Barrett-Jackson, the world's largest collector car auctions

[DainBramaged]

going on now in Scottsdale, Arizona through Sunday. www.barrett-jackson.com. Collector cars from all eras, muscle cars, hot rods, antiques, weird vehicles, even an airplane this year. A couple of older Porches, a couple of curios BMW's, a few Ferraris, 95% American classics. No Japanese cars, zero. Because there aren't any Japanese collectible cars. A 45 year old two owner 40,000 mile Buick is a collectible (and still drivable) the same in a Japanese car would now be a washing machine or a toaster somewhere in the world.

[ThomWV]

1. I've been watching on and off - prices are down

Time and again you hear the background announcers say things like "well bought", and "the buyer got quite a deal on that one" and things like that. Not suprising. By the way, did you see the bid fuck up on the candy green '69 396 Chevelle yesterday?

[rfranklin]

2. The look of satisfaction on the face of the winning bidder is...

a complete mystery to me. That guy just paid more than anyone else was willing to pay for that car. I thought that getting a good deal meant you paid less than the value of the item.

[DainBramaged]

3. Car values have meaning only to the seller

[ThomWV]

6. Let me explain the mystery

For one thing many of the cars are not only in better than new condition but a large number of them are quite rare models that are much in demand by performance enthusiasts. Also, in many cases its just old farts trying to relive a few moments of their youth - something old farts will often pay fortunes to do.

[DainBramaged]

21. Us old farts aren't trying to relieve a few moments of youth

it's just driving cars that don't need a laptop computer and a code scanner to fix. And from your comment, you are obviously age biased. Which sucks in itself.

[DainBramaged]

4. I missed that one, but yes prices are WAY down, which is good

it makes these cars drives again not just investments. My two favorites yesterday were the 62 Ford A/FX 406 and the 62 Bel Air 409, from the age of titans. And then there was the '66 427 Bel Air A/S like one one of my best friends drove to championships all over the country in the 60's.


Nostalgia, a good thing.

[baldingrockwarlord2]

5. Also noticed:

Many cars from the GM Heritage collection being sold off. Is this typical or a sign of the times for GM?

[DainBramaged]

12. They needed to clean out the museum and garages

almost all of the cars being sold have no historical meaning, show cars, engineering mules, sold without titles bill of sale only and not legal for the street in most states.

[RB TexLa]

7. Heil! . . . America! . . . Heil! . . . . America!. . . Heil! . . . America!

Another post with something actually interesting ruined by disgusting nationalism. :puke:

[MineralMan]

8. Oh, really...

How about this:



A 1949 Datsun van. I'd buy it.

Or this:



A 1930 Datsun

That one I'd buy, too.

[RB TexLa]

9. No! No! Those pictures are not pure! They must be destroyed, only Americans can build cars that

last that long. You are to turn the computer you have those on over for purification. And 50 "U - - S - - A" chants from you, now! :rofl:

[MineralMan]

10. I had a girlfriend once, back in the 60s

who had a 1954 Datsun. It was a dead ringer for an Austin A40...probably because it was a part-for-part copy of one. It had been brought to the USA by some guy in the military, and she bought it for $100. Parts were difficult, and had to come from Japan, but she kept it for a few years.

I wish I had it.

[DainBramaged]

13. Right, like those two would be sold at B-J. or even in the country

:boring:

[MineralMan]

17. You might be surprised...

As I said, I knew someone who owned a 1954 Datsun here in the states. Don't be so sure that people would not be interested in old Japanese cars. I have no doubt they'd find a ready sale at auction, although they'd probably get snapped up by a Japanese bidder.

[DainBramaged]

18. The Japanese buy a HUGE number of American muscle cars

to import to Japan, FACT. And as hard as you try to convince me that there is collectible value in Japanese cars, sorry, no sushi. Check all of the auction houses and read the consignment lists and get back to me.

http://www.rmauctions.com/

These guys specialize in European classics.

http://www.oldcaronline.com/

[MineralMan]

20. Watch for the Japanese cars to become the next collector fad

See this video:

http://www.carcrazycentral.com/Video.aspx?VideoID=360

[DainBramaged]

34. I doubt it. You folks are the same people who knock American cars now

you think the Japanese cars are going to become the next collectible? I'll take some of that acid you're doing.

