13 minutes ago, SteveJ said:

@HS30-H Alan, I wasn't looking for diplomacy. I prefer accurate. I've been reading your posts long enough that as I read through the link, I thought there was something fishy about it. The first thing was that the pricing didn't seem to fit what I recalled hearing about the 432 or 432-R market.

It's quite hard to pin a current market value on a 432 or 432-R, but - in Japan, where the majority of them reside - they can change hands privately for stratospheric (in S30-series Z terms) figures. The 432-R is often valued at three or four times that of a 'normal' 432, but there's a limited data reference as so few Rs are sold 'on the record' and in public view.

Japanese buyers and sellers can be very secretive (most individuals are circumspect with regard to their personal financial circumstances) and quite a few of these cars have been owned by people who are now of senior age, coming to the end of their safe driving life. That's a situation that can be taken advantage of by younger family members, friends and/or people in the old car business. @kats can tell you of a case late last year where a genuine 432-R, owned by an elderly gentleman, was bought at an unusually low price (by somebody in the right place at the right time) and was very soon being 'flipped' at a three or four times multiplied figure. Sad that the elderly vendor didn't get a more honest buyer. I feel that it's important for these cars to go to good homes, which I guess is not always about money.

And that's something we can also say about this 'PS30-00218' for sale via Takeey's. It may well have a cloud over its authenticity (which all hinges on whether it's chassis number has been altered or not...) but it exists, is an attractive car in it's own right - nothing wrong with a 432-R 'tribute'/'replica' - and as long as any new owner knows exactly what they are buying, and the price paid reflects that, then OK. It just needs to find that 'Mr Right'.

Is it a case of the original Z432R being rebuilt on a new chassis/body by Nissan a long time ago or a genuine case of cloning. I had read that the engraved number on the firewall doesn't match genuine cars and has some type of Nissan logo, which the others didn't have. Is there a non intrusive way to check the thickness of the metal on the body, from what I understand not all the metal panels are thinner gauge.