280z and 240z

[mikestoys33]

Hi Everybody, just a few questions for a few opinions. I have a 1977 280z with super low miles owned for a few years,  orig. everything. yellow,  automatic trans. car has 5015 actual miles on it. Car really is nice, been sitting so fuel system is plugged up, but car is a new as you will find, I have started it , turned it over, etc.  just sitting in corner of garage under cover.  Also fellow worker I have been bugging him for 20 plus  years to sell his 72 240z. the other day he said he was ready to sell, so I bought it. All these years I knew someday he would sell but I was never sure so I bought the yellow 280z when that came up for sale less than a couple of miles nearby.

The yellow car I know does not come around like that to often, and the 72 is orange with a 4spd, decent driver 77k and same family since my co-worker bought it from his brother in law which he claims to bought it new, anyway it is just out of long storage , he drove it over to my house( 20 plus miles) starts , cold blooded, settles down to nice idle. brakes need bleeding. depends what happens, have other old cars and 50 older motorcycles,  and getting closer to retirement.  so kinda torn what to get rid of one z, two z .  and what to ask, not to get greedy just I guess I want to find out if there is a market out there.  fair price, good home. Thanks for listening.  Mike

 

    

[Zed Head]

There's definitely a market.  Pick one and sell it, or put a price on both and keep the one that doesn't sell first.

[Hardway]

First off, congrats on the purchase of the 240z!  20 years, that is persistence!  If I understand it right you bought the yellow 280Z because you were waiting for the opportunity to buy the 240Z?  In addition to the Z's you have other old cars and a lot of vintage motorcycles and you are trying to figure out what the market is like for each.  I have had a handful of classic Z's and currently own a nice '71 series-1 240z.  I watch the market for everything I am interested in or own so I know a good deal or an offer too good to pass up comes along.

On the yellow 280z, low miles is definitely its best asset.  If it has been sitting I would recommend getting it running and driving properly.  If the fuel tank needs to be pulled, cleaned, brakes, whatever, get everything done.  A low mile car in bad driving condition will never see its full value potential.  That said, I think your 280z in ready to drive condition should bring anywhere from $15K on the low end to $25K and possibly more on the high end.  An auction and lots of pictures, an honest description, and pictures of any original paper work will go a long way.  Bring A Trailer auctions seems like a good fit for this car.

On the orange 240z, you just got it.  Again, having it in reliable driving condition is the only way to sell it and get top dollar.  The 240z market is hot right now but things seemed to have cooled off a hair as more of these cars are coming out of the wood work and being put up for sale.  I can see it has a little ding on the fender and the hood is missing a little paint.  If it is truly rust free or very minimal rust that you can show in lots of detailed pictures, you can expect anywhere from $10K - $18K.  If the paint and body were perfect, I think $18K - $28K can be seen from the right buyer.

Here is my suggestion, get both cars up and running and drive both for several weeks.  They are very different cars and will have a different feel.  If you like driving one more than the other then sell the one you don't like driving as much.  If you have 50 vintage motorcycles, maybe pare that down to 10 or 20 and keep the two Z's.  My point is, don't make a hasty decision that you may regret later.  Good cars are not losing value, they are only gaining so you have nothing to lose by getting them up to scratch and enjoying them some.  Keep us posted on what you decide.