Z's on BAT and other places collection

[CW240Z72]

Got to keep in mind time zone differences. Our west coast friends are just now waking up. 

[DC871F]

18 minutes ago, CW240Z72 said:

Got to keep in mind time zone differences. Our west coast friends are just now waking up. 

Yes. 

 Do you think the way these cars are gaining value and notoriety these days, will have any significant impact on whether a car is all original or "restored"? 

The green one that went to 300K+ made me lose a little religion. I'm only saying this because my restoration I'm doing in my mind will be a daily driver, but there will be a point to where $$ will dictate something different, and I have 2 cars I'm doing.

Heck, that silver one before yours was a driver, and basically 100K couldnt buy it.

[CW240Z72]

4 minutes ago, DC871F said:

Yes. 

 Do you think the way these cars are gaining value and notoriety these days, will have any significant impact on whether a car is all original or "restored"? 

The green one that went to 300K+ made me lose a little religion. I'm only saying this because my restoration I'm doing in my mind will be a daily driver, but there will be a point to where $$ will dictate something different, and I have 2 cars I'm doing.

Heck, that silver one before yours was a driver, and basically 100K couldnt buy it.

I try to look at the skyrocketing value increase in a positive light. By that I mean it is worth going the extra mile to do things right on these cars because, well, they're worth it. Whether that means a restomod or period correct build. Even if you build a car with intentions to never sell (I have both scenarios) I do sleep a bit better at night knowing that I'm not dumping big $$$ into a car that's not worth anything.  

I can't tell you how many Zs I've worked on, looked to buy, or did buy, that had a $300 Macco paint job special done to them in the 90s. They simply weren't worth the hassle of a decent paint job then. 

I will agree the $310K Z was a huge outlier, whether that was real or not. The RNM silver Z yesterday at $98K blew my mind. After doing one of these up there was a LOT of painstaking work that car needed, and I'd imagine someone paying that kind of money wouldn't be doing the work themselves. You wouldn't be able to recoup your investments at that price point for sometime. 

[CanTechZ]

18 minutes ago, DC871F said:

 

Heck, that silver one before yours was a driver, and basically 100K couldnt buy it.

The silver '71 that went RNM is better described as a survivor. I say that based on comments by the seller.  IMHO it was never really a "driver" in the daily driver sense. Only 12K miles from 1971 to 1975, and it must have been parked for winters, being a Canadian car from Ontario where roads are heavily sanded and salted. I was still very surprised that it was bid to $98K and still did not sell considering the lack of detailing.

I much prefer a well restored to original car, like the current one up from @CW240Z72 over a survivor any day of the week. Although I'm a little biased as I'm restoring my own right now. Lol

[DC871F]

9 minutes ago, CW240Z72 said:

I do sleep a bit better at night knowing that I'm not dumping big $$$ into a car that's not worth anything.  

Me too. I started over 30 years ago with these cars while in high school, and in my mind they are still the $2000 car they were then. Theres a little sadness that the hobby is not a hobby anymore, but more like a business model.

I dont plan to sell mine though, unless one day I need to turn them into eating money.

[DC871F]

3 minutes ago, CanTechZ said:

The silver '71 that went RNM is better described as a survivor. I say that based on comments by the seller.  IMHO it was never really a "driver" in the daily driver sense. Only 12K miles from 1971 to 1975, and it must have been parked for winters, being a Canadian car from Ontario where roads are heavily sanded and salted. I was still very surprised that it was bid to $98K and still did not sell considering the lack of detailing.

I much prefer a well restored to original car, like the current one up from @CW240Z72 over a survivor any day of the week. Although I'm a little biased as I'm restoring my own right now. Lol

98K for a diamond in the rough and it still not selling. Like cw24072 said, mind blowing. I cant but think that there are shill bids on these cars.

[CW240Z72]

Just now, DC871F said:

Me too. I started over 30 years ago with these cars while in high school, and in my mind they are still the $2000 car they were then. Theres a little sadness that the hobby is not a hobby anymore, but more like a business model.

I dont plan to sell mine though, unless one day I need to turn them into eating money.

It is a bit of a shame how these are turning away from the hobby to a business like you mentioned. Always been a hobby for me. If I can find a Z (like the silver one) build it up, find it a new home, and fund my other Zs, I'm a happy camper.  We got into the Z cars long time ago because the 70s muscle cars were out of our price range. Z cars were then affordable, so away we went. 

Community is great, part availability is decent, and quality aftermarket world is picking up. I'll enjoy and drive my '72. Like you I still see it as the $2500 car I bought so long ago but happy the rest of the world thinks higher of it. 

[DC871F]

Check out the current price.

Needs another digit, but I thought that was fun.

[siteunseen]

$83,280

 

[DC871F]

9 minutes ago, siteunseen said:

$83,280

 

Still says $71,240 on my watched auctions. Hmmmm. I refreshed it.

EDIT:

I'm slow, disregard.......

Edited January 14, 2022 by DC871F

[Patcon]

I agree, I struggle to view these cars in light of the current market. I have bought and sold many Zs for a few hundred dollars. Many of them running cars.

I suspect when it comes to the $70k bidding, that the car is viewd as cheap at that price point. So there are plenty of bidders willing to buy at that level. It tapers off until the auction gets closer until closing.

My guess $120k, wouldn't be surprised at $150k

[Dadsun]

It's pretty crazy to a guy like me also, a newbie. I bought my first Z in April 2020 as a Covid car project, after loving them from afar all my life. It's a 1973 original owner car with original paperwork, title, etc. It's white with red interior, and I've restored most of it, except kept the pearl white he repainted it instead of Kilimanjaro White.

It had sat most of the last 20 years, mainly I think because he was not a mechanic, and the mechanics he used didn't know how to handle flat top carbs, I'd guess. I've swapped in SU carbs, upgraded to a performance coated header and exhaust, etc. Having fun with the restoration. Even found the original radio in a box of his stuff. 

 I want to keep it and enjoy it, but man this market....

Edited January 14, 2022 by Dadsun