Sorry Sid but it ain't quite that easy to raise the value of Datsuns nor is
it our expressed opinions that dictate the low prices. We can yell all day
long that these cars are worth more but it won't help.
As I said many times before 'pedigree' plays a big part. The British had a
sports car tradition and almost every young guy in the 60s lusted for one of
them - mine was a TR4.
The reason TR6s and Healys are priced as high as they are is because more
people want them than Datsuns. The people buying them are baby boomers who
can finally afford to buy one now that their kids are grown and their idea
of a sports car is a MG, Triumph or Healy not a Datsun!
To be honest Roadsters weren't even on my radar screen until a HS buddy gave
me a ride in his, but then again his dad owned a Datsun dealership. I don't
even remember seeing any other on the streets other than his.
In a discussion with someone very knowledgable about the old car market he
said that when the baby boomers die off these cars will decline in value or
stay flat for the foreseeable future. Look at the prices of Ford As or Ts.
They haven't risen at all since the generation who grew up with them are
dead or too old to drive.
Having no parts available will also not help the Roadster situation as one
of the first laws of buying an old inexpensive sports car is to make sure
parts are available. Almost everything mechanical is now available for the
Healys, Triumphs and MGs quite unlike the situation in the late 70s/early
80s when I had to give away a 100/4 because parts weren't available and I
bought another Roadster as everything was available back then.
When ball joints and other parts become unavailable, or too expensive, the
Roadsters will become an unattractive car to own.
IMHO,
Mike
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