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My car
- Thread starter JK240
- Start date
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
No ones actually said what a "proper" samuri is? As a newbie I did post a question (about a month back) but got no real answers, basically it seems to be a aftermarket special? wide wheels/carbs/very mild headwork and a cam..... does that cover the mods?
Was it only done to 260s? Are they really worth more than a genuine 240zg?
Was it only done to 260s? Are they really worth more than a genuine 240zg?
Perhaps we should have a 'Samuri' Forum section and move all the Samuri Threads in there. This has been discussed so many times.
Those with a road going Samuri think they are special, most people with a non-Samuri Z think they are not. Nothing will alter.
I remember the name and it's association with Datsuns in their day. The standard car was considered sporty and a Samuri even more so (because it was). So it did the image of the car a lot of good. Today the value is in the association with the Z history and the 'quick' Samuris rather than the cars actual performance.
Those with a road going Samuri think they are special, most people with a non-Samuri Z think they are not. Nothing will alter.
I remember the name and it's association with Datsuns in their day. The standard car was considered sporty and a Samuri even more so (because it was). So it did the image of the car a lot of good. Today the value is in the association with the Z history and the 'quick' Samuris rather than the cars actual performance.
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andrew muir
Club Member
Totally agree Rob
Nice to have a tuned car from a reputable tuner, but I would have thought that the car itself would have to have some race history to claim itself to have a large price premium.
I like the Samuri cars but really only because the mods make them go quicker!!
I would prefer a Rebello tuned Z myself!
Nice to have a tuned car from a reputable tuner, but I would have thought that the car itself would have to have some race history to claim itself to have a large price premium.
I like the Samuri cars but really only because the mods make them go quicker!!
I would prefer a Rebello tuned Z myself!
Yes I think a genuine Samuri does command a Premium because of the association.
The power of marketing and branding is huge, more than that of the car.
The amount of premium will be determined by how much the buyer wants a Samuri.
If I had the choice of 2 cars identical in performance and condition except that one was a genuine Samuri (and the correct colour scheme) I might pay 10% more because I think it would appreciate more and during it's ownership it would generate more interest among Z owners and Classic car owners/onlookers in general.
The power of marketing and branding is huge, more than that of the car.
The amount of premium will be determined by how much the buyer wants a Samuri.
If I had the choice of 2 cars identical in performance and condition except that one was a genuine Samuri (and the correct colour scheme) I might pay 10% more because I think it would appreciate more and during it's ownership it would generate more interest among Z owners and Classic car owners/onlookers in general.
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Gio
Well-Known Forum User
"Valet quantum vendi potest" Or, as taught in 1st year marketing (and I'm sure, on many real courses as well) the value of a thing is what that thing will bring.
This basic economic fact has been around since Roman times at least. Anything is "worth" what someone is prepared to pay for it. In this context, the premium that a Samuri is "worth" is how much extra someone is prepared to pay over and above a non-Samuri equivalent. This is not a question that has a set % answer and will never be.
[b*gger - beaten to it by Rob but at least my answer's got some latin in it ]
This basic economic fact has been around since Roman times at least. Anything is "worth" what someone is prepared to pay for it. In this context, the premium that a Samuri is "worth" is how much extra someone is prepared to pay over and above a non-Samuri equivalent. This is not a question that has a set % answer and will never be.
[b*gger - beaten to it by Rob but at least my answer's got some latin in it
]
rahail240
Well-Known Forum User
Agreed.
Just along as there is no affiliation or association with groups like the genuine factory boys from the 'works team' then I think it can be looked on with some degree of status in the hierarchy of the Datsun brand.
It's a shame we're not so well versed in other heroes that deserved the exposure this thread and many other Samuri topics have had.
Just along as there is no affiliation or association with groups like the genuine factory boys from the 'works team' then I think it can be looked on with some degree of status in the hierarchy of the Datsun brand.
It's a shame we're not so well versed in other heroes that deserved the exposure this thread and many other Samuri topics have had.
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
a) Big Sam was a long time ago - how many people here saw it race ? How many potentiel Z people have even heard of it ?
b) Zs are world cars and Internet has hit us since a long time now - we're flooded by other Z cars from everywhere which have gone some way to dilute our small corner of 'Z world' with the result that Samuri is even smaller in significance.
c) Yes, anything that raises the profile is positive (although I know one who'll cough up his tea when he reads that
) but........ let's not get above ourselves.Premium ? I'd rather build or have one built to todays' standard thanks and Rob - you 10% more is way off what was being asked here !
