How do you value a 1979 Z28 with 2500 miles?

Rupert wrote:

maj75 wrote: Sweet Jesus, if you want that kind of money for a car that has been in a "collection" clean and detail the damn thing and take some decent pictures. Sellers seem to think "Barn find" seems to adds to the value of the car

It's funny, I'd think the summer car show DD is probably better cared for & in better shape. I know I would certainly find it more appealing. I don't see ignoring a machine for years and years does anything but encourage it to atrophy. Probably another poster is most correct. Figure out how to get it to a high visibility auction so a drunkard who wants to have his face on TV might buy it.

Storing a car and preserving it for years, while driving it sparingly, may not make sense to you, but generalizations like you just made make no sense to me. The car has been driven on average of 71 miles a year, so it HAS been driven. Who are you to say it hasn't been cared for? Just because it's dusty and the pictures suck doesn't mean it's a POS. Some of my cars have two covers and still get dusty, but that doesn't mean they are neglected. I pull the covers off, hit it with a california car duster, disconnect the battery tender, and enjoy it.

I wish the seller thought like you guys and only wanted 10k.....I'd take 10k to Datsun's brother and beg him to take my money. I don't want to be on TV, am not drunk, but would still like to own that car.

The appeal of having an unmolested car that hasn't had teenagers "fixing it up" for thirty years is huge. Even if it needs rubber and such replaced to make it an occasional cruiser. That car is worth a huge premium to me. They're only original once.

Cotton wrote: I wish the seller thought like you guys and only wanted 10k.....I'd take 10k to Datsun's brother and beg him to take my money. I don't want to be on TV, am not drunk, but would still like to own that car.

There are nice restos in the 10k range out there. I don't follow the market (obviously) to know which options and whatever add value so 10k might be just a run-o-the-mill car. In any case, I would pay a small premium ( a couple k) for an unmolested low miles car. I was really just asking if more than double was a real expectation. I find that hard to swallow but if that is a market reality even on a very highly mass produced car - good for him.

These late 2nd gen cars have been increasing in price lately. There's a guy down the street who has two of them-- both 4 spds. The orange hardtop he's selling for $7,900.00 the blue one is the nicest I've ever seen and will probably go for at least double that--- maybe more. Keep in mind T-tops add value with these cars. The blue one sounds awesome--- he's hiding something under that hood.

If your brother's is mint it's probably worth $20K, but not a whole lot more. He''ll also need to spend much more time and effort on his listing if he plans on reaching that figure. (more and better pics, a thorough description including options, etc. ) Spending $100 on a quality detail before taking the pics would also serve him well.

These are good driving, nice handling cars that were a bit down on power---- which is super easy to fix. Spend a little coin and you have a very usable hotrod with 300hp or more. Sure they are a little big, but they absolutely devour highway miles.

In reply to Joe Gearin:

I really like that blue one!

In reply to Joe Gearin:

I had a '78 Z back in the early 80's, and agree with you on just about everything. But while the T-tops may add value, after dealing with mine, I'd never buy one that had them.

I'm pretty deep into the 2nd gen F-body scene, and I have no doubt that if this car is as well preserved as the low miles would indicate will go mid to high $20's on auction.

Late last year on either the Z28 or the Trans Am forum one of the members went to an auction (Mecum Kissimmee?) and there were 3 or 4 really low mile late 2nd gen Z28's almost just like this one. I seem to remember that is what they went for. I would love to dig up the thread but I don't have the time to do it right now.

Don't underestimate the value of really low mile original cars to the muscle car crowd.

In reply to SEADave:

Wasn't there a guy, maybe in FL, that had a really amazing 2nd gen F-body collection? I seem to remember seeing pictures of it on one of the forums years ago. He even had huge shelves outdoors where he stacked parts cars and future projects.

Edit: NM I found it. Really incredible. http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=168544

As far as I know, my friend still has hers:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/80-camaro-z28/84422/page1/

I'm sure the mileage is a factor to a serious collector.

Woody wrote: That's a Barret Jackson car. It needs to be sold to a drunk rich guy who wants to be on TV.

As tongue in cheek as your comment is, I think it's damn smart advice. I admit I watch BJ auction, and Mecum, whenever I have time. I enjoy seeing the cars. But BJ is packed with filthy rich guys with trophy wives fresh off the cosmetic surgery table who like to toss a few stiff ones back before flaunting their money for the TV cameras. We've all seen cars bring money way beyond what you'd expect. I'd give it a shot there, you'd have nothing to lose. That car will attract guys who were teens when it was new. They're now entering the stage of life where they have disposable income. Could be a good recipe for success.

maj75 wrote: Sweet Jesus, if you want that kind of money for a car that has been in a "collection" clean and detail the damn thing and take some decent pictures. That thing looks like it was left outside for some time. Better to claim you found it in a barn and it has been untouched for 30 years...

Basically this.