[MineralMan]

36. I'm not part of any "folks."

I'm just one person, but I can see that some Japanese cars are beginning to get collector status. That says nothing about anything except that some Japanes cars are beginning to get collector status.

Everything is not political. Some things are just fun.

I'd love to own the '54 Datsun my old girlfriend had. I'd drive it to the local car club shows, and it would get lots of attention, just like the Morris Minor I used to have did.

In any case, if I were looking for a future collector car right now, I'd be looking at older Japanese cars that were unique, interesting, iconic, or bizarre. A Honda 600 would be one such, as would the Subaru 360. The microcar collectors are starting to bid those up out of my reach, though.

Just because you are unaware of a market for something does not mean that the market does not exist.

[DainBramaged]

42. YOU are trying to make a can of sardines into a fishing trawler

you'll never get it. And I'm not going to try and explain it to you. If you think Japanese cars are wonderfully collectible, fine go looking for them at car shows. You'll be looking for fish in the desert.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

51. What are all the kids driving today?

Seems to me they're all driving and modifying Japanese compacts.

And that's what they'll be collecting when they're old and rich.

[StreetKnowledge]

55. But remember that in most cases that's all they can afford.

How many of those kids dream of Honda Civics?

Bigger-money Japanese cars - Acura NSX, Nissan GT-R and 350Z, Toyota Super Turbo, Subaru WRX STi - probably will become classics one day, but the American cars will never die because too many Americans love them. They love the style, they love the sound (there is nothing that sounds like an American V8), they love what the car represents, a better time for most of us, including them.

I know my first car was influenced by my dad. My entire family drives American. Our experience with imports has not been good, but my Pontiac G8 (what a great car it is, too :D ), my brother's Cadillac CTS, my mom's Chrysler Town and Country, my dad's Chevy Tahoe. They are all rock solid cars, well built, enjoyable to drive, do everything we need them to and never let us down.

Barrett-Jackson personally is a greedfest and not much else. But it is true that these days the majority of the cars there are American iron - because that's what people want to remember.

[arcadian]

66. A lot of them actually.

Check out areas where there large Asian minority populations. They buy those cars because they identify them with their cultural heritage.

[arcadian]

65. Hey chooch, is that your ignorance you dropped on the floor?

If you have ever been to Hawaii, you would see that there is in fact a market in the United States for collectable Japanese cars. I'm sure there is one in California as well.

[alfredo]

62. Big American cars were very popular with gangsters.

[Monk06]

26. So you think there aren't any Japanese Classic cars still existing? All turned into pop cans

And these are just the antiques in Nissan's private collection

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissans-zama-storage-facility/481733/

[MineralMan]

28. I think the deal is that some people think the only cars worth

collecting are American muscle cars. Collectors buy all sorts of stuff.

[DainBramaged]

33. Whoopie

[Monk06]

35. Check the rest ot the pics on the site. The Zama facility is huge and contains nothing but

rare Nissans going back to the thirties

[DainBramaged]

47. And I should be impressed? Ever been to the Henry Ford museum?

The Peterson collection? Don Garlits? The AACA www.AACAMuseum.org? Gilmore Classic Car Club museum? Or any of the hundreds of car museums in the US? How about National Corvette Museum? Those impress me. Nissan doesn't. I keep saying it and you folks don't want to get it, the only thing exciting about Japanese cars is you can buy them for dirt after about a decade. Japan never made anything to compare to an Alfa Romeo, a Mercedes, an Aston Martin or a Bentley, and certainly nothing even close to the muscle cars of the 60's. So at least for once, Japanese is zero when it comes to collectibles (and soul).

