Are Zs valued classics or .............. ?

I have found since owning my 1987 300ZX that so many people look at it in awe. They love the fact its 22 years old and has so much to give. Ok its not in the "classic" realms of the old Datsun Z's that a great many people on here rave about and I love them just as much, but its so distinctive and still very much a head turner.
The main reason I got mine was due to my late step father owning one and giving it to me a few years back. I loved it the first time I drove it. The sheer feedback it gave me was amazing and so much better than anything I had driven before. Unfortunatly it was rusted through and through and I had to get rid of it. The floor pans were shot and the boot floor was hanging off. I stripped it and got shot off it. My current example was gained from Sean three years ago and while I cannot dedicate the time and money to it that others could I have since realised I can take my time and put a lot of effort into making her another example of one of these great cars. She has her problems with a couple of minor rust patches under one wheel arch and the engine (while solid) I realised could benefit so much from a complete overhaul. They are classics and beautiful cars, but everyone here has to realise that due to their age and rarity they cost so much more to keep on the road compared to other cars of their era. I know for one how difficult it is to find good parts for mine and most of my spare time while staring at the rain is spent sending emails all over the world asking for "price and availability". Zeds can be expensive and difficult to run in a lot of respects (especially if you compare them to your Ford Capri's and MGB's). The reward however is so much more. For me the 300ZX Z31 is a loverly inbetween model that has the classic lines and beauty of the older market, the power and driver satisfaction, coupled with a more affordable buying and maintainance budget.
 
If this club is 'all the cars', then it is bound to be all the owners. That includes people will not enough skill or cash and/or time to do the kind of upkeep you would like to see. People own classics for all kinds of reasons and their choice of cars and reasons for owning them vary, you can't prescribe how they should be owned, or who should own them. Its a case of live and let live. If someone wants to buy a turd and try to do it up on a shoe-string, its up to them.
 
Ped said:
If this club is 'all the cars', then it is bound to be all the owners. That includes people will not enough skill or cash and/or time to do the kind of upkeep you would like to see. If someone wants to buy a turd and try to do it up on a shoe-string, its up to them.
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Good points - so keep all the turds in the cow-field and don't tread them all over the roads........

Question : what has the club done to profit by the 40th birthday of the 240Z ? What contacts have been made and/or cemented during the past 12 months ? What is programmed for 2010 - the year the Z came to Europe and two lucky cars made it across the white cliffs ?

Is there a commission of a few people who'll do nothing but push the car and therefore all the cars (and owners :) ) and therefore the club ?

I agree all the cars but it appears as if the occasion will slip away. In any case, this is an ongoing struggle.

I repeat that the 240Z IS a classic exotic sports-car, worthy of the highest applaud and its' praises should be pursued in the press and at shows/events, backed up with reportages to the press - get the car appreciated by more than a handful of us Z anoraks !
 
The lack of awareness of the Z is down to the fact that the majority of classics catered for by the restoration industry in the UK are British makes; MG, Triumph, Jag, BMC etc...

The shear volume of British makes mean that there is an excellent choice, of excellent cars with cheap spares. The very lack of Zs in the UK is the reason they are not known about and entry level cars are either wrecks or a lot of money (240z + 260z). When I was looking to buy a classic, all I knew was I wanted something Jap preferably Nissan/Datsun, couldnt afford a 240z and happened upon the 280zx.

The 300zx seem to be doing well as there are quite a few about, they are recognised by the younger drivers and are a natural choice for fans of the more modern Jap performance cars.

Most average punters are completley unaware that the 240z is related to the 300zx, 350 & 370z. Lets blame Nissan for not trumpeting the heritage of the Z brand more.

You cant have it both ways, you either let everyone into the scene freely, or you set preconditions to Z ownership. If you do the latter the ZClub will be seen as up its own arse and an unfriendly club who kane anyone interested in taking a wreck out of a field and having a go at restoring it.
 
SKiddell said:
Sean you say

Classic design maybe but do you think exotic fits the bill:confused:
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adjective 1.of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized: exotic foods; exotic plants. 2.strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance: an exotic hairstyle.


