-
The Z Club relies on the support of it's paid members - join the club or renew your membership here.
Was £21, then £15....now £12
- Thread starter SeanDezart
- Start date
uk66fastback
Club Member
Dropping by £6k each week ... I'm waiting until it gets to £6k this time next week, then I'll buy it!
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
I think its more that he wants a fast sale, he's dropping his price very very quickly.
Some recent sales of 'off the boat' LHD cars has shown they're not dropping.
johnymd
Club Member
Prices do vary during the year but the right cars are still selling. IMO the problem advertising a car at too high a price initially is that it then becomes harder to sell at a lower price. The same thin happens with houses.
I am not saying this car was overpriced and as I mentioned before, I does look very sharp.
I am not saying this car was overpriced and as I mentioned before, I does look very sharp.
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
I think it was overpriced at +£20k - heck of a turnaround profit to add on along with some rough bits and a 260Z dash for a RHD conversion.....
The car itself is nice - I reckon it's in the wrong location to sell - should be advertised over here - I can't see many wanting to convert from that starting price, let alone above it !
richiep
Club Member
When ChrisVega had the car up for sale originally, it was around 19k. So, one can assume a deal was done that saw it realise a little less than that. I didn't see the extra value when it's current owner put it up for sale so short after with an incomplete conversion kit. I'd also agree Sean in that I don't think cars of this quality/price point are suited as conversions. I think most looking to convert (like me next time) are going to be looking at more project level "blank slate" cars to chop around. As I said to the owner in a previous thread (before he got all silly about it and took offence to everything and everyone), I'd forget the RHD conversion stuff and sell on that car's existing merits and interesting background.
George raises an interesting point about saturation though, There are a lot more random people bringing in cars and trying to ride on the perceived opportunity with Zs and uptick in values, but how large is that market in reality, in terms of actual buyers, and how many are willing to accept LHD? Also, I think there's been plenty with prices weighted to the high side, from project level up. The genuinely good cars priced sensibly might shift, but excess choice will have an effect (and maybe bring some realism back if the outliers don't sell). Quality will inevitably be hit too as people bring in cheapo Craigslist dogs and price them "imaginatively"...
George raises an interesting point about saturation though, There are a lot more random people bringing in cars and trying to ride on the perceived opportunity with Zs and uptick in values, but how large is that market in reality, in terms of actual buyers, and how many are willing to accept LHD? Also, I think there's been plenty with prices weighted to the high side, from project level up. The genuinely good cars priced sensibly might shift, but excess choice will have an effect (and maybe bring some realism back if the outliers don't sell). Quality will inevitably be hit too as people bring in cheapo Craigslist dogs and price them "imaginatively"...
uk66fastback
Club Member
The car is being sold wrongly in my view, not that Escort will agree. All the wording in his ad just goes on about how it can be converted to RHD and how he has all the bits to do it, which look like one old rusty half of a firewall, an old loom that could be in any kind of condition and a 260Z dash! (great)
I'd try and resell it as a great car that can be enjoyed as a LHD one - and flog the other stuff to someone who has a car already and wants to convert. Most of the wording in the ad isn't about the car it's about the conversion! (as if that matters)
Edit: Rich has said it all and in a far more eloquent fashion ...
I'd try and resell it as a great car that can be enjoyed as a LHD one - and flog the other stuff to someone who has a car already and wants to convert. Most of the wording in the ad isn't about the car it's about the conversion! (as if that matters)
Edit: Rich has said it all and in a far more eloquent fashion ...
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
All of us summed it up correctly I think.
'high'priced Zs are themselves almost priced out of the conversion market and unless UK buyers are happy to stay with LHD (and there are good reasons albeit specific to an owner's travel plans or they're happy to keep their Z original !), it is on the continent that a LHD 240Z will sell and there....the sellers will be competing with profressional importers who've also cottoned onto the game and that Z prices have risen.
