Need Help Valuing 1975 280z

[messer12]

Hey everyone! I'm brand new to the forums and have been looking around for the past year or so to get into the Z car community by finding a good project car. I found this one on consignment at a dealer about an hour and a half away from me and took a trip over to take some pictures and document it as well as possible. Unfortunately, the dealer didn't have time to get it on the lift to get good pictures of the underbody. The car has around 56k miles on what should be the original engine and transmission, but the dealer is also including a free 5-speed with the car. The owner is asking $14k for it, which I believe to be clearly over what it's worth. Before I go back more seriously I'd like to try to get you guy's help to determine how much the car is actually worth.

The car looks to be mostly straight and mechanically good, panel gaps look uniform and the doors close well, so I don't have any reason to believe it's been wrecked in the past or anything. Apparently the car runs well, but I haven't had the opportunity to hear it for myself. My greatest concern lies in the rubber undercoating that might be masking the car rotting away. The car comes as is, it doesn't have the front bumper/anything else that's missing. The only thing included that's on the car is the 5-speed I mentioned earlier. My other concern is that water is still getting into the vehicle and it's currently outside, so every time it rains water gets in. There's about an inch of water sitting in the bottom of the spare tire compartment as well.

If there are any questions you guys have that I could answer or ask the dealer to answer to help value the car, let me know. Thanks for the help everybody.

[Mark Maras]

The visible rust is about 10% of what's really there. 90% is hidden. There may be a reason behind the dealer not having enough time to put it on a lift. I wouldn't consider it until I could look it from all angles.

[wheee!]

I’m out at that price. It’s about a $10,000 car max and then another $20,000 to restore properly.

 

edit: pics finally loaded on my phone. I agree that $6000 is a max value seeing the rust and problem areas. 

Edited December 23, 2019 by wheee!

[rturbo 930]

Owner is on crack. A few grand, tops, if you ask me. 

[grannyknot]

That is a ticking rust bomb, it has been sitting outside for a loooong time. Is that standing water next to the spare tire? Even if it isn't you can see the water mark where it has been, also the pooling marks behind the seats.

However, it is fairly complete which is a big plus, if you are prepared to do a bare metal shell on a rotisserie restoration then the car is fixable ... but not at $14k.  In USD money maybe $6,000 tops.  Unfortunately, cars like this that use to go to the dump are now the affordable way to get into the game.  If you do all the work and you're through you can have a safe, dependable and presentable Z for another $20,000, once you start paying others to do the work,  well you can imagine what it will cost. But if you take that $26,000 dollars you can buy a very nice 280z that has never seen rust.

[Zed Head]

That car is way over-priced.  

You could probably find a better one and have it shipped to you for less.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-datsun-280z-67/

[the_tool_man]

You can do far, far better than that.  I bought a complete, rust-free (ish), almost running '77 for $8500 a couple of years ago.  I've attached an "as picked up" photo, and one of the spare tire well.  Bone dry, non-rusted and complete.

 

I swapped in a working AFM, new fuel injectors and fixed a couple of vacuum leaks, and it was running.  The car you're looking at probably needs a lot of work to arrest the rust, based on what's visible.

Edited December 23, 2019 by the_tool_man

[messer12]

Thanks everyone for the input. I have a feeling the hard part will be convincing the owner that it's worth about half of what he's selling it for. I did some more looking around today and didn't find much suitable in my area, so at the moment I'm still interested in the one posted. At which point should I just cut my losses and move on? Would it be a good deal at $7000, and if I can't get it to that much should I just move on and look at different options (such as shipping one as someone mentioned)?

Thanks again

[Patcon]

21 minutes ago, messer12 said:

Thanks everyone for the input. I have a feeling the hard part will be convincing the owner that it's worth about half of what he's selling it for. I did some more looking around today and didn't find much suitable in my area, so at the moment I'm still interested in the one posted. At which point should I just cut my losses and move on? Would it be a good deal at $7000, and if I can't get it to that much should I just move on and look at different options (such as shipping one as someone mentioned)?

Thanks again

I would absolutely consider shipping one. Look for Southern cars, especially SouthWest cars. It's really not that expensive to ship a car, even cross country. I wouldn't buy it, even at $7,000

[Terrapin Z]

If you are considering shipping, I have a 78 I am selling. It has a few standard Z issues but not as bad as that one you are looking at in GA.

Runs and drives, clean title. Not as nice as The Tool Mans, but not as much either. In WA State 98579 

 

[Zed Head]

We didn't ask the fundamental question of "what are your plans for the car?"  And "what are you good at?"  And "what do you like doing?"  The car you're looking at will take a lot of work, so might be a while before you enjoy driving it. 

Aside from the leaks, the engine has headers, and a fuel gauge on the fuel rail so it's been messed with and might have problems. 

The extra 5 speed is a sign that the transmission is bad.  Who knows if the extra trans is any good itself.  You'll need a garage big enough to put the car up high enough to drop a transmission. 

Does Atlanta have emissions testing?  That could take some work to pass.

Overall it looks like a lot of work for a lot of money.  Your car is barely "Fair" - https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuationtools/1977-datsun-280z

 

[Av8ferg]

I agree with all the comments above. That car is way way over-priced. You don’t need to feel rushed he’s not selling that car anytime soon at that price. The market is different across the country but nowhere is it that high. I paid $3800 for a rust free car that didn’t run and needed a full interior rehab. That car your looking at is a 5-7k car at the most. The rust on the door jam is concerning. If he’s at 14k it probably is not negotiable and he clearly isn’t away of
The value of these cars right now. Go find another on. I see good deals all the time you’ll just have to be patient.


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