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May 2007 Market Report by David Swig
Market opinions in italics by David Swig |
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| eBay # 110112236505 – 1979 Mazda RX-7 Coupe. Number of Bids: 20. 15 photos. Location: Albany, New York. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 90,000. Burnt orange/red-brown. A thoughtfully preserved, 2nd-owner example. Stated to run perfectly, original paint, no rust or bodywork. Interior in great condition with cool period plaid seats - no rips or tears in the upholstery, no cracks in dash. Very attractive! Owner replaced had the car serviced - and it came with 3 sets of wheels! Sheltered life has kept it in pristine condition. SOLD AT: $4,450. Date: 4/13/07.
It’s not often you see a “time capsule” early 1st-gen RX7. Most are looking truly ratty these days. The price paid was on the high end of the current market, but this car was well-worth it. Nice early RX7s will follow the value trends of the 240Z: up, up, and up.
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| eBay # 250102703465 – 1998 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4. Number of Bids: 29. 21 photos. Location: Portland, Oregon. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 63,386. Black/Tan. Original, unmodified VR-4 in great condition. The interior and under the hood regions look great. Exterior pictures were a little dark, but, from what we could see, the body looked clean and free of dents. Low mileage, very desirable color scheme, and convincing pictures contributed to the high selling price. SOLD AT: $18,000. Date: 4/14/07.
The 3000GT never attained the status of the Turbo Supras and 300ZXs, and as a result there aren’t as many nice examples left. This was a good car, and that was proved by the very strong price. |
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| eBay # 120106940605 – 1972 Honda 600. Number of Bids: 24. 5 photos. Location: Torrance, California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: N/A. Orange. This 600 looked basically straight but has suffered from neglect and sitting in its recent past. Owner says car ran recently but needs brakes. Mechanical condition is questionable – no photos showing engine bay. Car reportedly came from Oregon a year ago. Rust? No word on that. No interior photos. Seller wants it gone! Buyer can expect to pay double his winning bid to make it a respectable driver. Nevertheless, a worthy subject. SOLD AT: $1,425. Date: 4/15/07.
A cool project, and the car looks to be 100% complete with all trim and chrome present and in acceptable shape. Well worth $1500! |
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| eBay # 270108048560 – 1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S. Number of Bids: 28. 13 photos. Location: Phoenix, Arizona. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 181,000. Silver/Blue. A nice looking AE86 liftback with paint/body appearing to be in very good condition. Numerous TRD mods including 4:77 LSD, springs, header, and front sway bar. Rare (and expensive) SSR Longchamp 14x8s and 14x9s come with the car. 181K miles but owner says engine (4AG) was rebuilt 8000 miles ago. A nice car that probably should have been sold at the high bid. NOT SOLD AT: $7,500. BUY IT NOW PRICE: $7,750. Date: 4/15/07.
4.77 final drive? Really? This car is pretty useless for the street with that setup, unless you like to drive to the supermarket at 8000 rpm. Nonetheless, the car looked straight and had some nice pieces on it. I would have taken the money and bought a nice coupe for a few grand less. |
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| eBay # 190100231156 – 1981 Toyota Celica Supra. Number of Bids: 8. 33 photos. Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma. Automatic Transmission. Mileage: 16,000. Two-tone black and silver/Black and white. Seller is original owner who rebuilt engine 15K miles ago. Overall, a straight, well-preserved, and original car. The interior was very solid with no major blemishes, though the seats could stand a shampooing. Looks like it could be a 116k-mile car. SOLD AT: $2,325. Date: 4/15/07.
An excellent buy. In California, this would be a $5,000 car today, and that will soon change. The early Celica Supras were a milestone car for Toyota. |
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| eBay # 300097801797 – 1970 Datsun 1600 Roadster. Number of Bids: 32. 24 photos. Location: Campbell, California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: unknown. Red/Black. Last production year of this model. Possibly a 123K mile car, as odometer reads 23k. Owner has recently replaced a laundry list of mechanical items. Interior was also extensively refurbished. Looks nice in photos, presented with original stock hubcaps but badged as a Fairlady. No mention of rust or prior bodywork. SOLD AT: $7,100. Date: 4/15/07.
