original 240Z for sale

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by 240ztt

Just remember that allot of us out here have been involved with Z cars since they were new. However, Daddz for example was given the gift of seeing one in the driveway everyday since the age of 8 when his father bought a new one in 1978. We are not certified appraisers by any means but some of us have owned over 40 of these cars since 1990.

Geeez, I really hate to post this one, as I DO NOT WANT TO FAN THE FLAMES, that were & should die down, but with regard to the last statement I must say something.

Some of us were actually rebuilding 240Z's from the ground up by 1978, not watching from our bicycle in the driveway.

With regard to "experts", I feel that there are 2 basic types of experts in regard to arriving at a valuation of this car.

• Appraisers - Certified Appraisers who can place a value on a vehicle based on condition, rarity, provenance (for you Daddz), the value of other similar vehicles, and current market interest in the marque
  
• People who have actually worked on these cars, rebuilding them from the ground up. People who know from experience what goes bad from age alone, and what must be done, and the costs involved to resurect a car from this condition. People who also know the value of the final product after all of the blood, sweat, and tears put into reviving them. These folks could hardly be called "hobbyists".
  

Has the car been appraised?

Now, WITHOUT POINTING ANY FINGERS AT ALL, "owning over 40 Z cars since 1990" doesn't in, and of itself qualify someone as an expert. Now if that person(s) rebuilt these cars with his/her own hands, saw first hand, and did the work involved, examined the systems with the knowledge of a restoration expert, or mechanic; then and only then could they be considered for the title of "expert". Anyone with money can buy cars. (see MC Hammer )

President Bush owned a baseball team, and ran oil exploration company into the ground (pun intended); anyone want to call him a baseball expert, or a successful businessman??

PS Mikey is just being Mikey. It is his site, he's trying to maintain peace and harmony for ALL members of the club. Please do not get down on him. He's looking out for us all.

"Can't we all just get along?" - Rodney King

[Mike]

When I say professional, I'm not speaking about someone who just works or gives advice for money. I'm speaking about people who have been around Z's for more than a few years. People who have restored more than one project, and people who have been giving advice for years.

Anyone can claim to be a professional, but, it's the experience level that one can achieve by working on these cars many many times. Even I don't come close to the knowledge and experience that these guys can provide. Just look at 2ManyZ's... he's been working with these cars since they were new. Racing, fixing, painting, welding, upgrading, etc, etc.....

Now, with all of that said... I don't think anyone can give a true value for a car unless they've SEEN IT in person. They can get to a close proximity by taking past experience into consideration. But, this is a huge gap to cover. We've seen values from $6k to $18k.

A big gap like that is suspicious to me. You might be able to work on the "hype" factor and sell it for over $12k, but, you probably won't find it here. You posted this message asking for opinions, and you certainly got quite a few out of the deal.

This car sounds like a good find. But, a car that just sits in a container rotting away (because a price can't be agreed upon) isn't going to benefit anyone. The person considering this car will need to evaluate the condition, add his/her cost to get it running, and then determine the price they are willing to pay. If the right person comes along, you might be able to sell this car for $30k. It all depends on the deal.

To get the most $$ out of this car, the owner should consider paying to have it "refreshed" so a potential buyer can drive and hear it. Nothing worse than spending $12k and discovering that the whole hydraulic braking system needs to be replaced or the engine is blown.

Like I said, until someone actually looks at the car we are all working on speculation based upon pictures and your opinion. So, you're going to get our opinions. That's the whole point of this thread, right?

-- Mike

[Mike]

Originally posted by BambiKiller240

PS Mikey is just being Mikey. It is his site, he's trying to maintain peace and harmony for ALL members of the club. Please do not get down on him. He's looking out for us all.

Damn right. :cheeky:

Remember, we've been complimented on the fact that we MOSTLY stay on topic. We don't want a lot of ramblings and personal attacks here. It's just not good for anybody.

So, please obey the rules... Or, I'll have to pull some Jackie Chan.

[2ManyZs]

Whoa Mike... I'm not that old ya know...:cross-eye

I've been messing with them for just a little over 20 years...

