Ask the Car People.SM


'70s and '80s Japanese Cars: Too Practical For Collectors?

67 messages,  Last post on Feb 06, 2012 at 6:06 PM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota, Classic Cars

Messages Page 6 of 7

#48 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online... [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Feb 04, 2012 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Feb 04, 2012 12:13 pm)
I don't think it's going to happen, except for the preservation of a few original survivors. Collectors who go for oddball stuff don't pony up the $$$ to see the projects through, in most cases. It's more like the car follows them home and they let it sleep in the garage.

#49 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] by hpmctorque

Feb 04, 2012 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 04, 2012 12:41 pm)
I agree with your comments. They sum up the situation so succinctly, that I have little to add. One thing that stood out, though , is that of the little interest that exists in Japanese collectibles, theres virtually no interest in any model outside of the Japanese big three.
 
Over time, the number of posts on this discussion may be a good indicator of whether interest in old Japanese cars grows or stagnates.

#50 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online... [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Feb 04, 2012 (7:32 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 04, 2012 12:41 pm)
And maybe even more limited , to being a regional ideal - the cars pretty much only survive out west and maybe in some parts of the south.

#51 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Feb 04, 2012 (7:33 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Feb 04, 2012 2:01 pm)
Well some of these japanese cars are now over 40 years old and still pretty low-priced...so when does "collectible" happen here? 50 years? 60?
 
I guess in a way ANY 60 year old car is a "collectible", if for no other reason than it having lasted that long.
 
Some people do collect and restore Datsun Fairlady roadsters, and Datsun 510s (they even still race them in SCCA) and of course, we're STILL waiting for the Datsun 240Z to break $20,000 bucks.

#52 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftright] by omarman

Feb 05, 2012 (12:44 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 04, 2012 7:33 pm)
I agree with the note of skepticism over a 40 year wait for an old car to bloom into a "classic."
 
So far, all the young internet tycoons have not been dropping BJ money on any "classic" Mazda or Datsun drift cars and it doesn't look like that will ever really happen.

#53 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftright] [omarman] by kyfdx HOST

Feb 05, 2012 (6:57 am)

Replying to: omarman (Feb 05, 2012 12:44 am)
BJ money?

#54 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftright] [omarman] [kyfdx] by omarman

Feb 05, 2012 (11:13 am)

Replying to: kyfdx (Feb 05, 2012 6:57 am)
Barrett-Jackson crazy money.
 
Lots of new wealth was created by internet entrepreneurs in recent history. But that hasn't changed the supply/demand situation for Japanese cars built during the last 40 years. If nobody has bid up the best 240Z for crazy money by now, it probably isn't going to happen.
 
A few examples from 70s/80s Detroit can draw strong bids (GNX or 455 SD Trans Am). The late 60s Toyota 2000 GT gets crazy money but after that? I always liked the NSX but the market seems to treat it like a very nice used car if it's well kept with low miles.

#55 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftright] [omarman] [kyfdx] [omarman] by fintail

Feb 05, 2012 (1:32 pm)

Replying to: omarman (Feb 05, 2012 11:13 am)
And other special interest Japanese cars like TT Z-cars and Supras are similar - they have solid high-ish prices, but there's no real appreciation going on, just enough demand to keep them from depreciating away. Same for old tuned German cars - they don't depreciate into beater territory, but there's no price rise either, and only a relatively small group of die hard enthusiasts.

#56 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftright] [omarman] [kyfdx] [omarman] [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Feb 06, 2012 (10:50 am)

Replying to: fintail (Feb 05, 2012 1:32 pm)
Sounds like in those cases the supply-demand ratio is in equilibrium...that is, everyone who wants a TT Z car or a T Supra has one. So the only market action going on is either replacement sales (for cars destroyed or blown up) or the occasional newbie jumping in.
 
Cars with respectable but "flat" pricing over 5-10 years *might* increase in value at some point, but cars that have been cheap for 40 years are pretty much doomed to extinction IMO. After 4 decades there is just no hope that they are going to "catch fire".

#57 of 67 Re: Article In NY Times Online...(fintail)[Mr_Shiftright] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftright] [omarman] [kyfdx] [omarman] [fintail] [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Feb 06, 2012 (11:33 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 06, 2012 10:50 am)
I'd say 40 years is a good generous point for reference. Most old cars that become desired hit some kind of saving point by the time they are 30 or so.
 
Most all old Japanese cars, if they become sought after, will be more "special interest" than hardcore collectibles - and there's nothing wrong with that. It still keeps them in the hobby and preserves the good ones. Affordable old cars aren't a bad thing.

Messages Page 6 of 7

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement