Do you buy the following as 2010 values for 240zs?

Year #1 Cond #2 Cond #3 Cond
1970 $16K $11,200 $7,200
1971 $15 $10,500 $6,750
1972 $14 $9,800 $6,300
1973 $14 $9,800 $6,300

The highest price that I have seen a Z go for recently on eBay is $7K

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-DATSUN-240-Z-LOW-MILES-2-OWNER-LOW-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ260552918758QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item3caa2a06e6

Thanks,
Marc

_________________
1972 Datsun 240z #88178

Hey Marc. I hope all is well. Can't wait to see your Z in person, especially after all of the work!

A 240Z is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. The factory restoration cars seem to fetch the most ($25K - 30K). And Series I 240z's ('69 to early '71) are considered by some to be more collectible. All in all, it seems as though 240Z's (in general) are not appreciating as quickly as all of the magazines predicted...but to be frank, I could care less...we have one of the most enjoyable vintage sportscars around....hopefully the secret doesn't get out

As an aside, the Classic Motorsports guys recently sold one of my favorite series I 240z's for around $12K...IMHO I thought that was a steal for a car of that caliber.
http://forums.ctzcc.com/viewtopic.php?t=4349

Cheers,
Colin

_________________
Colin F. Gentle
1970 Datsun 240z #11137

You guyz knew I had to chime in here, huh?

IMN-S-HO, the 1970 cars should draw about $8-10,000 more than the prices listed in that chart, and the 1969 carz even more. Just before I joined this Club, a primo 1970 240Z car was priced in the very high $20,000 range. Shortly after I joined, a local guy who had put about $30,000 into the complete professional restoration of a magnificent 1971 car, was only able to retrieve $18,000 for it when he sold it. The market fluctuates widely and rapidly.

I suspect the economy determines what common people are ABLE to pay, and the condition of the car determines what the wealthy are WILLING to pay for one of these cars. Everybody WANTS one. Some can afford to buy and keep such a fun item. Others can't, so the street price falls below what the cars are worth.

I guess the idea is to only sell these cars when the economy is good, and only buy them when the economy is poor. Of course when the economy is good, you don't need to sell your Z!

My 1970 is insured for $25,000. It would cost me that much or more to replace it. As you all know, it has extreme sentimentality for me, and I openly confess to you that I wouldn't sell the car for a million dollars. Seriously.

Marc, when your car comes home from Vinny, you should insure it for not less than $20,000 too. I consider Colin's car to be worth more than mine to the average driver, because it's more desirable than mine is (until I complete mine).

But let's face it ~ these cars were popular back in the day because they were VERY AFFORDABLE to the common guy. If you carry that idea into today's market, they "should" still be a bit cheaper than most other sportscars.

Frank

The way I see it, there are only a few guys who control the market of #1 Z cars and pay over $30k for them. I know in private sales there has been cars exchanged hands for some decent cash. Like Frank said, the market is what makes and kills these cars. I believe a #1 69 probably worth $40-$50k for those who WANT/AFFORD it. It is worth that much because it cost that much to restore one. For the common guy a series one is worth about $20-$30k. We all have to remember we drive these cars because we love them and we can afford them. If the cars were worth a ton a of money, plenty of us could no longer afford to have the car. Plus the S30s will never reach the $$$$ of other cars of the era just because they made too many of them and they all were the SAME.

_________________
Clive Bogle President - New York Z Car Club - NYZCC.COM
1971 240Z - LS1/T56
1974 260Z-L30
1976 Fairlady Z

I agree with Clive, well said.

240Zs in general have been appreciating quickly over the last half dozen years or so according to the "experts" and MY eyeballs. I defy anyone to find any decent 240 for less than $10k. If you do, it certainly will have issues.

Series One cars due to limited numbers ( I estimate less than 800 still on the road ) are worth more simply due to scarcity and desirability as the very first of the species. 1969 build cars are in a class by themselves to collectors and that handful of people skew the value, so it is hard to apply to other series one cars. I figure the price range from a drivable series one to a VERY nice series one 240Z (not a '69 build) to be $15k to $30k. A #1 series one restoration could go up to $50k very soon.

The value of the 240Z will be driven by demand and scarcity. There simply aren't many of them around any more and people are beginning to realize that. Until recently, the uninformed "car guy" always grouped the 240/260/280Z together. How many times has your 240Z been referred to as a "280ZX"??? LOL With the recognition that the first of the series, the 240Z, has limited survivors some 40 years later, the value will increase.

My 2 centz

PS- And I will NEVER sell my 240Z!!

_________________
John Taddonio
1970 240Z
1977 530Z
1984 300ZXT
zcarnut@hotmail.com
FB: Zccr zcarclubofrochester

There was a time, back in the day, when I told my then-girlfriend I wanted to be BURIED in my 1970!

I think the crux of this whole 1969-1970 price issue is the act of an owner selling a 69-70 car to someone who fails to appreciate the car as a collector's item. Everyone wants to drive one of these if he can afford one. My BP rises when these get sold cheaply to buyers who want to carve them up or hotrod them instead of restoring them, DARNIT!

But that's just me. Mine isn't stock, either. I certainly would have paid as much as the PO asked to get my old Z back, and since I've recovered it I have sunk a ton of money into it ~ HAPPILY. Now it's more of a driver than a showcar, but it doesn't look horrible, either.

Almost any of the perfectly-restored-to-stock 240Zs (or all originals like Jersey Joe's) are probably worth more than mine is on the Collectable market.

But I view my own car as a rare 1970, which has been slightly uprated and restored to safe driving condition for the next decade or two. I'll continue to maintain it and improve it as long as I am alive, and when time comes for us to part, it should be worth more than $30,000 if everything continues as it's going.

I won't care ~ I won't be around to see the money!