Yes - I do !

For far too long people (and we are as guilty having accepted it) have banalised the 240Z. It is rarer than most on the roads and better than a lot !
 
SeanDezart said:
adjective 1.of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized: exotic foods; exotic plants. 2.strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance: an exotic hairstyle.
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I think you've either been reading a bit to much or Eric Cantona's dodgy poetry, Or had your face stuck in a few to many bottles of Red vino my friend :unsure::lol::lol::lol::lol:.




Rob
 
You prove my point Rob - thanks !

They're all turbs except some people have shinier turds and some others that cost more !

You'll always stay in the pig-pen if you believe that's your place.

Surprised at you Steve - I thought you had a higher opnion of your steed.
 
the main problem is that there are too many snobs in the classic car world who look down on the S30 range and the fact that there is a limited supply of parts to rebuild these cars which does not help,if you look at mini's,jags,mg's, porsche,triumph mk1/mk2 escort they all have remanufactured panels to rebuild these cars and as such there is not enough S30's in this country to make it viable for anyone making panels.
i think the main reason for the prices creeping up is that they are becoming very rare and do not come up for sale very often as they used too


because of the large numbers that were sold in the USA and Japan is one reason why they have a better following.how many car manufactures would restore 100+ 240Z's cars to as new condition with warranty and sell them from their dealships
 
Would be interesting to know of how many registered 240, 260, 280, 300ZX Z31, 300ZX Z32, 350 and 370's there are. I bet there are not many.
 
moggy240 said:
the main problem is that there are too many snobs in the classic car world who look down on the S30 range and the fact that there is a limited supply of parts to rebuild these cars which does not help,if you look at mini's,jags,mg's, porsche,triumph mk1/mk2 escort they all have remanufactured panels to rebuild these cars and as such there is not enough S30's in this country to make it viable for anyone making panels.
i think the main reason for the prices creeping up is that they are becoming very rare and do not come up for sale very often as they used too


because of the large numbers that were sold in the USA and Japan is one reason why they have a better following.how many car manufactures would restore 100+ 240Z's cars to as new condition with warranty and sell them from their dealships
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I don't care for snobs so why should we let them look down at us ?

Most of the remanufactured parts, especially for the Brit. pack of classics are made in China - they're so cheap, nobody restores, they buy new !

Makes ME laugh - the East is accused of having broken the UK motoring industry and is now being paid to keep 'em going !

There plenty of panels to restore all the 240Zs in the UK - either through locally produced and bring in a container full from the States or merely clean shells.

Rarity alone doesn't inflate prices.

Nissan US didn't do it because they loved the 240Z - they did it because they wanted to sell the 350Z ! Same effect though :thumbs: !

Nope, we should all be doing our hardest to lift up the 240Z because that will pull up the others that followed on. Nothing to do with selectioning the best of the best, creme de la bloody creme, merely simple marketing.

If you want these cars to last then they have to be appreciated, wanted, desired and therefore kept in great condition. NO, that doesn't mean mothballing them - look at the racing classics to see how they're kept in best condition by using them !

Look at the very limited numbers of 260Zs, 260Z 2+2s, 280ZX and Z31s in general and look again in five years' time at the number of roadworthy, good condition Z32s......

The numbers keep dropping...........
 
SeanDezart said:
Look at the very limited numbers of 260Zs, 260Z 2+2s, 280ZX and Z31s in general and look again in five years' time at the number of roadworthy, good condition Z32s......

The numbers keep dropping...........
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That was the basis of my thoughts. The last time I saw a Z31 on the road was about 5 years back now and then again another a few weeks before that but never before. I cannot remember that last time I saw a 240, 260, or 280, but needless to say it was a long time before that.
 
SeanDezart said:
They're all turbs except some people have shinier turds and some others that cost more !
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Say no more :p

They're all old cars and that's about it

Don't big them up unless they can back it up :unsure::D

Sean mentioned Capri
If someone asked joe average name cars from the 70's
Who would say 240z
Who would say Capri

Think the shonky ol Ford would win some how

And so it should !

