Whats this car worth?

[nwcubsman]

I need a little help! What does this car sound like it is worth on todays market. Seller is asking too much, of course, but I'm not sure what my max should be.

1970 240Z, VIN is about #490. Total restoration needed. Solid except for both floor pans are rusted and very slight rust under battery tray. Straight for the most part. All there except some interior covers for the gas recovery tank and antenna. All interior is shot, including dash and console. Numbers matching, doors and windows open and close well. Not running but engine is free and it steers and rolls well. All chrome is straight but needs re-chroming. AC all there. 4 spd fan blades were replaced with the later plastic blades. E31 head appears to have never been milled.

Your advice is appreciated. A good project car in my opinion but would take me years to complete.

Bryan

[Zrush]

Depends how you swing. Some people on this site buy low VIN # Z's and pay what they need to get the car, even if it's in need of a heavy resto. I could really care less about VIN#'s and would perfer to start with a car that been well maintained for my resto project. Terrible truth of the matter is that only certain rare automobiles really matter when it comes to VIN's and numbers matching.

You will get many opinions on this I'm sure.

Hard to determine a fair price without any photos.

FWIW

Vicky

[xray]

I agree with Vicky. Hard to say without pics. I have an idea of how it looks in my mind, and based on your description this is probably a sub $1000 car on the East Coast. Probably less on the West? Who knows. What is his asking price?

VIN#s, I agree, are like hitting an invisible target--what's low? what's not? IMO the only VIN-based valuation comes with those exceptional cars as listed on zhome.com that were raced, not released to the public, special gifts, etc. Others will most certainly disagree.

Having bought a running and slightly better-conditioned version of your car (with a unique, one-of-a-kind VIN# of 81,xxx--oh, I forget) for which I paid $2000, and seeing all the work I have in front of me to do, I would probably hold out for a better maintained one that may allow you to catch a break or two on restoration. Who knows what "gifts" lie just beneath the surface of your particular car?

But, ultimately it depends on how strong your desire is, (and by extension, how you value VIN#), how capable you are, and what your local Z market is like. I was reasonably anxious, don't care about VINs, and restorable Zs here in the South are not too common, so you can see how I paid a premium for my car. It's only money, right?

Good luck,

Steve

[hls30.com]

What They said!

Will

[Ed]

I would have to agree with everyone also. VIN#'s are just numbers. That car sounds like a piece of work. I just spent two years on a restoration. AND I started with a driving car that was in great shape (VIN#165,xxx). I couldn't imagine working on a car as you described. From what it sounds like the entire enterior needs replacing, suspension needs rebuilding, engine, tranny, carbs, etc....Buy it as a rolling shell. About $500.

[beandip]

I depends on how deep your pockets are. From what you stated this will be a costly restore or refresh for that matter. If you can spend several thousand dollars on the car , then go for it . Other wise it is a parts car and there arnt many parts there as it sounds . Gary

[MarkDixon]

I agree with all in my own way.

The fact that this car is VIN# 490 should have nothing to do with your dicision to restore this car;;; If you think when you are done it will help you with the re-sale value.

Believe me you will eventualy get to a point of no return on this car, that you have put more money into re-storing it than you will be able to sell it for.

I too have a car with great history, which was in similar shape. I paid $800 for it on the East coast. I figured at least I could get $800 for the UN-cracked dash and perfect interior should I decide the RUST was to much to tackle.

Of course in the process I have fallen in love with my car and no amount of money or time will stop me from restoring this to a point I feel I am proud of.

I now have no intentions of selling the car.

Most people would tell you; Buy a car for 4 or 5 thousand and start there, you will in the long run spend less to restore it. This may be true, but there is something to be said about taking a car like a 240Z from the grave yard and giving it life again.

Also, I didn't have 4 or 5 thousand dollars at the time. I did have $800. Then a thousand here a thousand there, and so on, and so on.

It all depends on what your plan is. I would say if you can restore this car, you will have a great story to tell and that low VIN number will greatly enhance the story.

However it will not enhance the value, or sale value.

Go into this project with that in mind and don't pay more than $500 to $700 for the car, but expext to invest thousands, many of them.

[26th-Z]

Low VINs are are where its at. Everything else is just another Z. If you are going to reference zhome, then reference the collector value in the first 500 Zs. Please! The problem we seem to having here, is that you are asking the choir what they think of this new song by some guy named Mozart.

