UK 260Z 2 seater for sale

[Rob Gaskin]

I think cars like this harken back to an "older era" in the UK Z (and classic car) scene - when they were worth a lot less, restoration works were way cheaper and/or carried out on a limited budget and with very questionable methods and choices employed. The aim often being to keep something on the road/get it on the road as cost-effectively as possible and so that it looked okay from a few feet away. The type of work done meant that long-term survivability without fastidious care was unlikely - hence such a vehicle now being a rot box. Given the aforementioned explosion in restoration costs and much more sophisticated ideas of what a resto should entail in detail and quality, it means that such a vehicle would require expense well beyond any insurance or resale value unless the buyer has the time and capability to do the majority of the work themselves. This affects its sale-ability as a project. Those of us who know what we are looking at will place a very low value on such a car because of the obvious extent of the work needed. Someone buying into Zs for the first time who doesn't know what they are getting into might be more inclined to dive in - and regret it later unless they have deep pockets.

Personally, I wouldn't pay above four figures for it. It will need massive bodywork restoration in just about every area of the car before you even get near anything else. I guarantee every issue you start to tackle will reveal 2-3 more in the process. The first action of any buyer should be to get on KF Vintage JDM's website and order basically every single panel Gerson makes! Because most will be required.

Four figures? Very true Rich but that is assuming the buyer wants a fully restored car. This could get someone into Zs like my first car did.

 

[richiep]

Four figures? Very true Rich but that is assuming the buyer wants a fully restored car. This could get someone into Zs like my first car did.

I’m tight - and also know how much effort is required even on a relatively solid ex-CA shell, never mind one that’s had a life of U.K. weather and repair.

I don’t necessarily think it’s about going for fully restored, but expectations are generally higher today than was the case in the past and make-do repairs end up being a never-ending cycle. If you pay someone else to do it - ouch.

 

[toopy]

My car turned into a rot box underneath because of years of make-do repairs. Once i realised the full extent of the rust, it was a case of scrap or restore!
Luckily at the time Mr F managed to get me two NOS chassis rails, front cross member and outer sills, fourways made the front floors and parts of the lower inner wings and repaired the rad panel. I got hold of some used front wings as well, fortunately the doors, rear floors and rear wings were fine. The hatch around the hinges and rear of the roof needed extensive repair, i couldn't get a used replacement at the time, plus the rear slam panel was toast.
I can't imagine the cost of getting all that done today, it was expensive enough 20+ years ago, and with a +2 as far as I'm aware still nothing is available panel wise today, unlike the 2 seater!

 

[MCBladeRun]

My car turned into a rot box underneath because of years of make-do repairs. Once i realised the full extent of the rust, it was a case of scrap or restore!
Luckily at the time Mr F managed to get me two NOS chassis rails, front cross member and outer sills, fourways made the front floors and parts of the lower inner wings and repaired the rad panel. I got hold of some used front wings as well, fortunately the doors, rear floors and rear wings were fine. The hatch around the hinges and rear of the roof needed extensive repair, i couldn't get a used replacement at the time, plus the rear slam panel was toast.
I can't imagine the cost of getting all that done today, it was expensive enough 20+ years ago, and with a +2 as far as I'm aware still nothing is available panel wise today, unlike the 2 seater!

That sounds like the Ship of Theseus

 

[toopy]

That sounds like the Ship of Theseus

Lol, i had to look that up

Maybe about half the car you could say that, when you consider also the wheels, engine and gearbox are not originals, but the roof (even with a hole in it) the bulk of the inner wings, trans tunnel and most of the rear past the front seats is original.

 

[Kieronpollock]

Ship of Theseus?....you mean Trigger's Broom?!

 

[toopy]

Ship of Theseus?....you mean Trigger's Broom?!

Trigger's broom that's certainly an analogy i would have gotten instantly. Roger Lloyd-Pack .... the master of making stupid look so entertaining

 

[Needa240z]

It's found its way here
Let's see what price tag they put on it

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Mmm. Not regular use but a runner. Recommisioning - the way these guys try to say that it needs a lot of work and too much for them is comical. Only estate agents are worse at dressing-up the facts.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Still think it's a way into S30 ownership - it's how I got started.