I've already seen plenty of basket cases brought in which should have stayed Stateside - no point 'adding' value to a wreck which costs the same to import as a good, clean, complete car !
chrisvega
Well-Known Forum User
OK Sean, you piqued my interest enough to post 
against better judgement
As others said advert should present USPs of the car.
Not a run of the mill US import by any means.
European factory spec. from new not inferior US spec. like 95% of cars on the market
So climate/body condition benefits of being in CA from new plus
5 speed box
3.9 diff
Anti roll bars
Firmer suspension.... blah, blah
Also an early vented tailgate S1 car which are supposedly more collectible ( certainly according to our US cousins ) and there cannot be many Euro spec S1 cars now left of the few that were originally sold.
It had a high quality glass out repaint a long time ago ( 15 years + ) when a 240Z was worth buttons and the re-paint cost alone was more than car's worth at the time. Still presents really well so hides nothing - not usual US spec. blowover with paint on screen rubbers etc ( inner rear hatch catch/rubber excepted - oversight/got lazy ? )
As others said barking up wrong tree offering 260 conversion parts in advert and that can only confuse/put off would be buyers. When sold a few months ago there were a couple of other very interested 'would be buyers' from Europe so what Sean says also correct.
If the seller lets car go for £ 12k it is an absolute steal and at £ 15k it is still a bargain.
against better judgementAs others said advert should present USPs of the car.
Not a run of the mill US import by any means.
European factory spec. from new not inferior US spec. like 95% of cars on the market
So climate/body condition benefits of being in CA from new plus
5 speed box
3.9 diff
Anti roll bars
Firmer suspension.... blah, blah
Also an early vented tailgate S1 car which are supposedly more collectible ( certainly according to our US cousins ) and there cannot be many Euro spec S1 cars now left of the few that were originally sold.
It had a high quality glass out repaint a long time ago ( 15 years + ) when a 240Z was worth buttons and the re-paint cost alone was more than car's worth at the time. Still presents really well so hides nothing - not usual US spec. blowover with paint on screen rubbers etc ( inner rear hatch catch/rubber excepted - oversight/got lazy ?
)As others said barking up wrong tree offering 260 conversion parts in advert and that can only confuse/put off would be buyers. When sold a few months ago there were a couple of other very interested 'would be buyers' from Europe so what Sean says also correct.
If the seller lets car go for £ 12k it is an absolute steal and at £ 15k it is still a bargain.
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
Hello Chris.
Welcome back - I believe that all pro-sellers, importers and Essex boys have their place here and their right to a say-so and values/cars for sale are the most consistently attractive and active threads here and for reason !
There are not enough professional and amateur traders active on this forum.....which might say more about them than the other members here !!!!!
Can you enlarge this please :
European factory spec. from new not inferior US spec. like 95% of cars on the market
What's the history there then ?
This site could and should be THE reference, the first place of call for all the press and potentiel buyers with a maximum of transparency over the cars for sale, something for which even Alan T has waged war for sometime now !
Welcome back - I believe that all pro-sellers, importers and Essex boys have their place here and their right to a say-so and values/cars for sale are the most consistently attractive and active threads here and for reason !
There are not enough professional and amateur traders active on this forum.....which might say more about them than the other members here !!!!!
Can you enlarge this please :
European factory spec. from new not inferior US spec. like 95% of cars on the market
What's the history there then ?
This site could and should be THE reference, the first place of call for all the press and potentiel buyers with a maximum of transparency over the cars for sale, something for which even Alan T has waged war for sometime now !
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
Yep - good call Rob - heavy on the carpet and overspray.
richiep
Club Member
It's in at least one of the previous threads Sean - stop being a lazy sod and use the search function!
Forums tend to reveal the lack of attention span and/or inability of people to retain information so prevalent in our age!
