Throughout the hobby car world, trends emerge for cars I like to call sleepers, or those vehicles that start gaining in value somewhat under the radar while we’re all distracted by 911s and Grand Nationals. The classic Nissan sports car is one such example, as the 240Z and 260Z cars are enjoying a bit of a resurgence at the moment, finally emerging from the shadow of other collectibles that have long dominated the enthusiast foodchain. Find this rough 240Z here on eBay with bidding over $5K.
As some of you noticed in my post about the large Georgia collection cleanout, there were a few Z cars scattered through the woods. I received lots of interest in those cars and will be going back to document them further. I asked a few folks I spoke with why there was so much interest in them, and the answer was clear: it’s the last great, cheap sports car from the 70s that hasn’t blown up like an aircooled 911. But is that about to change?
This example is seriously tired, with mismatched paint throughout, no engine or transmission, a rough interior and basically in need of complete restoration. I can remember a few years ago this car would have traded hands in the low thousands if not high hundreds of dollars. Now, it’s commanding over $5K and there’s still enough time in the auction for it to go higher. Did anyone else think we’d be here at this point?
Mileage is reported as being under 50,000 miles, but it doesn’t matter much on a car like this. With so much trim missing and the need to essentially replace anything driveline-related, I’m surprised to see the dollar figures this Z is going to get. But with fewer of the iconic sports cars of the 60s and 70s available for anything less than top dollar, maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the interest a basketcase like this is generating.
I don’t remember hood vents on 240Zs. Am I wrong? I remember them on 260Zs.
Driving these in the 70s was like driving an Austin Healey in the 50s. Very nice handling and a torquey 6 cylinder engine. There was nothing that could even come close for the money at the time. Reliable and a blast to drive. The first time I saw one I was just mesmerized!
I had the use of one off and on for about five years in the late 70s and early 80s. Wider wheels, performance tires, performance exhaust and Bilstein shocks. Just a very enjoyable drive every time.
No 240Z or 260Z ever came with vents on the hood. They are all aftermarket.
And for someone wanting to restore an early Z car, vents on the hood will reduce the value of a 240Z because now the restorer needs to either weld the cut hood, or find another uncut hood.
I owned both a Tri-Carb Healey and a 1970 240Z and they would each get from 0 to 60 in around 7.5 to 8 sec. They were both bargain sports / performance for that time.
My 1970 240z had hood vents and rear hatch vents
Mine was a Persimmon Orange ’73 model. I noticed this one was a similar color before the re-spray. I was told that many were immediately re-sprayed because they were so popular that people bought whatever color they could get, then painted them. I think the un-popular colors at that time have become the sought after ones now. Persimmon, Burnt Orange, Chartreuse.
If I recall, they were the most affordable cars that reached the benchmark of 1 h.p. per cubic inch. Rolled on little 175/14 tires. I remember writing a (paper) letter to Bob Sharp Racing asking if I could fit wider tires on. Bobby himself wrote the reply and sent it back. Kind of cool to a 19 year old kid.
Boy, could they rust, though. The ’73 models suffered from emission control crap, so I picked up a 1970 manifold with 2 of the good carbs and slapped it on. Plugged any leftover hoses, cut the air cleaner housing to use just the top plate like a Shelby and enjoyed a very nice combustion concerto.
I remember when these first came out, no one took them seriously. They were considered slow, cheap, knock-off wanna-be’s.
Now, I see them as pretty cool little old school cars with some nice features. They’ve aged well.
They were pretty hot when introduced. I served with a master Sargent who ordered one at the intro. Iirc the price was around $2400. When it came in he did the paperwork, paid in cash, took the title out to the showroom where his buyer was waiting and sold it for about a grand profit. Never even saw the car.
A.J. you sure are right. These were in very high demand early in 1970 when they started to arrive in No America. There were long waiting lists, and some people sold their cars for a profit right after taking delivery like the fellow you mentioned. The list price was around $3,500, so $1,000 profit was a big percentage of the original price back then.
But they were in such demand that many dealers loaded them up with extras, like floor mats, bump strips along the body sides, and especially ‘mag’ wheels, which weren’t magnesium at all, but were cheaper and heavier cast aluminum. Some of the hardest original parts to find now are original 240Z steel wheels because most of them were scrapped decades ago.
Even if you were on a dealer’s wait list they would add the costs for those extras even if you didn’t request them or want them. Take it or leave it, and if you didn’t take it the next guy on the dealer’s wait list probably would.
Z cars depreciated to very low values years ago, but they have come on strong in the past couple of years. Good early cars are often selling now for $20K and up even if they aren’t perfect. And of course a lot of these rusted into piles of rust flakes, making the survivors more valuable.
The car mags raved about them being a performance bargain back then, which only made them more desirable. Many parts are now being reproduced by people and firms not connected to Nissan because they are in such high demand.
The early cars are worth the most. They haven’t gotten to the $$ value of Porsche 911s yet, but they might end up getting close.
Are you sure the 260Z is appreciating?
They were the worst of the bunch with half being carb’d and half being injected.
Does anybody pay money for a 260?
The first year (series 1) cars have appreciated the most. The 260s aren’t in the same league yet, but as the 240s dry up they should get more desirable. They are visually much the same as a 240 and easily modded to good driving cars.
That is a factory 280Z hood 76-78
Hood is from a 280. And yes 260’s are starting to increase in value. Almost all older Japanese cars are gaining value
They are a good entry into the hobby