Wait a minute Frank, based on your first comment, I thought you two were not to be parted!!

_________________
Phil
1981 280zxt - Now in the care my son!
2014 370Z Sports Touring Roadster

I eventually became parted with both the girl AND the car.

I spent 23 years tracking the car down, and got it back!

My values are correct, sir.

Hmmmm... I'm not sure how to react to all of the comments.

The good news is that I purchased my car because I love it. The car takes me back to my youth and I love the history behind the 240z. Plus I could afford it.... That being said I am currently spending money on the car that I love, so I wanted to get my bearing on what it is worth...

I still don't really know but it doesn't matter because I intend to enjoy the car for a long time.

Marc

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178

The straight-up answer about how much your car is worth can only be determined when it comes home from Vinny's. The car itself, running, (even smoking a little when you bought it) should have been worth AT LEAST $5000 because it was all there, was drivable, and had NO RUST. (I know that's a remarkable thing to say about an original 240Z, but I've been under this car and seen it with fenders and panels off, and there really is NO RUST).

When you get your car back, you can roughly consider the $5000 base price, plus 150% of whatever work you do to it. WHY? Because any other owner would be buying a completely sound car, with NO RUST, which has a rebuilt drivetrain and has had the Vinny Bedini Touch put on all the brakes and suspension components. In many ways, your car will come back to you better than new, and be a completely reliable, cross-country driver for another 100,000 miles.

I think the only thing you might not get your money back on would be the paintjob, because every man has his own idea of what color his Z should be. If you find someone who loves Guardsman Blue and the paint is still fresh, you can make a profit off that, too.

For insurance purposes, you should insure it for NOT LESS than $15,000-$18,000. Ask Carl Beck about his opinion of your car when you're done with it.

But trust me on this, Marc ~ as soon as you let your Z go, you'd regret it. It would haunt you for YEARS.

Frank I agree with you that I would regret it if I ever sold my Z.

Don't worry, it aint gonna happen.

Plus I love the color blue that I picked out.

I am psyched to drive the car for the 40th anniversary season!

It should make a pretty decent tribute along with your car and all of the other loved Zs...

_________________
1972 Datsun 240z #88178

Several years ago the Zoning officials were giving me grief about too
many vehicles on the premises, and this was on 2.7 acres out in the
country with a huge cemetery across the street. I tried to cut the inven-
tory down by prioritizing: the '65 Chevy hardtop and the F600 Ford car
carrier went first, but the ZEO still wasn't satisfied. My '71 Datsun PL521
pickup (on a Jeep CJ5 frame and 4WD running gear, powered by a 327
Chevy) went to my niece's husband. My 73 510 2-door, 76 Datsun
shortbed, 77 F-10 hatchback, and 70 Chevy stepside went their separate
ways.

Trust me, I was trying everything I knew. I hid some of them behind
the garage and put up a stockade fence, put up a pine tree border as a
tall hedge, and stuff like that. The 72 Z partz car was well camouflaged
and couldn't be easily moved anyway, so the rare blue-on-blue series 1
71 Z was the next to go, sold to a young guy in Bethany. Actually in
retrospect I think he stole it from me, it you get my drift.

And that is the "punch line" of this story. I should have gone to jail
instead, because not only was that a rare color combination but also an
unreal fast car. I wonder if I could track it down again? I would love
to get it back, just like Frank was able to do with his #02807.
~Rick~

_________________
All Z Best,.......Kathy & Rick

1969 Z.CAR (#00013 10/69) 8/30/76
1969 ITSA.Z (#00171 11/69) 8/24/73
1970 OLD.Z (#06289 6/70) original owner
1971 510 2dr since 12/31/75
1969 1600 rdstr (our 160-Z)
1971 (#19851 1/71) sold
1975 75.Z (#01343 1/75)

Somehow I seem to have gotten sidetracked by previous posts, because
when I went back I discovered what the original topic was. Would some
kind administrator please move the above post to wherever it belongs?

Thanks!-----------~Rick~

I think it fits here. We're discussing the value of old Z cars. That applies to cash, the 'cost' of losing one, or compromiZeZ to avoid going to jail.

Let's leave it here.

Hi Mark:
Depends on what the definitions of Condition 1,2 and 3 are? How were they defined?

Here is what NADA Classic Car Book shows for a 1971 Z currently - note their comments about #1 Condition Vehicles at the end.

Low Retail Average Retail Value High Retail
Base Price $6,400 $11,050 $19,600
TOTAL PRICE $6,400 $11,050 $19,600

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Low Retail Value
This vehicle would be in mechanically functional condition, needing only minor reconditioning. The exterior paint, trim, and interior would show normal wear, needing only minor reconditioning. May also be a deteriorated restoration or a very poor amateur restoration. Most usable "as-is".

Some of the vehicles in this publication could be considered "Daily Drivers" and are not valued as a classic vehicle. When determining a value for a daily driver, it is recommended that the subscriber use the low retail value.

Note: This value does not represent a "parts car".
Average Retail Value
This vehicle would be in good condition overall. It could be an older restoration or a well-maintained original vehicle. Completely operable. The exterior paint, trim, and mechanics are presentable and serviceable inside and out. A "20-footer".
High Retail Value
This vehicle would be in excellent condition overall. It could be a completely restored or an extremely well maintained original vehicle showing very minimal wear. The exterior paint, trim, and mechanics are not in need of reconditioning. The interior would be in excellent condition. Note: This value does not represent a "100 Point" or "# 1" vehicle *.

* "100 Point" or "# 1" vehicle is not driven. It would generally be in a museum or transported in an enclosed trailer to concourse judging and car shows. This type of car would be stored in a climate-regulated facility.

- - - end NADA Quote - - - -

FWIW,
Carl