I'm sure Chris can give you the full low-down, but he and I talked about this when he brought the car to Tatton Park back in June. The basic story is that it was a European car that got redirected to California because its original owner didn't want to sit on the waiting list for a US one when they first came out and a relative (brother-in-law or similar?) worked for Datsun in Europe and was able to swing it for him. Thus, it is a genuine factory Euro-spec car with the atmospheric benefit of having lived in CA its whole life. Cool story IMO.
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
It's in at least one of the previous threads Sean - stop being a lazy sod and use the search function!
Forums tend to reveal the lack of attention span and/or inability of people to retain information so prevalent in our age!
I'm sure Chris can give you the full low-down, but he and I talked about this when he brought the car to Tatton Park back in June. The basic story is that it was a European car that got redirected to California because its original owner didn't want to sit on the waiting list for a US one when they first came out and a relative (brother-in-law or similar?) worked for Datsun in Europe and was able to swing it for him. Thus, it is a genuine factory Euro-spec car with the atmospheric benefit of having lived in CA its whole life. Cool story IMO.
You're right - couldn't be ar*ed - cool story but is there proof ?
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
richiep
Club Member
Indeed - do keep up Sean, there's a good chap!
As Chris alludes to, I think the story is a definite core USP with that car, but it merits just a couple of words in the latest ad. I'd have given the full rundown in the description on the history and what that practically means for those that don't know in terms of why this car would be better than an equivalent US market import.
As Chris alludes to, I think the story is a definite core USP with that car, but it merits just a couple of words in the latest ad. I'd have given the full rundown in the description on the history and what that practically means for those that don't know in terms of why this car would be better than an equivalent US market import.
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
Indeed - do keep up Sean, there's a good chap!
As Chris alludes to, I think the story is a definite core USP with that car, but it merits just a couple of words in the latest ad. I'd have given the full rundown in the description on the history and what that practically means for those that don't know in terms of why this car would be better than an equivalent US market import.
Still LHD with all the belittleing remarks that some have made here not realising that there is a MUCH bigger potentiel market for them just a few dozen miles away.
Yep - sorry, will buck up a bit - still getting over Chis' monster turbo on my drive the other day !
Attachments
chrisvega
Well-Known Forum User
We aim to please
Said monster did 1200 miles in a superb week of French motoring without missing a beat although don't know how it didn't shake itself to bits on some of the dodgy road surfaces and huge speed bumps in towns. Do the tarmac layers in France only work afternoons after two bottles of Pastis ? Can see why Citroen and Renault developed amazingly smooth suspension set ups many years ago - a necessity I would imagine. Aside from that roads pleasingly quiet compared to UK and 270bhp enough power in the Z to keep those annoying tailgaters away from the rear bumper on each occasion except once when an M3 dented my pride. BMW drivers same world over it seems
( replace hammer with a hand signal )So if you want to enjoy your Z to the max. buy lhd and go to France to drive it is my ten cents
chrisvega
Well-Known Forum User
Here you go Sean, some light bedtime reading explains it all
This advert for the car in States if this is ' proof ' enough ? A nice story anyway.
This is a very clean, Series I, 1970 240Z. I am the third owner; the second owner owned this car for almost 39 years. It has always been garaged, covered and cared for. This car was originally purchased by a colonel in the US Air force in Korea. His brother in law was the Japanese export manager for Nissan at the time. His brother-in-law obtained this car which was a model made to be shipped to Europe, sent it to Yokohama for undercoating then loaded onto a ship and delivered it to San Francisco.
Almost immediately thereafter the Colonel received orders to return to Korea and felt he had to sell the car since he had no idea as to when he would return to the US. The second owner then purchased it and owned it for 39 years until I purchased it in the beginning of this year.
The speedometer is in Kilometers as the temp and oil pressure gauges are metric. The side markers are also not present and were never installed as this car was to be shipped to Europe. This is an original 5 speed car. As far as mileage, I listed what I could determine per documents I read that were given to me by the second owner. I cannot guarantee what the mileage is; however, I believe it to be accurate.
