HLS30 in Japan Auction

[PZ 69]

Have a look.

http://bhauction.jp/en/search/lot15.html

http://bhauction.jp/en/search/lot16.html

 

[uk66fastback]

Good find, I think the estimate could be a touch out!

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Good find, I think the estimate could be a touch out!

They went well over.

 

[johnymd]

£85K for a LHD 240z with an RB26 engine. Am I reading this correctly?

 

[PZ 69]

Read the sale note. These cars are vintage Z, 37 were made and 3 were exported to Japan.

Interesting!

 

[johnymd]

I can see the value in zero mileage unregistered zed but would you put an rb26 in such a rare car?

 

[Albrecht]

£85K for a LHD 240z with an RB26 engine. Am I reading this correctly?

You're misunderstanding it. The owner had a "plan" to install an RB26, but never actually got around to it.

 

[Albrecht]

Read the sale note. These cars are vintage Z, 37 were made and 3 were exported to Japan.

As is the case with many auction descriptions, it's not entirely accurate.

I know of at least 5 'Vintage Z Program' cars that ended up back in Japan. Two of them belong to my fellow members of 'Club S30' Japan.

 

[PZ 69]

Do you know if all the ' Vintage Z ' are LHD or are any rhd?

 

[Albrecht]

Do you know if all the ' Vintage Z ' are LHD or are any rhd?

All of the 37 finished NMC USA 'Vintage Z Program' cars were North American market HLS30U 'Datsun 240Z' models. No RHD.

 

[SeanDezart]

The 'yellow' Z looks so much better than the silver - how colour can change the perception.

 

[PZ 69]

Vintage Z v 1969/1970 restored HSL30 v MZR Sports Edition.

Which one is worth its value if you had an option to buy?

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

That’s not comparing eggs with eggs

 

[SeanDezart]

Vintage Z v 1969/1970 restored HSL30 v MZR Sports Edition.

Which one is worth its value if you had an option to buy?

Whereas the Vintage Zs were restored (or remade...however you read the fine print) to OEM USA market spec - no thanks.

 

[johnymd]

(HLS30−05811, whose engine has been replaced with the RB26)

The sales info about these cars is not very clear at all but it does clearly say that the engine has been replaced.

I was under the impression that that Japanese market were more interested in RHD fairlady's than US market 240z's.

 

[Albrecht]

The sales info about these cars is not very clear at all but it does clearly say that the engine has been replaced.

I was under the impression that that Japanese market were more interested in RHD fairlady's than US market 240z's.

The engine in the car was never changed to an RB26. It's a bad translation on the English pages of the auction blurb. The Japanese pages make the situation clearer, but more importantly the multiple feet on the ground at the event reported fully on specs and condition. There were some changes to the cars (including fitting one with a 5-speed transmission) but the engines were stock, with all emissions control stuff present.

99/100 re-imported North American market Zs sell for way less in Japan than their equivalent date/condition Japanese market counterparts. They are just not that popular and are seen as something slightly 'other'. Japan doesn't have a problem with LHD cars in general, and there are millions of parallel import Euro LHD cars in Japan because they were cheaper than the proper RHD Japanese market versions from the official MB, Audi, VW, Porsche, Renault, Peugeot etc etc Japan dealerships. It just doesn't work with Japanese cars, and especially old ones.

These two cars were parts of a typical auction 'perfect storm', hyped up in a Tokyo Auto Salon-affiliated event (so lots of 'car guys' in town), a well-known previous owner and being 'Vintage Z Program' cars presented in faux 'Barn Find' condition. It probably matters not to the buyer(s), but they could probably have bought better cars for less money elsewhere.