Get over it :p
 
900ss said:
Say no more :p

They're all old cars and that's about it

Don't big them up unless they can back it up :unsure::D

Sean mentioned Capri
If someone asked joe average name cars from the 70's
Who would say 240z
Who would say Capri

Think the shonky ol Ford would win some how

And so it should !

Get over it :p
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Thanks, another who proves my point (ps don't be such a tosser Wyn).

Can they back it up - yes.

Do I want people to say 240Z instead of RS3100 / 3000GT - no - they were seen on the roads, the Zs weren't really.

But I DO want the perception of just another old car, a piece of Jap crap ERASED ! The car should be up there with the best - this isn't over-inflated pride or self-justification - this should be so !
 
Hi all I know that your trying to do something here but I'm not sure what other than alienate us. Sean I know your passionate about the marque but what is this thread and more to the point you aiming for here? It seems like its a hornets nest been smacked with a hammer! Are you proposing we do something? if so spell it out as the threads a little convoluted. As for your turds keep em’ in field analogy, why?? by no means is my 280 your cup of tea you have already slated the body kit and no doubt more. So is she to only come out in the depths of darkness when all around are sleeping? Most people with real clean cars only get them wet when washing them, fair play to them. But again what relevance has this got. Its feeling like the other cars are been pushed for the coveted 240, which is not my cup of tea. I prefer my 280 it’s bigger and looks to me better. I am sure that will have the hairs stood up by many a reader and the knives in my back like Judas.

From the outside looking in I will say this about the club/site/forum I've been an online member for over a year and will always back that is a great club etc..... But of late the subjects that have been aired on here have been either pointed at other members/committee having rants over peoples cars, talking down any motor on ebay or for sale or whatever else. My point here is look through the threads and its the same people writing all the time and responding. I log on and read a few times a day this is my home page, but of late it's like trawling through the ramblings of washer women. I SAY THIS because if you are trying inadvertently to get people to join up to the club/marque/ethos of the Z then any one viewing this site will think WE ARE a bunch of beardy Datsun owners arguing online about anything as the cars have rotted through.



In summary the reason for my post is that if new blood and better recognition is the aim think what is being posted on the first port of call for new blood.
 
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Olly, I agree and I'm certainly not putting my car through a £3-4K cosmetic job so that Sean likes it.

It takes all sorts and all cars to make the world go round. And we all think we've got it right!

From my experience cars get the reputation/value they deserve no matter what we think.

And we want new young blood interested in them (which my lads are). So we need to encourage ownership but at the same time warn the inexperienced of the pitfalls.
 
Rob, there is no way I'd keep throwing money at something, unless it was truly worth it. The old bottomless pit, has too loom into site at some point. But in terms of value an object of any form is only as valuable as someone is willing to pay for it.

I don’t think this thread is about increasing value though, I’m not sure what it is about that’s the problem.
 
I usally try not to get involved, but this is tedious. Maybe I should sell my Z cos I cannot afford a 5K respray ;)
 
Hi,

I might be one of the "new blood" you want to get involved and maybe need to get involved if you want the love of the 240 to increase.

My 72 240Z arrived on our shores last week after having bought it in the US back in July. It has a quite shocking BRE mashup paintjob, rotting floors and non standard bits all over it. It is the attitude of some on here mean that I doubt I will post pictures of it or of it's build. It isn't that I am ashamed or don't like criticism ( I absolutely love it and its patina of age ) it's just I don't want to take part in discussions or groups where pulling apart other peoples cars is the norm.

These cars are hard to own, they are old, they rot and there are not many left. It is not my place as a noobie ( having only lurked for a few months until now ) to say but I would have thought we should be encouraging others, encouraging new owners. If a car is a shed then an honest warning should be given to a prospective new owner, but I think pulling a car apart for it's own sake makes people like me unwilling to contribute.

For me, if a car is not to my taste then at worst it is best to say nothing, but normally it is possible to comment on the things that you do like ( such as the wheels are cool or the stance is impressive )

My 240Z will never be mint, I don't want it to be. It will be non standard, but it will be fun and it will run... why would I want a prissy trailer queen? :)

sean
 
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