 

[atomman]

So it sold for Hammer Price (inc. buyers premium) £14,672, but shows no bids weirdly,

With RHD cars asking a premium here in the UK and it not being completely standard form , from the point of someone wanting to buy it as in 'investment' , I think it was an ok price for it needing a fair bit of work to bring it up to a good standard of condition,


Do we think that is a fair reflection of price for this car in the current state of the economy/classic cars prices ? Be interesting to see what everyone else thinks,

Wonder what 'they' are going to ask for it now ?

 

[Rob Gaskin]

'Do we think that is a fair reflection of price for this car in the current state of the economy/classic cars prices ? Be interesting to see what everyone else thinks'

Yes. I've seen the car (on the way to somewhere) I was held up and the owner's wife had an appointment so time was short.

My gut feeling and what I told the lady was that it would sell easily for £15k but might get up to £20k with the wind behind it - basically being bought by someone who has seen the prices being asked and buying with little knowledge of these cars.

Since then I know of two people who have been to see it and discovered more work needed than I had. If you are looking to buy and have more time you 'dig deeper'. Since then we have seen the financial situation change but I don't know how much that would affect this sale.

I think this car is similar bodily (or may even be better) to my first 240Z which I bought in 1996 for £3k. That turned out to be a great fun car but was never 'smart'. I was able to do the work myself and even used second-hand metal for much of it. I had no alternative but the car was never an investment so I could do it how I wanted. My priority was the mechanical side.

Looking at the attached picture the car looks better than it was 'good from far - far from good'.

Loved that car but I bought another, then another, then another!

So IF you can do the work yourself this may be a good buy as long as you are building it for yourself to enjoy. Every S30 doesn't have to have a bare metal respray but I'm not a perfectionist. I have no idea what this car drives like.

 

[atomman]

Yes. I've seen the car (on the way to somewhere) I was held up and the owner's wife had an appointment so time was short.

My gut feeling and what I told the lady was that it would sell easily for £15k but might get up to £20k with the wind behind it - basically being bought by someone who has seen the prices being asked and buying with little knowledge of these cars.

I'd say your gut feeling was pretty spot on there Rob

 

[Rushingphil]

It's found its way here
Let's see what price tag they put on it

Same chaps that are selling the Super Samuri and the green LHD/RHD 240z

 

[AliK]

I wager a flip for a £5k profit coming up!

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

I think a solid LHD(or more solid) would be a better buy and an easier sell.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I think a solid LHD(or more solid) would be a better buy and an easier sell.

Yes I know you would, you keep telling us.

We are discussing this car. If you are going to drive in the UK for a good distance LHD may irritate.

This car is a RHD car for sale in an RHD country, so all the hassle and expense of conversion is avoided (but not the rust).

My point was if you are buying it for yourself to enjoy it's worth consideration but you must understand what you are buying.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Yes I know you would, you keep telling us.

We are discussing this car. If you are going to drive in the UK for a good distance LHD may irritate.

This car is a RHD car for sale in an RHD country, so all the hassle and expense of conversion is avoided (but not the rust).

My point was if you are buying it for yourself to enjoy it's worth consideration but you must understand what you are buying.

At this price point I meant rob. Given how many times this car had been viewed and rejected, it can’t be too great.

 

[candy red]

IMO without actually seeing the said car and seeing exactly what wants doing to it it’s difficult to say exactly what it’s worth in an market but having said that if someone want to weld patches onto it and make it solid and fit for an Mot even though it doesn’t need one like they did in the eighties so not perfect like some restorations but useable and they could do the work themselves and use it it maybe worth this price given the how rare genuine Rhd are.

But personally knowing what it costs if your looking to do it properly even if you can do majority of the work yourself and looking just at the photos I’d say it’s sold for more than it’s worth but this is only really an assumption as I’ve not seen the car, your going to be looking at 5K for a decent paint job and that’s without adding any cost for panels if needed floors sills doglegs maybe chassis rails battery tray area inner wings where bonnet hinges bolt on doors look to be hiding rust slam panel and what lies Beneath the list can go on.

Without looking at it properly I would have said 10k

Hopefully the buyer has had a good look at it and knows what he’s looking for so has a good deal and we see it on here being restored to whatever level he want

 

[Col-b]

I did see the car and everything needed doing none of the MOT advisories had been done and new panels were welded over rotten ones in the fire wall etc mechanically knackered too. Because the pictures looked ok I'm guessing these guys bought it sight unseen and when it turned up they realised how bad it is so trying a quick flip.