A pretty decent looker – I was surprised this car didn’t bring a few thousand more. Datsun Roadsters seem to be strong on eBay, and I would have expected a bid closer to $10k. |
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| eBay # 160104679539 – 1973 Mazda RX-2. Number of Bids: 0. 24 photos. Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Manual Transmission. Mileage: ~60,000 (true mileage unknown). Yellow and red/Black. An old, used auto-x car. Gutted interior, two-tone paint scheme over original orange. No major rust, only minor surface rust. Scirocco fender flares, street ported RX7 12A motor, GSL LSD rear end, RX3 5-speed. NOT SOLD AT: $3,400. Date: 4/15/07.
0 bids? If this had been in a more convenient location, I think someone would have snapped it up. It is most definitely, however, a project car. But what a great project! |
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| eBay # 230115221919 – 1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo. Number of Bids: 9. 24 photos. Location: Spokane, Washington. Manual Transmission. Mileage: unknown. Red/Black. Highly modified t-top Z with HKS twin-turbo setup. Claimed 550 horsepower at the rear wheels. 3k miles on motor. Basically a show car, “ready for the cover of Super Street or Modified” according to seller. The boy-racer doo-dads and red shift knob back it up. NOT SOLD AT: $17,100. Date: 4/18/07.
This one was a little too fast and furious for my taste. Modified modern sports cars are like old hot rods – each is the expression of one individual. You’re never going to get your investment back when you embark on a project like this. The money offered was appropriate. |
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| eBay # 320104606587 – 1968 Datsun 1600 Fairlady Roadster. Number of Bids: 9. 24 photos. Location: Glendale, California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 84,000. Red/black. Good original Roadster with factory hardtop. Everything claimed to work and seller states no rust. Soft top is not present. Steering wheel is aftermarket and incorrect. A good looking car with a few performance upgrades, but essentially original. NOT SOLD AT: $8,900. Date: 4/27/07.
Why was he selling it? Oh right, he bought a Triumph TR6. Talk about going the wrong way! It was a good move not to part with it at this money. Like the TR6 did a few years ago, Datsun Roadsters have spiked in value and will continue to appreciate. |
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| eBay #190099361296 – 1978 Subaru BRAT. Number of Bids: 0. 13 photos. Location: Roanoke, Virginia. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 47,615. Silver/Blue. This is one of the best-looking and mechanically sound Brats offered recently. The car is in solid condition with minor problems ranging from some rust spots to a cracked dash and torn driver’s seat. Still, Brats are too often the red-headed stepchild and as such do not remain in good condition. A rare find of an oddball model. NOT SOLD AT: $2,995. Date: 4/11/07.
A first-year Brat with original graphics? Awesome! This car looked like it could be a Motoring J Style show car with a little freshening. It was worth the starting bid. |
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| eBay #230113649969 – 2002 Acura NSX-T. Number of Bids: 13. 35 photos. Location: Westmont, Illinois. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 15,901. Orange/Tan and black interior. A very attractive late model NSX with low-miles. A “certified” used car. NOT SOLD AT: $57,600. Date: 4/11/07.
Just so we’re clear, we have a real soft spot for the NSX here at Motoring J Style. What’s this one worth? Well, it’s certainly as desirable as a Porsche Cayman S – and it’s sure as hell a more durable car. $60k is not too much for a car this fresh. Did the orange hue throw people off? |
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| eBay #160103467845 – 1985 Mazda RX-7 Supercharged. Number of Bids: 25. 21 photos + 2 videos. Location: Naperville, Illinois. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 90,000. White/Black. Said to be one of five supercharged 1st generation RX-7s in the U.S. Modified with a Camden supercharger, Weber carb, many GSL-SE bits, GSL limited slip rear end, and a lot more. Needs final tuning and finishing touches, but all there and apparently functional (with videos to prove it). SOLD AT: $6,500. Date: 4/11/07.