But as others have said, these cars are definitely worth some money in the right shape. And damn, that blue one gearin' posted is what I want! Widen the stock wheels (but keep 'em 15" diameter), run sticky meats on it, seam weld chassis/stiffen car, add 500hp. Heaven

In reply to HiTempguy:

What are you waiting for??

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4492701876.html
http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4497472521.html
http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4518650470.html

In reply to bravenrace:

That first one is a steal, even at that price. GM crate 350 from Jeg's for 1800... A weekend of wrenching and still make a Sunday night cruise in....

Late 2nd Gen F-Body cars, like the 77-81 Camaro and Firebird/Trans Am, are all the rage right now. While the Pontiacs have been a bit more popular (thanks to a certain 1977 movie starring Burt Reynolds), the 1978-81 Z28's are gaining in value. The Pontiac variety usually has a 15-20% premium over the Camaros, and for good reason: they have better handling and suspension bits, bigger engines, they are a bit fancier inside, and they have giant screaming chickens on the hood.

I'd value this example (and a fine example it is) at around $20k. If it is a 4-speed, I'd say $22k.

Oh, and BTW, Year One makes 17" versions of both the 5-spoke rally wheels AND the 1981 Z28 wheels they later used on the Monte Carlo SS.

Bought a used, low mile, bone stock, '79 Z-28 in the early '80s. Target engine, auto w/ 3.42s, Y-pipe into single cat into duals. More or less drove like a regular Chevy of the day outside of the suspension. Many mods later in engine, trans, suspension got it to where it oughta be. Ended up being a great road car. The factory slash cut exhaust pipes adapted to headers and true duals got me into races I wasn't looking for, the sleeper factor. That car had damn long legs w/ those gears. Still one of my favorite builds and drivers.

FWIW, dunno if I'd ever wanna relive the stock Target motor or 3.42s no matter the original mileage but that's just me and I'm not a collector. Maybe if it were a 4-speed w/ 3.73s.

Not seeing that kinda asking money. Google says nearly 85K Z-28s sold in '79, not rare in any way. Private party I'd be in at $10-12K tops. Auction $15-18K or more depending on the emotion factor.

CL ad needs a more detailed description and better photos.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: 25k sounds low to me, whats a similar shape "bandit" T/A going for these days? You should probably post this in Classic Motorsports.

There was a 77 with 70 original miles that went upwards of $70k.....bandit cars are worth 2x of the z28 though.

I can't remember the guy's name, but there is someone in the ohio/WV area that collects these(and owned that '77) I think his first name is Rick.

And depending paint/interior condition, I'd say this one is in the 15-20 range, but it only takes two people to want it before that price skyrockets at auction.

I'd recommend Mecum over BJ(something something not having to go to the west coast something)

bravenrace wrote: In reply to HiTempguy: What are you waiting for?? http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4492701876.html http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4497472521.html http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4518650470.html

Oh lawd sweet baby jesus. Don't tempt me. I was looking at buying a new dd, but since I bought a screamin deal 96 civic that doesn't burn oil, I need a cruiser/muscle car now. I was thinking 4th gen Camaro, but the late 70's z28 would be that much more BITCHIN.

Ranger50 wrote: In reply to bravenrace: That first one is a steal, even at that price. GM crate 350 from Jeg's for 1800... A weekend of wrenching and still make a Sunday night cruise in....

Yeah, I know. But living a mile for Summit Racing, I think I'd go there and save shipping.

In reply to Klayfish:

That was not tongue in cheek at all. Even outside the world of Barrett Jackson, guys get to a point in their life where they just want that car from their past. They probably don't even look at collector price guides or past auction results. They see the car, determine that the asking price is within their comfort zone and buy it. For many people, a seemingly absurd amount of money for an old car isn't a huge hit. He may have budgeted enough for a new Corvette but decided that this scratches the same itch instead. Maybe he'll buy the Vette too.

Woody wrote: In reply to Klayfish: That was not tongue in cheek at all. Even outside the world of Barrett Jackson, guys get to a point in their life where they just want *that* car from their past. They probably don't even look at collector price guides or past auction results. They see the car, determine that the asking price is within their comfort zone and buy it. For many people, a seemingly absurd amount of money for an old car isn't a huge hit. He may have budgeted enough for a new Corvette but decided that this scratches the same itch instead. Maybe he'll buy the Vette too.

or maybe he budgeted enough for a new Camry for his wife, then saw this and just said , "berkeley it she can keep driving the old one, I want a bitchin Camaro".

In reply to Cotton: At $10K, I'd agree with you. But paying $30K for a car with a blue-book value of what $4K-$7K? doesn't make any sense to me. You either continue to drive only 71 miles a year or actually use it. If you use it, very soon it's value will be worth no more than blue-book value. That's worse depreciation than buying an Austin America new!

In reply to HiTempguy: That car seems to me a much smarter purchase than the 71 mile a year ride!

In reply to Rupert:

You're trying to apply logic to an illogical purchase. Classic cars - almost by definition - are illogical purchases.

In reply to Ian F: True! Get what you like. And hope you like what you get!