[Historic NY]

11. Barrett-Jackson will run crap through and tell you its the finest....

ask any small time restorer or collector. Its done more to hurt the honest trade than help, people think everything is gold. If you thought speculating in the oil market was bad, think about it at BJ..look closely for the most part you always see the same few morons buying at "ginned up" prices. They then pat themselves on the back while the regular Joe looks like a moron.

[DainBramaged]

14. Bitter today huh?

Must be the weather.

[rusty fender]

15. Datsun 240Z is one Japanese car that is collectible

I have a 1972 240Z in super conditon; it's got a classic and exotic look.

[DainBramaged]

16. Have you determined what it is worth compared to American cars of the era?

On edit.

"The 240Z is ONE car that is colectable". I missed that, but boy is that the truth. One car.

[EOTE]

19. I wouldn't say that the 240z is the only collectable Japanese car.

Granted there aren't very many, but I think a lot of the earlier rotary powered Mazdas, including Cosmos, RX-3s and RX-7s. Also, original Honda S500s. And fairly soon early model Supras I think will make nice collector items. None of those cars are quite as exciting to me as American Muscle Cars, but they're still significant.

[DainBramaged]

22. Significant as rust. Sorry, 100 years from now, a 63 Corvette

running will be worth 1000 times what any Japanese car will be worth.

[EOTE]

24. I most definitely won't be alive to witness that.

But I'm imagining the U.S. will be a 3rd world country by then and any items sold as collectibles will mostly be sold to remind the world as to what America was once capable of.

[snooper2]

25. Mitsubishi Starion

:)

[MineralMan]

23. Predicting what will be a collector car is not easy...

I remember my Chrysler Airflow. I bought it in 1964 for $200. It ran just fine and the body was straight and rust-free. It was a blast to run around in. But, when a little Sprite came along for about the same price, I dumped the Airflow and bought the Sprite.

Both are very collectible now, but, the Sprite is worth a few thousand, while the Airflow is one of the big money cars.

In 1964, both were just old, crappy junkers.

[MineralMan]

27. Another set of cars are the Honda S500, S600, S800

little sports cars. Jay Leno had one in his collection, at least for a while. I think he sold it, though.

They sell for excellent bucks when they turn up.

[Auggie]

30. Datsun 2000. Very collectible.

[MineralMan]

31. And the 1600 before it...

[Gold Metal Flake]

29. "Because there aren't any Japanese collectible cars"

Shame on you for being a frequent poster of automotive threads yet being so ignorant of the subject. I'll leave to others to decide if the demonstration of ignorance is deliberate or not.



Edit: pix of non-existent car added

[DainBramaged]

32. Find one, oh and shrink the image. And don't say shame on me

the people in this thread have given us 5 examples, five of possible 'collect ables" rather than curios. What a freaking joke. 50 years of Japanese cars in this country and 5 possibly collectible to a few people. The restoration and collectible business is based on the desirability of AMERICAN and some European cars here. You can all just stop fooling yourselves.

[MineralMan]

37. Actually, the Toyota 2000GT goes for

over $200,000 at auction these days. They're scarce and highly sought after. He gave you a very good example of a Japanese collector car that has a very high value. As I said, the Japanese cars are what to look for if you want to buy a collector car for a reasonable price now to store for later profits.

But, you can do as you like.

[DainBramaged]

43. One fucking car, one. Out of how many thousands of models they made?

Pathetic. And a couple of '60's cars. Like I said, sardine cans and fishing trawlers. There is no "market" for them, there is no supply, and there is no registry or rare models, just a few that survived being crushed and are cute today.

[MineralMan]

44. I'm still trying to figure out why you're so angry about this.

Who cares? The fact is that some Japanese cars are collectible. Some American cars are collectible.

A 1963 'Vette is collectible. A 1963 Plymouth Savoy isn't. Very few of America's cars are collectible, just as very few Japanese cars are. It's just that we've been making lots of cars for a very long time and we are in the USA. In Europe, European cars are more collectibe than American cars.

