Roadsters Recognized again - Value rising

[datsun1500]

The window sticker for my 64 is $2040. That's $19,000 in 2012 money.
Income was $6-7000 in 1965, so a Roadster was about 30% of the average income, just like $18000 is the same percent of the average income.

$28000 in 1965 was enough for a house, then some. Your $28000 figure was adjusted for inflation.

Like I said, they were not considered cheap cars. Cheaper than others, but not cheap. Just like a Nissan Versa is cheaper than a civic, but its not cheap enough to be considered disposable.

[Skyman]

The window sticker for my 64 is $2040. That's $19,000 in 2012 money.
Income was $6-7000 in 1965, so a Roadster was about 30% of the average income, just like $18000 is the same percent of the average income.

$28000 in 1965 was enough for a house, then some. Your $28000 figure was adjusted for inflation.

Like I said, they were not considered cheap cars. Cheaper than others, but not cheap. Just like a Nissan Versa is cheaper than a civic, but its not cheap enough to be considered disposable.

Here are some comparable pricing. The Datsun wasn't much more than the Volkswagen Beetle.

Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider $3,950 1968
Austin Healey 3000 $3,400 1960
Austin Healey Sprite $2,050 1967
BMW 2002 $4,200 1969
Buick Riviera $4,300 1963
Buick Skylark GS $2,596 1966
Buick Le Sabre $3,356 1969
Cadillac De Ville $5,427 1965
Cadillac Elderado $7,401 1960
Cadillac Elderado $6,605 1968
Chevrolet Biscayne $2,230 1960
Chevrolet Camero SS $2,588 1968
Chevrolet Corvair Monza $2,335 1964
Chevrolet Corvette $4,589 1963
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray $4,438 1969
Chevrolet Impala Super Sport $3,210 1965
Chevrolet Malibu $2,156 1965
Chrysler New Yorker $5,680 1963
Chrysler Town and Country Wagon $4,086 1967
Chrysler Valiant $2,056 1960
Chrysler Valiant Barracuda $2,862 1966
Comet ( Lincoln Mercury ) $2,375 1964
Comet Cyclone GT ( Lincoln Mercury ) $3,290 1968
Dodge Coronet V8 Club Coupe $2,595 Ohio 1962
Dodge 330 Series 2 dr Sedan $2,245 1963
Dodge Coronet 440 $2,264 1966
Dodge Charger $3,469 1966
Dodge Dart Pioneer $2,787 1961
Dodge Dart GT $3,065 1968
Dodge Lancer 4 dr Sedan $2,312 1961
Ford Bronco 4 Wheel Drive $2499 1966
Ford Fairlane $2,154 1963
Ford Fairlane $2195 1966

Ford Fairlane Toreno $3,156 1968
Ford Falcon $1,974 1961
Ford Falcon $2118 1966
Ford Falcon Futura $2,437 1967
Ford Galaxie $2,450 1962
Ford Galaxie 500 $2,881 1968
Ford Galaxie Convertible $2368 1966
Ford Mustang 2 door hardtop $2368 1966
Ford Mustang Shelby GT $3,995 1968
Ford Thunderbird $4,468 1965
Ford T Bird $3774 1966
Ford 100 Pickup $1795 1966
Jaguar Series II E Type Roadster $5,870 1967
Jenson Interceptor $9,570 1968
Lincoln Continental $6,270 1963
Lotus Elan $4,206 1964
Mercury Cougar $2,851 1967
Mercury Monterey 4 door $2,965 Washington 1964
Mercury Montclair $2,631 1960
MG MGB Roadster $2.659 1963
MG Midget $1,939 1963
MG Midget MK III $2,252 1968
Oldsmobile "98" Town sedan $3,399 New Jersey 1966
Oldsmobile Cutlass $2.713 1961
Oldsmobile, Jetstar 88 $3,035 1964
Oldsmobile, Super 88 $2,835 1961
Oldsmobile Tornado $5,258 1968
Plymouth Belvedere Satellite $2,695 1966
Plymouth Fury $2,499 California 1961
Pontiac Bonneville $3,255 1961
Pontiac Bonneville $4,733 1969
Pontiac Catalina $3,149 Washington 1964
Pontiac Firebird $2,667 1967
Pontiac GTO $3,227 1968
Pontiac Tempest $2,418 1963
Rambler American $2,150 1962
Rambler American $2,024 1968
Rambler Classic 4 door sedan $2,557 Washington 1964
Renault Dauphine $1,298 California 1961
Studebaker Daytona Sports $2,405 1965
Studebaker Lark $1935 1963
Triumph Spitfire $2,275 1963
Triumph TR3 Roadster $2,699 California 1961
Triumph TR4 A $2,840 1965
Triumph TR6 $3,275 1966
Volkswagen beetle $1,769 New York 1967

