The Global Z-car (S30/S130) Market Thread.

gav240z · October 11, 2020

2 hours ago, HS30-H said:

Probably will, but I have to say that this BaT phenomenon of high-selling S30s (and it is almost exclusively HLS30Us) seems to be fuelled by a small coterie of self-styled 'Collectors' who are trying to out-Billy-Big-Balls each other. The same few characters seem to be active on almost every auction of similar cars, and when they've rinised the arse out of that particular scene they will probably move onto the next 'up and coming' marque and model.

I somewhat agree, it's almost like a pump and dump scheme with penny stocks being played.

Perhaps due to Casinos being closed with Covid these whales need something to throw their money at?

Makes me wonder how the future will look for these cars. But I am also wondering the same thing about R34 GTRs..seeing them break all kinds of records month on month..

HS30-H · October 11, 2020

7 minutes ago, gav240z said:

Makes me wonder how the future will look for these cars. But I am also wondering the same thing about R34 GTRs..seeing them break all kinds of records month on month..

Thing is, I can understand the relative rarity of nice R34 GT-Rs helping to drive prices up (with what, something like 12,000 or less built and very few having escaped radical modification and abuse?) along with it perhaps being seen as one of the *the* Skyline GT-R high points, but these BaT guys are bidding against each other on cars that seem to keep popping out of the woodwork almost every week.

There must be a finite supply of 'early' HLS30Us, but there certainly seem to be plenty of them coming to the BaT auctions and a lot of them appear to be being sold by dealers and flippers. There must be quite a few such cars that are being sold off in probate sales or by owners who are just too old to use them anymore, and *that* is where you want to be buying. Taking pride in paying the most for something amongst fellow collectors seems to be more about ego than true love and appreciation for the cars.

And anyway, I think the whole BaT thing is weird. Who wants to be bidding in an auction where anonymous comments are encouraged, but often vetted or edited by admin while the auction is live? It opens the whole format up for abuse and/or manipulation. All rather odd.

HS30-H · October 11, 2020

2 hours ago, C.A.F. said:

Amazing...

And that's not even the worst of it. The more the car was taken apart, the more it revealed. And this was what was being described as "immaculate" by the importer.

Much of it was rectified and/or mitigated, but it's still half made out of other cars. Apparently it won a prize at ZCON in the USA a couple of weeks ago.... :-X

gav240z · October 11, 2020

I feel like these US centric events and trophies are a bit of a load of old tosh anyway..

Mr K signed sun visors seem to increase the value by $20k.. another $30k if it's a glove box..

Just goes to show when dealing with these old cars you need an experienced eye to examine them and check the restoration work.

I've seen enough of these cars now to know what a difference it makes to the overall fit and finish of these cars when they are done right. Many cars look good in photos. Not so much in person.

gav240z · October 11, 2020

By the way I assume we're talking about PS30 00166?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QwjXY649pdEvg8vA3

HS30-H · October 11, 2020

21 minutes ago, gav240z said:

By the way I assume we're talking about PS30 00166?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QwjXY649pdEvg8vA3

No no no. That one has 'had a life' shall we say, but nothing too bad.

The one I'm talking about is PS30-00105. Here it is on display at ZCon a few weeks ago:

gav240z · October 15, 2020

Nice 904 white / Blue interior 240z on BAT.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-datsun-240z-63/

gav240z · November 12, 2020

Low mile 280z already at 90k USD.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-datsun-280z-39/

24 Dat · November 19, 2020

On 11/13/2020 at 9:20 AM, gav240z said:

Low mile 280z already at 90k USD.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-datsun-280z-39/

Sold for $140K USD

gav240z · November 19, 2020

I actually thought it may go higher. But that's still close to $200k AUD. Not sure if BAT charges any buyer fees or just seller fees? But that's probably a reasonable buy relatively to the cost of restoring to as new with all OEM parts.

Also given it's a 280z (chunky bumpers etc..) I think it's quite good.

specialp3 · November 19, 2020

As a zed owner I am glad to see these kinds of results as the cars have been undervalued for many years.

I do feel sorry for the younger guys who will never have the chance to drive a zed, 1600 or 240K coupe through the forest getting air borne over jumps us some of us older members used to do regularly when they worth $1000.00.

The higher the value, the further away from 7000rpm we have to drive

Edited November 20, 2020 by specialp3

OdinZ · November 20, 2020

49 minutes ago, specialp3 said:

As a zed owner I am glad to see these kinds of results as the cars have been undervalued for many.

I do feel sorry for the younger guys who will never have the chance to drive a zed, 1600 or 240K coupe through the forest getting air borne over jumps us some of us older members used to do regularly when they worth $1000.00.

The higher the value, the further away from 7000rpm we have to drive

You should still be revving it to 7000rpm for those of us who dont own a Z! otherwise what's the point!? haha

gav240z · November 20, 2020

And as you said these old Datsun's are the vintage cars you can drive hard without the fear of breaking them.

gav240z · November 22, 2020

Interesting listing.

Early PS30, but has later 74+ dashboard, a flat floor (like Z432-R) and no S20 motor. Still asking $300k AUD +

https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/NISSAN/FAIRLADY_Z/700070863630201115002/index.html

PS30-0****

gav240z · November 22, 2020

https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/NISSAN/FAIRLADY_Z/700020034830180724001/index.html

HS30-10****
Month/Year: 06.1973

¥15,305,000 (Approx $200k AUD).

HS30-H · November 22, 2020

8 minutes ago, gav240z said:

Interesting listing.

Early PS30, but has later 74+ dashboard, a flat floor (like Z432-R) and no S20 motor. Still asking $300k AUD +

https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/NISSAN/FAIRLADY_Z/700070863630201115002/index.html

PS30-0****

In the antiques trade that is an example of what is - being polite - called "a marriage"...

gav240z · November 22, 2020

https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/NISSAN/FAIRLADY_Z/700055083430200926001/index.html

HS30-10****

HS30 10*094 - from auction report.

05.1973

Chiba Japan

Asking ¥12,925,000 ($170k AUD)

gav240z · November 22, 2020

9 minutes ago, HS30-H said:

In the antiques trade that is an example of what is - being polite - called "a marriage"...

Position of the rad hose suggests it had an L-series in it. Not an S20. Is the front of the car the same front it left the factory with?

HS30-H · November 22, 2020

41 minutes ago, gav240z said:

Position of the rad hose suggests it had an L-series in it. Not an S20. Is the front of the car the same front it left the factory with?

I would say it seems to be a late 1973 and up (probably '74) originally L20-engined car with some earlier parts additions, and the identity from another car pinned on it.

gav240z · November 22, 2020

The big asking price is surely a joke or is it Japan's equivalent of Edward Lee's at work here?

HS30-H · November 22, 2020

2 minutes ago, gav240z said:

The big asking price is surely a joke or is it Japan's equivalent of Edward Lee's at work here?

Possibly set that high to deter Goo.net buyers whilst 'getting it out there' that the can o' worms is available for a quieter person-to-person sale to someone who has all the necessary mechanical parts to put together a PS30-spec car, but needs an identity to pin on it.

There are more parts floating around than genuine cars, so the chicken-and-egg problem gets solved by the raising from the dead of previously expired identities. This is what you need to watch out for if you are in the market for one of the rarer models, and in particular the S20-engined cars. You want to see continuous history, without big - unexplained - gaps. It can be tricky. Caution: Resurrectionists at work!