Degree of status ?
I agree 100% with Gio and Andrew Muir..........and god help me - Skidden too - if a car has a specific history AFTER it's preparation, then an increased value could be justified but like any classic car, it would have to be properly documented - LAL would be an example !
Completely aside - what do Scarabs go for ?
MikeB
Well-Known Forum User
Sean are you talking about the 1950s/60s sports racing &F1 cars? If so there will be 5 zeros before the decimal point, as there were so few made and all have a competition history.
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
Silly billy - we're talking about Zs here and low volume after-market Z tuners.
Samuri spec here : Samuri
Interesting : Specification 2
Super Samuri road racer of which six were made including FFA, LAL and CHL.
Just leaves 3 cars then - which are ? :
Samuri Register
STEVE BURNS
Club Member
Picture of a scarab and in the States there is quite a lot of literature on the scarab sold on ebay over there
datsun dave
Club Member
My old Sam was a Spec 2 car reg LRD 621L so that leaves 2.
It's still the UKs quickest 1/4 Mile Samuri (in the Hall of Fame).
It's still the UKs quickest 1/4 Mile Samuri (in the Hall of Fame).
The only reason a Sam is worth more (I reckon) is the result of the history, it can only be cos Big Sam (whichever Big sam you like) beat Porsche, and the whole country loves an underdog.
The more confusing side of this is why this has become so big in a country that seemingly worships all things german, and still derides all things Japanese.
But then - we are close to trying to understand how the classic car market works with this - I mean , pre production Range Rover (not immaculate) 70K anyone??
In my case - apart from the paint job, most of the Samuri bits had long ago dissapeared by the time I got it 12 odd years ago - when I bought it , I had no idea what it was (or wasn't) and it is , and always will be, developed as it goes along. No idea what that would do to the value, only what it will hopefully do to my smile.
I do feel that the value of the Samuri's will eventually be overtaken by the value of a very good Z , be that either standard, or "sorted" , look at totally top E Type's versus period racers, but it will depend on the market. I for one can't see how long this will continure for, before it crashes, and the whole thing will calm down again.
I cannot be alone in thinking that if I was to sell my car I could build a very nice Z and trouser the change, one that could do anything mine can do. BUT - I wont sell it at the moment, cos I like sh*****g it too much, and that is when we all boil it down, what we have them for - Samuri or not !
I know this doesn't answer the questions, but perhaps it helps. There you go - a Samuri owner , who says something!
The more confusing side of this is why this has become so big in a country that seemingly worships all things german, and still derides all things Japanese.
But then - we are close to trying to understand how the classic car market works with this - I mean , pre production Range Rover (not immaculate) 70K anyone??
In my case - apart from the paint job, most of the Samuri bits had long ago dissapeared by the time I got it 12 odd years ago - when I bought it , I had no idea what it was (or wasn't) and it is , and always will be, developed as it goes along. No idea what that would do to the value, only what it will hopefully do to my smile.
I do feel that the value of the Samuri's will eventually be overtaken by the value of a very good Z , be that either standard, or "sorted" , look at totally top E Type's versus period racers, but it will depend on the market. I for one can't see how long this will continure for, before it crashes, and the whole thing will calm down again.
I cannot be alone in thinking that if I was to sell my car I could build a very nice Z and trouser the change, one that could do anything mine can do. BUT - I wont sell it at the moment, cos I like sh*****g it too much, and that is when we all boil it down, what we have them for - Samuri or not !
I know this doesn't answer the questions, but perhaps it helps. There you go - a Samuri owner , who says something!
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
Nice one shaggy !.............I got it 12 odd years ago - when I bought it , I had no idea what it was (or wasn't)................There you go - a Samuri owner , who says something!
Mr Burns, where did THAT Scarab end up ?
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
That scarab looks nice.
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
And don't forget the Messerschmitt !
datsfun
Club Member
having read the replies ^^^, I am not so sure that this question has been answered
.. I think it has been established beyond doubt that no two samuris were the same and they were modified almost on a bespoke basis.
I guess the only reason one would today pay a premium over an equivalent s30 is the nostalgia associated with the name? It is unlikely to be for the enhanced performance or looks as one can build a quicker and sharper looking car for less than asking price on many of these examples?
Sometimes I regret not buying the B110 coupe samuri when I had the opportunity a few years ago