It's just cars. As I said, who cares?

Still, if someone wants to toss one of those old Datsuns my way, I'll sure take it. I have no interest in the 'Vette, though. Not my style. An American Bantam, though...now that would get me drooling, but I can't afford one. A nice Crosley pickup would get my interest, but might not interest you.

A guy wants what a guy wants. Guys are different.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DainBramaged]

48. Very few of America's cars are collectible? Can I have some of the drugs you take?

A 1963 Plymouth Savoy factory A/FX or Super Stock car (even a recreation with correct to year drive train) is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Try comprehending that.

[MineralMan]

49. Well, I don't take any drugs, except for lisinopril for blood pressure.

But nice try at an insult, there. I guess I'm done with this thread. Several folks have pointed out some collectible Japanese cars, some going for over $400,000. Personally, I have zero interest in American muscle cars. They were boring to me when they were new, and they're boring to me now. My interest is in microcars, but I don't have the resources to collect them. I've owned several in my lifetime, and have enjoyed them for their novelty. Now, I drive practical vehicles. Oh, well.

But, if it makes you feel better to insult me, go for it. It harms me not at all, so whatever blows your dress up...

[DainBramaged]

50. Bye

don't crash and burn on the freeway!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

52. How much is a 1994 Ford Probe worth?

How about a 1985 Chevy Nova?

'81 Dodge Omni?

[MineralMan]

38. Here's one 2000GT for sale...Dupont Registry

Asking price is $450,000.

http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=566640

Want it?

[Gold Metal Flake]

39. I will not shrink the image and you should be ashamed,

"Find one". Playing obtuse again. Pathetic.

[MineralMan]

40. Since a 2000GT appeared in a Bond movie,

there's been a heckuva lot of interest in it. There were never many of them, which helps, too. But it isn't an American car so it can't be of any value, you see. Just one of those beer can cars.

[DainBramaged]

41. Cya

obtuse this.

And I'll be sure to stop by to hijack a few of your threads down the road.

[Gold Metal Flake]

54. Your posts suggest emotional imaturity.

Seriously, think twice before you post in future. You are just picking fights here. Good way to blunt your pro-labor sentiments in your other posts. When you put a chip on your shoulder and then play the victim. It's a tired game.

[DainBramaged]

76. Your posts suggest something worse, sorry you play so poorly

I'll agree to put you on ignore. This way I hope you'll stay out of my threads. So many thin skinned babies around here.

[Gold Metal Flake]

87. LOL!

Such a victim!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

46. Japanese cars are, for the most part, utilitarian tools.

Not cheap, easily broken toys, like American cars.

[hunter]

53. I was talking to my time traveler friend...

... and I asked him what the last collectible car made in the United States would be.

He said it would be made in Michigan by a Guatemalan immigrant and street artist known simply as "Joe," a guy who also claimed to hold the last green card issued by the U.S.A. before it was annexed by Canada, and it would look something like this:



http://goafrica.about.com/od/southafrica/ig/Recycled-Art-from-South-Africa/Recycled-Car.htm

[alarimer]

56. I don't get the mania for cars at all.

It's simply a vehicle that serves a purpose. Sure my car is fun to drive and more fuel-efficient and cheaper than many American cars (not to mention that in nearly 3 years, not one thing has gone wrong with it, something I have not experienced with American cars). Still, if they recycle the components of my car to make something else, it is no big deal to me.

Only rich people can afford "collectible cars". I certainly wouldn't want to ride in one: no air bags, no anti-lock brakes. They are probably death traps compared to anything modern.

