BlackbirdZ07

Yesterday on Bring a Trailer, a 1989 5.0 Mustang convertible sold for more than a one-owner 1990 ZR-1. Yes, the Mustang was literally brand new with less than 200 miles, but the ZR-1 was not exactly high mileage with 10,000. And the Mustang was nothing special, a 5.0 automatic non-GT convertible. Interesting data point.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ign=2019-11-12

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ign=2019-11-12

ccmano

I was surprised too, for a 10k mile 90’ to go for only $18.5k. At least $3k too low for this car. ZR-1s have recently been doing very well on BAT. But then this is the wrong time of year to be selling this type of car. In general trends have been positive recently.
H

zrc3john

Yeah but what about all the southern states ? Now's the time of year to drive a car down south or out west...Cooler temps lower humidity and less rainy days...Now is There driving season as opposed to up in the northeast...

ZR-1 needs ZR-1 buyers...People that want corvettes usually shy away from them...

BlackbirdZ07

If we're considering time of year, the convertible should have the bigger disadvantage. On the same day and at the same venue, an '89 Mustang convertible sold for more than a '90 ZR-1.

DDSLT5

That comment from the one fella was spot on: filthiest engine I've ever seen. Was every mile of the 10K spent going over curbs? Wasn't worth the $18.5K it got.

fxkenny

I watched the 10,000 mile '90 ZR-1. Lot's of unanswered issues. Definitely not a good representation.

henryr

too many of these car were put away as collectibles from day one.... never works out

5.0 mustangs were thrashed from day one.

zr1fred

You're depressed, think of the guy who wakes up and remembers he just spent 20k on a fox.

ZWILDZR1

The Fox body Mustangs are now the hot ticket. I always thought they were pretty darn ugly. What they had going for them was light weight. Which meant if you could get a engine making around 200 - 220 H.P. net it would be a fairly good performer. It wasn't until GM started using the Corvette's 5.7 Litre in the Camaro and Firebird that they could compete. So you have many people who were kids in school and always wanted a Fox body Mustang now making them the next hot ticket. Plus the automotive press is hailing them as the next best muscle car. My oldest son was given a Fox body convertible by his one grand father. He had lots of fun with it even though it was a 4 cylinder. It did have a manual trans. He later sold it to a local scrap yard as he couldn't find anyone with cash to buy it. His next car was the car of his dreams a LS powered 98 Trans Am with a 6 speed. I totally agree with the fact that you can pretty mush find any year C4 Corvette with some pretty low mile examples. Lots of car for the money. But most of these Fox body Mustangs were well used and like my son's car end up at a scrap ( junk ) yard.

https://dustrunnersauto.com/foxbody-mustangs/

zrc3john

I got a better one....After reading this thread I went on Bat just to pop around..There is a 1993 240 SX , yes 240 SX not 280 ZX, bid is up to $ 20,000 dollars with some time left..

Ok granted its a manual with I think around 36,000 miles....A 240 SX....Now, I remember these cars but there is nothing special about them..

When you see our cars going for less and for that matter C5 Z06 going for less than these there's a problem...

As far as the Fox body stang, I personally like the notchback one....It screams lightweight...
Modify the motor or drop in a 347 stroker with a nice exhaust and the car would be a handful...Those I can see going for decent money but a 240 SX ? I don't know about that one...

Joe93

I had a couple Fox body notchback 5.0 5-spds back in the day, a 92 and a 93. Teal and dark blue. They were FUN cars. Not really all that fast, but they'd light the rear tires on demand. The brakes were acceptable but not awesome; they were very easy to steer with the throttle. And wow, talk about a rear suspension that BEGGED for a panhard rod...

I remember heater cores being a pain. Fuel mileage was good for their day; the one with factory 3.08's was good for 30 mpg on the highway and 20 around town. The other, with 4.10's and higher mileage, couldn't touch 24 to save its' life.

Joelbbvette

Owned a 240 SX back in 89 new. Great car that handled great, just needed about 150-200 more Horsepower! I would not pay $20k for one. As for the ZR-1 the changed radio and SYS error hurt. Why not fix the issue and the car would have brought more.

1985 Corvette

A friend of mine back in high school had a 240 hatchback with stick shift as his daily driver. He let me drive it a few times and it was a lot of fun. Someone from motor trend took one and put an LS3 in it and it really moves out. I don’t know if Z prices will ever have a large spike like old big blocks. I watched a video last night from over 10 years ago with two collector guys admiring a teal 1990 Z and saying, “get em while you can before the frenzy for these takes hold!” Ten years ago and the prices are still where they are.

The money and increased value is a byproduct of what I was interested in the Z finally getting its due: a greater recognition of what these old Zs were in their day. It’s nice to see new videos released on YouTube from guys reviewing a Z. So many of the comments on those videos are people saying they had no idea the car ever existed.

ZED-R1

I would be surprised if the Mustang buyers are looking at Corvettes and vice versa. Two different markets. Although the logical person can compare bang for buck between them, the value of these cars is based largely on nostalgia and how badly someone wanted them in highschool. Mustangs were more attainable to the over-privileged highschool student and therefore more a common sight and more identifiable to their former jealous classmates. Whether the fox body or the 240sx performed is irrelevant. If someone thought the C4 was an old man car at the time, they probably aren't looking at it now either.

DRM500RUBYZR-1

While I like Bring a Trailer, you are simply fooling yourself if you think you can find the right buyer at the right price for any ZR-1 in ten days.
It just does not work that way with a C-4 ZR-1.

1- You can sell it fast if you sell it cheap. So if it's junk, or you are a junkie and need a fix fast, then auctions are for you.

2- If it is a quality car, well documented and maintained with zero needs, then plan on 12-18 months to leave enough time for the right buyer to find it.
The "right buyer" will pay if it is indeed a quality car that checks all of the boxes for THAT buyer.
You don't find that buyer in ten days.

Just my experience, your mileage may certainly vary!


Marty

Dominic Sorresso

What speaks to the value we place on our ZRs is the amount of $s we have invested beyond what the apparent market will pay.
In 10 years of ownership, I know I have easily doubled what I initially paid for it. And don’t regret it for a minute, especially when I’m driving it.

zrc3john

Valid point... The ones that I do see that sold for decent amounts were most likely right place ,right time...It happens...Just have to get lucky..

All in all I feel C5 C6 C7 generation have all felt the pinch of depreciation..I see C7Z's originally 90-100K selling for high 50's low 60's depending on options...You probably see it first hand..

TommyFox

I don't get the appeal of the F body Mustangs. They look like a box with 4 wheels....

medblueC4

People want a mint for IROCs too.

bowtiguy

Mecum and BJ also offer the ability to search past sales. Hagerty's evluation will give you an avg. of auction sales per year over the last 5 years. anything longer than that and you have to sign up for their premium "club" even if you give them $1200/yr in premiums...ask me how Iknow.