This was a nice car and brought good money for a “project car”. Something like this is hard to value. The car was basically stock in appearance despite its many engine mods and other upgrades, which was cool as it allows its new owner to personalize it to their liking. |
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| eBay #130095550261 – 1971 Datsun 510 2-dr. Number of Bids: 19. 14 photos. Location: Los Angeles, California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 9,500. Blue/Grey. This car sports a meticulously built VG30 inline-6, 5-speed gearbox, LSD, Volk TE37s, and coilovers all around. A custom interior with Datsun insignias on door panels and seats make this 510 look very finished and nice, though unoriginal. Even has custom a/c for those sweltering LA commutes on the 405. NOT SOLD AT: $27,600. Date: 4/9/07.
When I see a Datsun 510 bid to 27 grand, and the seller turns down the money, I know I must be really on to something with this Motoring J Style thing. Right on! |
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| eBay #290102661032 – 1971 Mazda R-100. Number of Bids: 23. 6 photos. Norco, California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 72,416. Bronze/Black. An original, unmodified, unmolested R-100 that has been sitting for a long time. Has some surface rust and “rust bubbles in trunk area”. Other faults include a dented quarter panel, ripped seats, and a cracked dash (all typical). Comes with original hubcaps. Despite the low stated mileage it looks like it’s been neglected during its life. SOLD AT: $4,850. Date: 4/9/07.
Was this car a deal? Quite possibly. These early small Mazdas are quite rare, but this one definitely fell into the “project car” category. I liked it, and might have been a bidder if it had looked less sad. |
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| eBay #150109439193 – 1984 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 50th Anniversary Edition. Number of Bids: 7. 18 photos. Location: Austin, Texas. Automatic Transmission. Mileage: 16,013. Gold/Black. A very clean car with T-tops and original leather seats in great shape. The engine bay is extremely clean, consistent with the low mileage. A lightly-used used car. SOLD EARLY WITH BUY IT NOW: $14,000. Date: 4/10/07.
Soon worth $20k. Low mileage, preserved originals will always be hot. |
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| eBay #280101332516 – 1996 Acura NSX-T. Number of bids: 3. 24 photos. Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 91,000. Red/Black. A totally stock 6-speed NSX that presents well and seems well-preserved. Car looks clean inside and out, including engine bay. SOLD AT: $31,200. Date: 4/10/07.
If I could afford an NSX, I’d look for a stock one like this. Nothing to worry about with 90k on one of these – they are as reliable as your Accord V-6. And speaking of that, it’s about Accord V-6 money. A bit more exclusive too. |
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| eBay #120104154509 – 1975 Datsun B-210. Number of Bids: 22. 24 photos. Location: San Diego, California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 43,000. Turquoise/Black. Since when have you seen a B-210 this well-preserved? Mechanically tight and gorgeous under the hood. Comes with original AM radio and owners manual. Seller admits minor surface rust, cracked dash, and some small door dings. One of the best old B-210s out there, in a typically dorky B-210 color. NOT SOLD AT: $2,800. Date: 4/7/07.
The seller, a designer for Nissan, knew what he had and obviously thought $2,800 wasn’t enough. I expected to see a bid of about $4000, which should have been enough money. |
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| eBay #300097085580 – 1982 Toyota Corolla SR5 Convertible. Number of Bids: 0. 5 photos. Location: Dover, New Jersey. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 82,154. Black/Black. Super rare! Car was displayed at JCCS in ’06. Rust free with original CA blue plate. Top and interior both in excellent shape. Great color combination, 5-speed, A/C, and low original miles. REPORTEDLY SOLD OFFLINE FOR: $5,400. 4/2/07.