[DainBramaged]

59. "Only rich people can afford collectible cars" no not true at all

A 1970 Buick Electra 225 coupe, one of the last of the big engined cruisers, Powered by a 455cid big block engine with matching numbers factory air conditioning, power brakes, power steering, tilt steering wheel, power windows, AM/FM radio, interior light group and speed alert. Rust-free, three owner car from San Antonio, TX. It was re-painted once in 1983. Has less than 25,000 original miles and documented with the original warranty booklet, owner's manual and service receipts. It sold for $3850.00. There are plenty of bargains to be had.


http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/search.aspx?st=1&aid=283&d=01/16/2009

[Owl]

60. Wow, that was a steal!

[DainBramaged]

61. Yes, ad that is a car 10 years from now will be worth 10's of thousands

because people will realize how rare it is. If you look through the B-J list there are dozens of bargains. like the 63 Studebaker Lark 289 V* with less than 10,000 miles that went for less than $9000. What a fun car to take to the car show, you KNOW it will be unique.

[StreetKnowledge]

57. Today's collectible Japanese cars

A few do exist. The Toyota 2000GT of course, because its so rare. The Datsun 240Z is another, not because of rarity but because it was a handsome, fun car to drive. The early Mazda RX-7s will be getting there soon, too. The first Toyota Celicas, which were styled very similar to Japanese Mustangs, is another that I think will make it.

In the next decade, as the kids who grew up on Gran Turismo start being able to buy nice cars, cars like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Nissan 300ZX, Toyota Supra, Acura NSX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will rise up the order. The one North American importer for the Skyline GT-R has a two-year waiting list, even though the cheapest GT-Rs run $30K. I can also see the last Toyota Corolla GT-S and Nissan 240SX starting to rise, as they are rare but great cars, and drifters are addicted to them.

The NSX and Skyline GT-R are such a rarity that immortality for them is almost assured.

[alfredo]

64. There was a chain driven Honda sports car that could be collectable.

S800

[guitar man]

58. DROOL!!

WANT!! :wow:

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/search.aspx?aid=283&d=01/17/2009&st=1&lot=1270.1

[gollygee]

63. That doesn't mean 45 years from now there won't be Japanese collectible cars

I get your point but those Mitsubishis are pretty popular and I bet people will collect them eventually.

[DainBramaged]

69. Not in the next two lifetimes, but I won't be here to collect.

[gollygee]

70. My husband wants a '65 Impala SS

Wonder where I can find one of those for less than a mint.

[DainBramaged]

72. One with a numbers matching restored 283 sold at B-J for $14,300

The restorers are losing their shirts this year. It cost a fortune to restore one of these cars.

[gollygee]

73. OoooOOOOoooh

he would have swiped that up. They do cost a fortune to restore. He would want a 327 I think but he'd be happy with that.

[Throd]

67. You're not a true car guy.

My personal preference is for Oldsmobiles. I have a '59 Dynamic, '67 442, '68 442, and a '73 Cutlass Supreme. I love them all. That said, how can you not appreciate old Cressidas, RX-7s, Skylines, Datsun 200SXs etc.? Hell, I could easy add another 20-30 cars to that list. After mucking about with big block V-8s for so long, I think it would be fun to restore an old Datsun Honey Bee. Cool cars come from every corner of the planet. The fact that some jackass is willing to pay $500,000 for a hemi 'Cuda at Barrett-Jackson doesn't mean wierd foreign cars have no merit. I love all cars, even the quirky foreign jobs that get no love on these shores.

[DainBramaged]

68. I'm NOT true car guy?

Right, Ok. :eyes:

[mdmc]

71. My dad sold his 1957 transporter for over $15k

Now we are looking to sell his restored 57 Jag...
Ford owns Jag..so it should be worth something...

[Stinky The Clown]

74. Incredible, indeed, that a discussion of an auction house devolves into an Anglo-Japanese War

Only on DU ...... where EEEEEEEEv'rybuddy's an ex spurt.


(Not you, Dain ..... just an observation on my part. I was gunna comment, but I read the thread and felt the need to shower so as to remove the flung feces spatter from my clown suit.)

[Gold Metal Flake]

75. It is only as the OP wanted.

Flamebait thread.

[DainBramaged]

77. Isn't it amazing, I get attacked because I celebrate the AMERICAN car

and the hijackers complain about me. SO fucking sad.

