW240Z]

In my mindset, it's always a little comforting to buy a car that is numbers matching. I have found that cars for sale with an unoriginal drivetrain tend to be that way due to poor maintenance or abuse by the original owner (this is just what I've seen and not always true). That usually can also give a good idea to how the rest of the car has been treated and its condition. However, upgrading a car to a later model drivetrain along with other quality performance modifications could boost the value. If you're building a car for the optimum market value, having the numbers matching seems to be a plus, especially if you're not deviating away from a stock condition. Do what you want to to the car, it's yours after all.

Chase

[grannyknot]

Well I don't plan on actually selling my 260z at any point in time. If I did, it wouldn't be for a long time up the road. I was more looking for conformation that I did the right thing by restoring the factory engine. The fact that I don't see many matching numbers Z's that aren't salvaged, excites me that I have one.

Herman, I mis-read, thought you were thinking of selling. Matching numbers are good for some guys, well worth keeping.

I have a matching numbers engine in the corner of the garage waiting for the next guy.

Edited February 5, 2013 by grannyknot
spelling

[HermanM]

Herman, I mis-read, thought you were thinking of selling. Matching numbers are good for some guys, well worth keeping.

I have a matching numbers engine in the corner of the garage waiting for the next guy.

not a problem at all, happens to me all the time.

[Hardway]

The value in "matching numbers" is subjective to the person looking to buy the car and what they intend to do with it. For someone looking for a show car or investment low miles car then matching numbers plays a much bigger importance to them vs. someone just looking for a nice car to drive. Potential buyers that actually plan to drive their cars on a regular basis will probably find value in a 2.8L engine vs. the original 2.4L and probably would like a 5-speed to go with it. If you are passionate about keeping your car as stock as possible and have the means to keep the matching numbers drive-train then I think it is definitely the right decision.

[HermanM]

The value in "matching numbers" is subjective to the person looking to buy the car and what they intend to do with it. For someone looking for a show car or investment low miles car then matching numbers plays a much bigger importance to them vs. someone just looking for a nice car to drive. Potential buyers that actually plan to drive their cars on a regular basis will probably find value in a 2.8L engine vs. the original 2.4L and probably would like a 5-speed to go with it. If you are passionate about keeping your car as stock as possible and have the means to keep the matching numbers drive-train then I think it is definitely the right decision.

Well thank you, that's what I'm doing. I'm use to a 5 speed and love them, but this was made with a 4 and my mechanic said my block is great and will put out a lot of power and to keep it. So I'll keep it

[tlorber]

Every Z can be a "numbers matching" car if one is so inclined.

When I bought my 240, I was actually looking for one that had an L28, so that I did not have to do the swap myself. I later added an '82 5 speed and other bolt ons from ZX's to modernize the car.

These cars just do not have the resale value of, say, an old 911 so you may as well make the car as you want it to be.

Now, throwing in a V8-that's another story.

By the way, what ever happened to that OJ guy?