However, some good points have been brought up and I would like to comment. I think anyone will tell you that buying a wreck and restoring it will net financial loss in a big way. If you want a collectable classic with increasing value, buy one in the best shape and don't drive it. The collectable car market is just like collecting art or antiques - larger profits can be easily made elsewhere. Currently, the market for collectable Z cars is increasing.

If you enjoy working on cars and want to test your mechanical and restoration mangement skills with the Z restoration crowd, a project Z car is just the thing. There is plenty of help, plenty of cars to look at, and parts - although increasing in price - are still pretty available. As you can see, I am not intimidated by all this. I expect each car will cost me $40,000 to restore and I figure that by the time I am finished, they will be worth that. I will have spent years sweating and bleeding for no profit other than the smile on my face when the two babes are sitting next to each other at a car show.

The other thing I have found about Z restoration - especially a low VIN car - is that there is this "silent" opinion that the car should be absolutely stock. And I have this problem. I don't like stock Zs. Furthermore, my restorations will never be stock - they have both been restored. The only thing left of stock on 26th is a pile of photographs! Then, there is all the great stuff you can do to a Z. Just take a look around at what people are doing to their Z cars and how cool it is. So invoke restoration rule #1 (its your car, do what you want to) and enjoy the fact that you have a low VIN and most everyone else doesn't!

Here is 27th getting a push just to prove that she acually rolls. I paid $3000 for her delivered. The other picture is nude bare metal 26th last week. I paid $3,500 for her in 1984 and she had a $5,000 body shot in 1990. I drove her daily between 1986 and 1995.

[Zrush]

I hope I didn't insult you Chris, I didn't even think of you when I was typing away. Just stating my view from dealing with cars, car collectors, car sales and car shows. (And not just Z cars) Most of us can pretty much say that you are the only guy we know with consecutive LOW vins's. How cool is that!

Still friends?? :nervous:

Vicky

[nwcubsman]

As for me, I do like low VIN #'s, but I differ from 26th because I would have a hard time not keeping it stock. A later series 1 would be easier to modify. But I already own a stock '73 that my wife is fortunate enough to drive every day. My purpose in looking for a 2nd 240Z was to try and coax as much torque and power from her as I can without going V8.

This car may have put me in over my head. I think a 5 year project is more than I can handle since I work out of town most of the time. So, I guess this isn't the car from me. I have 2 other options today, an automatic that I'd need to convert to a 5 spd along with the other mods, and a car that is pretty much done but in a way that I like alot. I just have not found the car that screams, "here I am, your car".

So thanks for all the input. BTW, his asking price was $3k. If I'd have gotten it for $1500, I'd be arranging shipping.

P.S. Hey XRAY, if your photo was a little closer, I'd have thought we used the same avitar.

Cheers all

Bryan

[xray]

Bryan:

Ha! Dude, don't insult your car like that! The only way my car and yours could be considered together is if mine doubled as a "before" picture with yours as the "after!"

Wow. 3k is a lot. Hope he finds a buyer!

Steve

[beandip]

As for me, I do like low VIN #'s, but I differ from 26th because I would have a hard time not keeping it stock. A later series 1 would be easier to modify. But I already own a stock '73 that my wife is fortunate enough to drive every day. My purpose in looking for a 2nd 240Z was to try and coax as much torque and power from her as I can without going V8.

This car may have put me in over my head. I think a 5 year project is more than I can handle since I work out of town most of the time. So, I guess this isn't the car from me. I have 2 other options today, an automatic that I'd need to convert to a 5 spd along with the other mods, and a car that is pretty much done but in a way that I like alot. I just have not found the car that screams, "here I am, your car".

So thanks for all the input. BTW, his asking price was $3k. If I'd have gotten it for $1500, I'd be arranging shipping.

P.S. Hey XRAY, if your photo was a little closer, I'd have thought we used the same avitar.

Cheers all

Bryan

From the discription of the car , count your self lucky. Here in Oregon a $1500.00 car better be driveable and not a rust bucket and all there. Any less of a Z and I would definatly pass . I paid $500. for mine and drove it two years before I decided to get into it for the refresh. Note I dident say restore because to me that means take it to origional. I redid my Z as I want it , form the outside it looks stock pritty much , the paint is not a stock yellow , and the '73 bumpers are gone and early 240s in there place. I have had to dump a few grand into the car and 2 1/2 years not being able to drive her. Find the best rust free Z you can afford , you will be way ahead for sure. GARY