[jmowreader]

78. Very few cars PERIOD are collectible

Can you imagine being a collector of 1970s-vintage American iron? With the exceptions of the GM F-bodies and the Plymouth Road Runner, American cars of the Seventies were a pretty sorry lot.

OTOH, Datsun/Nissan Z-cars and rotary-engine Mazdas are pretty cool.

[DainBramaged]

79. Another freaking expert. Few cars are collectible and 240Z's are hot.

I guess all of the '55-'57 Chevy's out there are lawn ornaments? My Dad bought a '56 Ford Wagon Master (the answer to the Nomad) with the 312 Thunderbird engine in '56, and on THAT car I learned about changing points and plugs. Were you around then to see or drive a Red Ram Hemi? A FI '57 Corvette or a Blue Flame '53 for that matter?


I didn't think so.

If you don't know what you are talking about why comment at all?

[jmowreader]

103. 55-57 Chevys are the exception to the rule

Think about the cars YOUR company has produced over the last, say, forty years or so. Even a hardcore GM collector wouldn't want an X-body, a Monza, a Beretta or any of their God-awful minivans, unless he was a guy who wanted one of everything GM made no matter how boring it was. Same deal with Ford, Chrysler, Volkswagen, or any other company that produces practical cars. Every Ferrari is collectible. Every Corvette is collectible. Any Porsche is a collectible car--but if you've got one of those cars, you need ANOTHER car to buy groceries in and to pick Mom up from the airport.

Which leads back to my first point: very few cars are collectible. You knew that before you clicked Reply.

On to the second point: there are a number of clubs dedicated to cars like the Datsun/Nissan Z, the RX-7 and the Miata.

[Greyhound]

80. Your wording was just begging for a flame war and then you are surprised when you get it?

I love the old American muscle cars, when I was 18 I bought a '67 Mustang Fastback and shoehorned a '68 428SCJ into it and spend the next 5 years flying 1/4 mile at a time.

I also love me some refined road cars of foreign origin, including Japanese.

You incorrectly stated "there aren't any Japanese collectible cars" and instead of correcting it, you proceed fight against the evidence brought against your mistake. If you don't want a fight, don't walk into the bar and yell "I can kick anyone's ass!"

[DainBramaged]

81. Whatever, join in and keep the shit going.

FIVE models do not a collectible car make, NO ONE proved the Japanese make anything memorable except to a few fanboys. and I spent a bunch of years doing that 1/4 mile deal too. There isn't one Japanese car I would consider a refined road car. When they can build a competitor to the Bentley Continental, any Audi, or ANY Ferrari, let me know.

And don't come into my thread and attack me and lecture me like I'm your child, lecture someone else pal.

[Greyhound]

82. Utterly hopeless. What are you drinking tonight?

[DainBramaged]

83. Attack someone else, YOU are the one who is hopeless

you honestly think I'm going to sit here and say of course you're right, I was wrong, five obscure Japanese cars from the '60s are world class collectibles that belong at the top of everyone list. Wrong. Get real. Start your own thread on the wonders of the collectable Japanese road car.

[Tab]

84. They do this every year

I've always been curious to go. Not that I can afford the good stuff.

I'm just happy with my BRG MG-B.

Now I just need to get my fingers on a chrome-bumper'd one.

[DainBramaged]

85. GT?

http://www.mgexperience.net/pictures/1287,0/1967_mg_mgb_gt_brg.jpg

[Tab]

88. No, roadster, and it was after 1974 1/2, so it's a RBB.

(rubber bumper B)

The above one is elegant, but it seems to me half the fun is having a convertible. That said, I'd like a chrome-bumper roadster, but before I get a second one I'd have to get my wife an Austin-Healy bugeyed sprite



a chick car if ever there was one. I think I'll have to let Bush's economy get a little better first, though.

Then I can get me a chrome B.



BRG, of course.

[Gold Metal Flake]

90. Maybe you can make yer own chrome bumper MGB

I have a MKIII Midget. The owners of later Midgets often replace the rubber bumpers with older parts. Much of the sheetmetal under the ruber is consistant with the older cars.

