What's this perfect '84 300zx Turbo with 17k miles worth?

[Jerry in Bremerton]

So hiding in away in my girlfriend's mother's garage has been this perfectly preserved 1984 300zx Turbo, 5-speed, 2 seater, T-Tops with only 17,190 miles. After giving the battery a charge, it fired right up and purred at 800k with the 2 year old gas in it (maybe older). Her grandfather passed away in '86 after buying it new and her parents have had it in the garage the past 26 years. They have had it serviced a few times over the years and it's apparently been driven sparingly over the years as the ridiculously low miles indicate. Everything works - all the gadgets, digital dash, seat settings, etc, etc. The A/C blows cold. The interior and paint looks perfect, no wear on seats, pedals have no wear either. Back bumper may need slight paint attention, otherwise this thing is flawless. The tabs expired 8 months ago so we only drove it around the neighborhood but it seems to run great.

My girlfriend wants to buy it from her folks and I don't want to stop her. She wants to lowball and offer 5k. I think it's worth more like 10k, maybe more. They may take 5k as they don't really need the money. It won''t be a daily driver, she just wants it.


I'm curious what this is worth if anyone can ballpark it. Also wondering if anyone knows what kind of tires were standard, factory issue? This has a set of goodyears that may or may or may not be original. Her folks are in their 80s and memory may be... well... suspect. I don't think I'd trust original tires that old regardless of tread-life, but I really don't know if that's an issue. I take it this is possibly a collectible now too? Any other input appreciated. Thank you.



[These pics kinda suck. ...from my cellphone and car isn't washed]

[AZ-ZBum]

It's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. If they're willing to sell it for $5k, then buy it for that. If they want $10k and she's willing to pay that, go for it. Is it collectible? Sure. To the right buyer. But it's not really an investment purchase, it's a Japanese sports car.

Realize that unless you get it appraised, an insurance company will not give you $10k if someone slams into it driving it home.

[evildky]

I agree with AZ Zbum, h7k is crazy low miles but it's not like the car was never driven. it's rare to see any Z31 sell for $5k, I think that would be a very fair price. To the right collector it might be worth 10k but good luck finding tha guy. Japanese sparts cars are simply nto as collectble as their european and domestic counterparts although they are gaining in popularity. Also keep in mid that the 85 Z31 isn't the most desirable collctor,for that matter it's to even the most collectible z31. It would be nice to see scuh a cherry preserved but it's just not a desreable collectible....yet.

..and yes get collector agreed value coverage for sure.

[Jerry in Bremerton]

Appreciate the input. We're not really looking at it as an investment, I was mainly curious what the market is. I don't think she would want to sell it after getting it anyways, she just wants to have it. This would just go in her garage and be driven in the summer on occasional weekends.

As to the insurance, an appraisal sounds prudent. It'll likely just get short term (10 day) coverage for when it's driven.

I know I haven't seen one that clean since the 90s. Most seem to get driven pretty hard and put away wet.

[BadQ45t]

So Jerry in Bremerton, what ever happened. Man that was like a time capsule, my 84' has 160k on it and looks very clean, but MAN, I had 17k on my Z pretty fast.

As for insurance, if you did indeed buy this for a car this old you can get special insurance, just put it as "parades & club events" and specify the exact amount you want to insure it for. I have mine set at $7,500 and 7,500 for my 97' Q45 and only pay $450 a year for both for full coverage.