what would i get for my 240z?

[Agno]

That 240Z is pretty much exactly what I am looking for in my Z... Lucky it's a long term project!

 

I think a subtle front lip is definitely my favourite. I might be biased because my car has one but in my opinion a small lip really finishes the front, however the bigger and more chunky front air dams can really spoil the clean lines of an early Z.

[Whittie]

I think this is a pretty interesting thread, especially because I'm midway through a resto and I've often thought about what it's worth 'as-is'.

 

In my opinion, being in pieces drops the price dramatically, not having all the pieces to put it back together almost makes it worthless.

 

To Mossy, who started this thread, going through what I am and seeing your car the way it is, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, let alone pay money for it. The cost that would be required just to fix up what's been done and to get it 'going' would put it in the realm of most immaculately repaired, ready to go cars.

 

Don't take it the wrong way, I think that zeds are worth a lot of money, but the market thinks otherwise and for what you would pay for a fully done resto'd car, you would come out way ahead compared to buying a shell, let alone with one that needs a lot of repair and rust work. That's purely because these cars are under valued in lots of peoples opinions, just not those paying the cash to buy them, which is what counts at the end of the day.

 

One of the hardest parts with your car, as I've found with other for sale locally, is missing steel panels. In my opinion, steel panels ruin this car: They are heavy, they rust ridiculously badly and they are hard to find (try $600 plus for a guard, in bad nick, in the wrong colour!!). However, if you don't have steel panels then most people will tell you you don't have a car. This is also one of the reasons I think that reduces the value of your car and was certainly a driver for me to go fiberglass: I can keep the steel panels, oil them up so they don't rust and put fiberglass on for a track car, that way I don't care if they get damaged. However, for the people paying the dollars, fiberglass is a big negative.

 

In your case, if I were you (I'm not) and I didn't need the cash and had the space then stick it in the shed, wrap a tarp over it and leave it for a few years. These cars will get up in value eventually, just they aren't there now.

[gilltech]

My advice would be for you to collect up the missing parts necessary to make the car complete in order for it to be a possible viable project for some new owner, & I mean all the parts, before even thinking about selling it as is. Otherwise the combination of a lot of bodywork required, plus hunting down all the correct missing bits, & depending on preferences steel panels & a L24 of around the right period as well, will be too daunting for most potential buyers even if you are prepared to sell it for next to nothing. That's the blunt reality. If you don't need to sell it, & you don't want to be rid of it, then stash it away & quietly collect up all the bits it needs until sometime in the future when you might need to assess it again or may be in a better position to utilise it yourself.

 

[Patch]

Personally this matter of modified or standard, I like both and seeing these new motor setups has renewed my interest in keeping my car as the sale fell though,although these are nice examples, there is only certain cars worth keeping standard. http://zhome.com/IZCC/ZRegisters/VintageZ.htm.

 

If you don't have matching numbers I feel it would be more attractive to other people with these new mods, when I bought mine in 1986 there was no way you would think of sticking in a Skyline or BMW. these new motor set ups would bring others not interested before into the market. There was too many of these cars made and even though they are coming up in price, I think it would still be along time, I have stored mine 20 years after starting my rebuild and I only kept it because I believed one day they would come good.

Looking on this site there is some really nice cars and after I finish my house I will restart on mine.

 

But to try and sell one now the market has crashed in the last few months and toys are the first things that goes out the door, and a buyers market. Just as an example

A guy in my bike club just bought a 2008 Harley Electra glide new price was 38k the guy spent 20k on it, needed  the money and my mate bought it for 15k. 6 months ago he should have got 28-30k for it.

[luvemfast]

I think the Z in original form will never reach a certain status, cause it looks gay as aids

*Face palm*

 

Where is that button Gav? I can't find it and thats what its for!

 

You may as well walk into the Collingwood, no, Manchester United cheer squad and tell them their team sux dog balls 

You're entitled to your opinion.

And now, we have an opinion 

 

Has made some great reading here though

[mossy]

I agree that I may have to put a tarp over it and sell at a later date as not as many folks like a project car, but for me and I imagine others that is one of the experience of owing a z, taking something that needs love and restoring it to a level it deserves, for me though once is enough. (famous last words)

 

I hear what your saying Whittie but not many people have 30-40k to drop into a restored z and drive away, some like to tinker away at something as the funds allow for a few years, and if you buy a rolling car to restore yourself I reckon you'd be extremely lucky to strip it down and have it blasted to find no problems, and I can't remember the last time I've seen a truly immaculate z for sale as for me immaculate is something along the lines of the brown hornet(adams 240z), ie big big dollars spent, proper bare metal, rottisorie resto.

 

I already have one 240z that is being restored and its been fun and stressful and when its done, well I can't wait, but one might be enough to restore and there is a possibility another OG 240z may find its way into my garage soon.

 

I guess what I'm waffling on about is for the right price I'd let it go just for the space(even though I have a 4 car garage) if not I'll tarp it and sell another year, there seem to be a lot of guys with good fabrications skills around here, I'm not one of them, I had to take my car to the z factory for rust repairs, I just done as much labour as i could.

 

I did start going down the road of a track car for this shell but changed my mind when I remembered how much a track day was in my old mx5.

 

One mans trash is another mans treasure

[Whittie]

I hear what your saying Whittie but not many people have 30-40k to drop into a restored z and drive away, some like to tinker away at something as the funds allow for a few years

 

And there in lies the fundamental challenge with the Z car market today, you only need to spend 20-25k to buy a fully restored car!

 

These cars are returning such a small portion of invested body work costs that it becomes almost prohibitive to do a restoration with the intention to sell unless you have all the tools and know-how to do it yourself.

 

It also means that a body that is not complete is almost worthless due to the cost involved if you had to pay someone. I'm not trying to get you down, just there are plenty of people saying "I would pay xxx IF I had cash" but I don't see anyone saying "I'll pay xxx I HAVE the cash" and that's where is gets difficult

 

As was mentioned a few posts ago, probably the best way to go would be to get all the parts together over time as you come across them and put together a complete car in pieces and then sell it, you might find it easier to move and get a fair bit more for it.

 

The other option would be to find someone that has all the bits but needs a body. Perhaps you can find someone working on a 2+2 and convince them to do a body-swap 

 

I fully agree with your comment of one being enough too, when my car is finished I will NEVER restore a car again. Don't get me wrong, it's been great and I am grateful I've been able to do it, but given the choice I won't rush back into it!

 

[saxon]

Sorry if I offend anyone. I should have added a disclaimer: My views on the best look of the Z are my own opinion, and there is no right or wrong in terms of what looks good, it's up to everyone's personal opinion. My comments are in frustration of people saying that certain mods are "chopping and changing and molesting the pure form of the Z and people who do it are wasting the stock of original Z's" or things to that extent.

 

Back on topic.

 

As people have noted: A really nice example of a Z will get you 20-25k (revzed comes to mind)

A roadworthy but in real need of love car is a low as 10-11k (see the car that sold at shannon's auction recently, and the green one for sale at the moment)

Unfortunately that puts an incomplete car at a great deal less than that. And the market is pretty limited for a car in that condition. You really only have a chance of selling it to someone on this forum and most of these guys that buy restoration projects are shrewd bargain hunters.

 

Good Luck!