When selling a used car, presentation is everything. This seller didn’t know that and only had five poor photos that didn’t begin to show this car’s condition. We tried to buy it for ourselves, in fact, but someone else beat us to it and got the car before the auction actually ended. |
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| eBay #330104375418 – 1992 Subaru SVX. Number of Bids: 17. Location: Tuscon, Arizona. Automatic Transmission. Mileage: 135,000. Pewter. This car comes with many modifications not normally seen on an SVX. These include basic power mods, suspension upgrades, and Wilwood front brakes. Seller notes some hesitation when car is cold. SOLD AT: $6,666.66. Date: 4/5/07.
This was good money for an SVX with average mileage and some costly mods. These cars have been largely overlooked and can be had very cheaply. It’s an incredible car for the price – an all-wheel-drive 150 mph GT car. I drove one for 30,000 miles and loved it. Good buy. |
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| eBay #300095062087 – 1972 Datsun 510 BRE “Factory Street Car”. Number of Bids: 45. 29 photos. Location: Royal Oak, Michigan. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 7,958. BRE scheme/Black. This car was supposedly built for a BRE aftermarket parts program as a prototype for modified street cars that were never actually produced. It is equipped with a full race suspension, LSD, and Libras. Originally did not have factory bubble flares – seller put them on 20 years ago but didn’t put car back together or finish the paintwork. Needs re-assembly, freshening, and paint furnishing. A BRE built car with under 8000 miles claimed from new. SOLD AT $13,000. Date: 4/1/07.
There was a lot of activity on this car, and for good reason. If the story checks out, and it seemed legit, this car was a steal. Finished, this car could be worth at least double the price paid, and perhaps triple in a couple of years. |
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| eBay #180102091489 – 1973 Datsun 510 2-dr. Number of bids: 35. 17 photos. Location: Ojai, California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: N/A. Red/Red&Black. A good “driver” 510 with under 10k on the motor. Subaru 3.70 LSD, BRE-style fiberglass front fenders, no dents, Libras. The engine bay is dirty, and at the very least the car could use some fresh black paint in there. ‘510 DIME’ license plates. SOLD WITH BUY IT NOW AT: $7495.97. Date: 4/8/07.
This car looked nice and was probably worth the price paid. It definitely needed help in the interior, where the tacky seats and big tach give an indication of a car that may have been run hard and put away wet. |
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| eBay #260103346050 – 1971 Datsun 510 2-dr. Number of Bids: 18. 20 photos. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 62,400. Orange/Black&White. Original owner car with original miles. Car has been driven daily since 1971 - no accidents and no bodywork in all those years. The headliner and dash appear in bad shape; the seats were redone at some point. Could use some minor bodywork. The best stock 2-door I’ve seen in a while. SOLD AT: $5,601. Date: 4/8/07.
You just don’t see many like this. A good buy which will double in value in the next 5 years. |
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| eBay #120105953713 – 1970 Datsun 240Z. Number of Bids: 23. 20 photos. Location: Carmichael. California. Manual Transmission. Mileage: 99,000. Mileage claimed to be original. A straight, one-owner California Z with a 3.1 stroker motor, triple Mikunis, new clutch, suspension, and other parts. 80’s-vintage 5-spoke wheels are looking really dated. Nice original interior – car would look better if the spoiler was painted to match it. SOLD AT: $11,000. Date: 4/12/07.
Again, presentation is everything. This car could have brought more money, but the presentation was a bit off. |
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| eBay #200097383693 – 1978 Mazda RX-3 SP SCCA ‘ITA’ Race Car. Number of Bids: 20. 5 photos. Location: Mullica Hill, New Jersey. Manual Transmission. Mileage: Unknown. Yellow&Blue/Blue. A true warrior from the golden days of SCCA’s IT class. Equipped with 4.88 LSD, 5-speed, and a HUGE spares package, including transmissions, engines, radiators, axles, driveshafts, wheels – you name it. NOT SOLD AT: $2,125.
There comes a time in every used race car’s life when it hits rock bottom – nothing is less valuable than yesterday’s race car. Luckily, this one will be eligible for some vintage events soon, if it isn’t already. A real IT classic. |
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