Here is a great forum for LBCs:

http://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary

[Tab]

92. Actually, to be honest, what I REALLY want is an MGA.

A 1500 or a 1600. God, they're pretty cars.

[Gold Metal Flake]

94. Well, yeah. I mean, duh!

LOL! I have always loved those. I should have bought one when I could afford them.

I bought my Midget as a stepping stone up to a Spitfire. I do my own repairs, and I thought I would fix this one up and sell it for a profut and put that towards a spit, but I kinda like it.


I found a CB conversion how-to:

http://www.asvl47.dsl.pipex.com/mgb_chrome/

There are still deals to be had for LBCs. I have had to pass on some after I got the Midget because that car put me over the top as far as storage. I plan to sell a couple before I can get another classic, and the market is a bit soft right now. :-(

[Tab]

97. Yeah, I don't know - I kinda draw the line there

The shift in 1974 1/2 was to meet the 1976 safety standards. My car is exempt from emissions, which is good because it has a high-performance engine not that it travels that far really anyway, but screwing with the structure is further than I'm comfortable with. I don't do this for a living so I'm sure if I knew what I was doing I could, but it seems easier to just seek out a CBB.

I wouldn't mind spiffing up the suspension, though. I get nervous when I start hitting 80 or 85 mph (not that I travel faster than that in my "real" car (the MG is my "surreal" one)); I drive it that fast on the highway (it also has overdrive), but I'm never totally sure if the steering would flake out on me at a critical moment. It's unusual to roll an MG, given the low center of gravity, but that's not to say some idiot in a SUV won't plow into you.

[Gold Metal Flake]

98. Lucky you have OD.

I limit my speed by not exceeding 4000 RPMs on the freeway. It's a stock 1275. I noticed today that the top of an 18wheeler tire is at the same level as my ear. Kinda intimidating.

I have seen some folks paint the bumpers body color using flexible paint.

Tell me about this hot mill of yours. What did you do?

[Tab]

102. Burnt out the engine going south on I-93, so took the opportunity for a major upgrade

Cross-flow head, got rid of those stupid Zenith Strombergs, OD, some serious other stuff, and then some cosmetics too - wood panel dash, Alpine quad stereo, wood grained steering wheel, yada yada, leather seats, new Sunfast top (because vinyl is a bitch to fold up when it's cold out). McLean's Brit Bits in Rye, NH did some of the key high-performance work, by a guy (now probably retired or passed away) who was really frickin' good. It does need a little bodywork (body's solid, being a west-coast car originally, you wouldn't buy one over here in the Northeast) but I dumped my available money into the engine, then I got divorced, and that was the end of the free cash. :)

[flvegan]

86. There are Japanese cars that will be collectors one day.

First generation Acura NSX.

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Spyder

The last generation of Toyota Supra.

The new Nissan GTR.

Fact is, Japan, until recent decades, hasn't built serious performance cars nor cars that folks cherish today from what they loved in their youth. I don't think these cars will EVER reach the heights that some of the US musclecars of the 60's will bring monetarily, some of which today sell for 100 times their original sticker price.

[DainBramaged]

89. People who own Japanese cars don't covet them with the same passion

as owners of American muscle, Porsche's, 50's Mercedes Benz, 70's Alfa's, the Ferrari supercars of the past 30 years, there is no comparison. They are appliances, no soul, exhaust notes that sound like spitting in a coffee can, There isn't a single Japanese car to go against the Audi & Mercedes current generation supercars, the Caddy CTX-V, or any BMW. They are nothing more than appliances, and one day they will again be recycled as appliances.

[flvegan]

93. At half the price, the Nissan GTR makes most of them look stupid.

And that's not the Spec-V version. Outside of that uber-priced McLaren in those pics, the GTR is a bargain that stomps every single one of them in almost any performance test.

And the NSX rivaled the best from the Italians at the time.