I'm going to put my 2 cents in on the subject of the car.

First, it is a low mileage car that has been stored away and pretty much neglected for a long period of time. Interior looks damn good, but the car still has issues that need to be addressed before it could be even driven out of the storage unit.

Second, the Z market isn't to the point of the US muscle cars of that time period, which is good for those of us who might be in the market to buy a car. We just recently saw a genuine Z Store factory restored car sell for just a bit over 17K on Ebay, which would indicate that it better be almost a 100% perfect car to bring over 12 or 13 thousand, or have a very desirable history, such as being owned by someone we all in high regard in the history of the Z car.

Third, it's a 73, which makes it a bit less desirable than a 70 or early 71. More desirable than a 74 and up car, but if it were an early model, then it would be a different story altogether.

It doesn't seem that the car needs a whole lot of work, although what it does need could end up being fairly costly in the long run.

I guess my question is this. Why would someone store it away for that long a period of time and not bring it out and fix what it needs to be road worthy? If the owner were to replace the weatherstripping, belts, hoses, and verify the mechanical condition of the car and perhaps have the paint buffed out, then the asking price would be pretty attainable in my opinion.

It seems odd that someone would store a car for that time period and hope to sell it in the condition it is in now, when they could get more for it just by getting the car road worthy and perhaps polishing it up a bit.

If this car were taken somewhere, for a grand or so in parts he/she could probably ask and receive 13K or more with no problem. But unfortunately as it sits, it's going to be tough to get the asking price.

[240 in OZ]

Hey.

I wanted to take this posting in a different direction.

Can anyone here shed some light on how this car should have been stored away and maintained correctly. Is it possible to store a car away for this period of time, clock up zero miles, keep it maintained, and roll it out 12 years later, start it up and take off? (Im assuming not).

Anything specific to the z car anyone knows of which requires extra attention?

Keep in mind that I dont want to start a flame war against either the current owner of the car or the current 'keeper' of the car.

Lets see what we can come up with.

Joseph

[Bambikiller240]

It may have been locked away for 12 years, but prior to that it was "little used" at best. 8K miles in 30 years, isn't much at all.

In addition to the list below, my OPINION (and others will have different ones) is that a car really needs to be DRIVEN for 50 to 100 miles every 30 to 60 days to to give ALL systems the best chance to maintain functionality and not suffer from lack of use.

Every two years the brake fluid should be drained and replaced as it actually pulls moisture out of the air and will ruin the brake hydraulic system. That MAY be the cause of the locked rear brakes on this one.

Anti-freeze should also be drained and replaced to prevent/ minimize degradation of the aluminium and copper/brass in the cooling system, also every two years

Engine should be started and run fairly often (maybe every month) to the point where it is fully warmed and up to operating temperature. This to help keep the Main seals and valve stem seals supple and not dried out.

Battery should be removed from the car when not being used, and never be put into the car if showing the slightest bit of leakage.

Engine, Trans, Diff should be drained and refilled every two years. (Oil filter replaced too) More often if driven more than 600 to 1000 miles per year.

*edit* Oh, yeah. "Sta-bil" additive in the fuel tank, and the tank kept filled as much as possible.

I don't know of anything specific to the Z really, but anything made of rubber will degrade in 30 years of existance, and should be considered suspect.

Thirty years is a LONG time for a car.

[Bambikiller240]

OKAY, I KNOW, this one has 43,000 more miles on it than the car in DC, but this is where I'd put MY $13K - $14K USD or even a bit more if necessary (if I had the disposable income to do so). It is far closer to the condition that I'd expect for that kind of money. And, according to the seller, it has been appraised.

1970 240Z #2761

Once again, JMO

please no more flames. I'm just trying to show an example of what "I" expect for my $$$ in that price range.

[peterpit]

I agree with bambikiller. I'd spend the 13K on a car i can drive home (even if it is from Canada). I would probably haul the car if it was in that kind of pristine condition, but you all get the point. $13K for a car one cant drive is ridiculous.