The second owner of 39 years had the original motor replaced with a new 280z block and kept the original SU carburetors. The work was done by the Wizard of Z (a shop specializing in Z card located in Riverside) sometime ago. You cannot tell the engine has been replaced unless you look at the numbers on the block. He also had the car completely taken down to metal and repainted by Al Martinez (a local and well known painter in Orange County). The paint and body is very good. There are some very small dents and nicks here and there but overall very clean and presentable. All sheet metal on this car is original, undercoating is in place and original and there are no signs on rust. The undercarriage, lower doors and lower fenders are all clean as you can see by the pictures. It is exceptionally clean. The glass is good with no chips or cracks and the bumpers appear to be original. They could use a rechrome but are presentable. The rear lights are original and are European (amber) lights which further substantiates the cars origin. The interior is clean and needs nothing really. There has been a dash cap installed due to the original dash having some small cracks.
I purchased this car with the intent to turn it into a track car. That would entail gutting it, cutting the fenders and bolting flares to the body. The more I owned it and the more people saw it and commented on it the more I realized that this car is far too nice to be changed and turned into a track car. Therefore, I have decided to sell it and find another candidate that is not as nice. I do not want to alter a piece of automotive history that is as nice of an example as this one is. This is an excellent car to enjoy, that has history and is a Series I car. Mechanically it needs nothing. I have driven it around 1000 miles and it has been trouble free and enjoyable.
This advert for the car in States if this is ' proof ' enough ? A nice story anyway.
This is a very clean, Series I, 1970 240Z. I am the third owner; the second owner owned this car for almost 39 years. It has always been garaged, covered and cared for. This car was originally purchased by a colonel in the US Air force in Korea. His brother in law was the Japanese export manager for Nissan at the time. His brother-in-law obtained this car which was a model made to be shipped to Europe, sent it to Yokohama for undercoating then loaded onto a ship and delivered it to San Francisco.
Almost immediately thereafter the Colonel received orders to return to Korea and felt he had to sell the car since he had no idea as to when he would return to the US. The second owner then purchased it and owned it for 39 years until I purchased it in the beginning of this year.
The speedometer is in Kilometers as the temp and oil pressure gauges are metric. The side markers are also not present and were never installed as this car was to be shipped to Europe. This is an original 5 speed car. As far as mileage, I listed what I could determine per documents I read that were given to me by the second owner. I cannot guarantee what the mileage is; however, I believe it to be accurate.
The second owner of 39 years had the original motor replaced with a new 280z block and kept the original SU carburetors. The work was done by the Wizard of Z (a shop specializing in Z card located in Riverside) sometime ago. You cannot tell the engine has been replaced unless you look at the numbers on the block. He also had the car completely taken down to metal and repainted by Al Martinez (a local and well known painter in Orange County). The paint and body is very good. There are some very small dents and nicks here and there but overall very clean and presentable. All sheet metal on this car is original, undercoating is in place and original and there are no signs on rust. The undercarriage, lower doors and lower fenders are all clean as you can see by the pictures. It is exceptionally clean. The glass is good with no chips or cracks and the bumpers appear to be original. They could use a rechrome but are presentable. The rear lights are original and are European (amber) lights which further substantiates the cars origin. The interior is clean and needs nothing really. There has been a dash cap installed due to the original dash having some small cracks.
I purchased this car with the intent to turn it into a track car. That would entail gutting it, cutting the fenders and bolting flares to the body. The more I owned it and the more people saw it and commented on it the more I realized that this car is far too nice to be changed and turned into a track car. Therefore, I have decided to sell it and find another candidate that is not as nice. I do not want to alter a piece of automotive history that is as nice of an example as this one is. This is an excellent car to enjoy, that has history and is a Series I car. Mechanically it needs nothing. I have driven it around 1000 miles and it has been trouble free and enjoyable.