[DainBramaged]

95. I disagree. But since I have to get up at 6 , I'll research all the numbers tomorrow

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/japanese_performance/2009_nissan_gt_r_road_test

60 mph 3.3 seconds, the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds at 124 mph. Braking from 70 mph takes 145 feet, and skidpad runs are 0.99 g.


Audi R8 Audi claims a 0-to-62-mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph, and the company expects combined fuel economy to top 17 mpg in the European cycle.


Corvette ZR1: the ZR1 hits 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and 100 mph in a stellar 7.6 seconds. That 100-mph time betters the likes of the Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 Turbo, and Ferrari F430.

The 30-to-50 and 50-to-70-mph top-gear acceleration times are impressive, as is skidpad grip: 0.99 g for the coupe, rising to 1.07 g for the ZR1, which also has the best braking of any production car we have ever tested—it needed just 142 feet to slow from 70 mph to a standstill. The base car managed 152 feet (better than the last 911 Turbo we tested), and the Z06 took 150 feet.


PS you're claiming the NSX was better than a Ferrari Enzo?


The Enzo can accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.14 seconds<9> and can reach 100 mph (160 km/h) in 6.6 seconds.<5> The ¼ mile (~400 m) time is from 10.8 to 11.2 sec at well over 130 mph (210 km/h) and the top speed is around 368 kilometers per hour (227 mph). It is rated at 12 miles per US gallon (20 L/100 km; 14 mpg-imp) in the city and 18 miles per US gallon (13 L/100 km; 22 mpg-imp) on the highway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzo_Ferrari_(car)

[Monk06]

96. The GTR makes a mockery of American metal in every technology category

My son bought a used 1992 Skyline two years ago
He's put 20 grand cdn total into it so far. He
now has a 500 hp 400 ft lb torque beast that
makes a mockery of anything with a big block
Ford or Hemi under the hood.

To get that kind of performance from an American
or European car you have to lay down 80,000 bucks
minimum. The R 34 engine has been a legend since
it was introduced in the early 1990s and it still
eats V8s and V6s. It is bulletproof at the bottom
end and can easily take 14 lbs of boost and crank
out 600 hp.

That is equivalent to a 426 Hemi at a fraction of the
weight.

[tabasco]

91. There's no collectible Japanese cars

cause they're still fucking running.

[Rosco T.]

99. Nissan Figaro

The Figaro was introduced at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show under the slogan "Back to the Future". It was built by a Nissan special projects group called Pike Factory, who also produced other niche automobiles such as the Be-1, Pao and S-Cargo. Only four colours were available: Topaz Mist, Emerald Green, Pale Aqua and Lapis Grey. Each colour symbolised a season of the year. When the car was launched, topaz mist was the least popular colour. There were only 2,000 produced in Topaz mist hence they have become increasingly rare.

Only 8,000 were originally available with an additional 12,000 added to production numbers to meet demand. Prospective purchasers had to enter a lottery to be able to buy one of these cars. Limited edition cars came with passenger side baskets and cup holders. These now fetch hundreds on internet auction sites.

In The Sarah Jane Adventures, Sarah Jane Smith drives a green Figaro, which was also featured in the finale of Doctor Who's fourth series.

[Tab]

101. I agree about the Figaro

I don't think you can import them to the States, but they're a neat vehicle.

[Tab]

100. You want a cool-assed car?

Check this out.

It's real too - not a fake vid. The Aquada is made by Gibbs in the UK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4pxTRQ7AXA

[jmowreader]

104. Someone has some 'splainin' to do, Lucy...

These vehicles are on the Barrett-Jackson list:

Lot 1556: 1967 Toyota Land Cruiser
Lot 9.1: 1989 Geo
Lot 15.1: 1994 Geo Tracker
Lot 30.3: 1989 Geo Tracker
Lot 357: 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser
Lot 910.1: 1991 Geo Tracker

Four cars that were made in Japan but sold by GM, and two cars with Japanese nameplates. Hmm...