Hagerty via Yahoo compiled a "10 old cars turning into collectable classics in 2015" list that includes the 240Z and 3rd-generation RX-7 as possible rising stars in the year ahead.

https://autos.yahoo.com/photos/the-10-old-cars-turning-into-collectable-classics-in-2015-1423589548-slideshow/

That's great news. We're ahead of the trend. I've got two I'm hoping to keep until I'm unable to work on then sale someday. My nephews may get them if they turn out to be good kids and help their poor old uncle. 8 )

Prices has undoubtedly swelled. You can't find a mostly complete 240z anymore under 5k. They're all "projects" which in my mind means too much money. I bought my 71 for 1400 7 years ago mostly complete and running ok with rust included. I probably spent 2 times that buying nos parts and fixing it up to the way I want it and I still need rust repairs.

Love it, Z' s becoming a true classic .

Was expecting it a bit..   but that's good news.

 

At the moment rich people are buying classic cars as a way of investment.

Was expecting it a bit..   but that's good news.

 

At the moment rich people are buying classic cars as a way of investment.

They buy them and then park them.

 

We're rich in a different way, the Z life.  I'm eating bologna sandwiches instead of ribeyes so i can spend the money on my 240. 

I'm eating bologna sandwiches instead of ribeyes so i can spend the money on my 240.

 

I'm with ya!

 

ribeye... new wheels... ribeye,,, new wheels.

I'm with ya!

 

ribeye... new wheels... ribeye,,, new wheels.

 

that's some pricey ribeye!!

Haha! Yes. Yes, it is.

its a tough debate on this topic - it's nice to think about our cars appreciating in value to help offset the money poured into restoring them, but it cuts both ways when they become too expensive to buy in the first place. one of the things i love about my z is how affordable it is to work on, which makes it much more enjoyable to drive every day. as exciting as it would be to have a piece of euro exotica in the stable, i don't think i'd be able to drive it to work, park it at the grocery store or (gasp) put the dog in it... sorta leaves the realm of sports car and becomes high-end investment art. not that i'm seeing that any time in the near future for my z, but its the trend in general i'm commenting on.

 

i've enjoyed building a couple of ducatis and after getting used to the ridiculous prices they charge for tiny bits of sculpted billet its quite refreshing to see how affordable a z and its parts are. 

 

i also thoroughly enjoy the unpretentious, down-to-earth crowd around the z. i've met a lot of great folks - tinkerers and clever minds that don't cringe at the thought of modifying, swapping parts around or fabricating your own pieces out of scrap. i believe this is directly related to the fact that owning a z hasn't become a big statement of net worth.

 

the part i like least about ducatis is the "lifestyle" crowd - clad in thousands of dollars worth of branded gear with thousands of dollars worth of shiny bolt-on bits on the latest model, with 500 miles on it after 2 years and 3" chicken strips on the tires. and of course they're the ones who will shake their heads when i pull up with a fairing plastered with bugs (because i ride it) and gape at the fact that i put a suzuki front end on my ducati (1/3 the price and works way better). 

 

ok, rant over... 

I'm with ya!

 

ribeye... new wheels... ribeye,,, new wheels.

I'll eat bologna the rest of my life, I guess.  I could cut them little slits in it to keep it from curling up and have seared bologna steaks.  Enough alcohol and some A-1 and it'll taste like a ribeye.  

Well played. Love the wheels.

 

I like how it bulges up in the middle like a sombrero. The bologna... not the wheels.