[RCMike]

Grandpa paid that much for the Jensen?!?

WOW

[datsun1500]

Same price as a corvair and Malibu. More than an MGB. None of those were considered cheap disposable cars. My point was/is that these were not considered disposable cars and I don't know why people think they were. Talk to an original owner sometime, they as them as the best bang for the buck, not cheap crap.

[Skyman]

I understand your point. My auto mechanics teacher in High School had always made the comment that they were Japanese disposable junk. Fast, and handled well, but disposable. I had a 69 in high school (1979) Maybe I was a bit influenced. No disrespect intended at all BTW.

[theunz]

There's a reason odometers only went to 99,999 in the sixtys Mike

[spl310]

They were viewed as disposable cars on the used market. Used values tended to drop badly on them if I am not mistaken.

[68DSU]

Mine was four years old when I bought it for $1616. I thought the amount was significant.

[eastmedia]

The Datsun Roadster is collectible because of it's limited numbers. Approx 50,000 built. Who knows how many destroyed? About 2,500 here on the registry, probably about another 7,500 not on the registry, maybe 10,000 total left, if that?

That's 20% of total production left that exists in the world most likely.

That's collectible.

Any when you actually find out that they are great to drive, you never let it go. That just makes it more collectible.

[311fan]

I find this discussion ironic. So many want the parts to be super cheap, and project cars to cost next to nothing, but they expect THEIR car to be worth a fortune...

Can't have it both ways folks...

[spl310]

I find this discussion ironic. So many want the parts to be super cheap, and project cars to cost next to nothing, but they expect THEIR car to be worth a fortune...

Can't have it both ways folks...

That is exactly right. I am as guilty of this as the next guy...

[fossil]

And then there are some that buy cars cheap and ask for top dollar when selling their prizes and complain that no one wants to pay the "Price".

Stan

[DatsunBucky]

In 1965 we were only 20 years out of WW2. There were a LOT of veterans who harbored deep resentment against the Japanese people and any products that came out of Japan. Their children were of course influenced by the old man's policies on what was made where. "Made in Japan" had a stigma of being cheap and plasticky. It would be similar to "Made in Pakistan" today. The Brits were our allies in the war, the Japs were our enemies. No wonder cars from the UK were more desirable than cars from Japan. The Japanese worked very hard to dispel that image, and for quite a few decades since then, the "Made in Japan" label has meant much more than "cheap."

I bought my 1600 Roadster at the time because I wanted something out of the mainstream, and them there DATsons filled the bill. I came to realize that I had not only gone outside the flow, but had a car that was at least as good as the Chevy II (with a 327 and 4-speed) I was also considering. Definitely more fun to drive, and probably lasted longer than the Chevy II would have.

[Alvin]

Going back to the thread title it reminded me of recent sales...
'68 SRL
18.5k on Ebay

'69 SRL
~$18.5k on BaT


I recently helped Francis sell his '68 SRL, it is going to Florida this week:
$19.5k

[jamesw]

Wow!