http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f92222412

Seller was Eagle Sayama / Isuzu Sports.

Selling price: 2,680,000 Yen.

That is:
$33,035.44 US Dollars
or
32,635.71 Australian Dollars.

Wow! That's almost as much as a local 1600GT is worth!!!

Sorry...couldn't help myself.

i might have to buy a few for investments.
p.s you better get one soon Duane the markets getting away .

I thought your shed was packed to the rafters with investments already Greg!?! I'm serious!

If the market runs away on me, so be it. Gerry's eBay GT was right on the money value-wise, that's where I sit...a showcar for $15k sounds right to me. Also, 1800GT's are available every day at very good prices on the JDM...and I don't mind square tail-lights either.

I noticed the $24k GT is now off Gumtree, so either expired or sold, anyone know?

I'm eyeing off a lot of cars at the moment...the wedding's over, Summer's coming, I'm getting a tad impatient and I have da missus' permission. *insert maniacle laughter here*

Given the exchange rate, the US is looking hot at the moment. It'd be sad to remain a non-Bellett member of this forum though...you guys are a lot of fun, and have been really generous with your help and opinions.

Cheerio!
Duane

The market does seem to be getting away...
had some peanut try and tell me his Belletts are worth 2.5K and 6K respectively.
Neither of them are as good as mine i purchased from melbourne for under 3K only a year ago.
He believes they are worth what he thinks because a clapped out Suzuki waterbottle 750 2 stroke is worth 5K as it stands and 12-16K restored.

I told him that he is likely to have the cars for another 20 plus years.

The selling market for Bellett sedans is very narrow and wont spend any more money than is absolutely necessary to get the dream.

Bunch of tight-asses we are indeed!!


OZ

The situation is like all collectable cars, people seem to think they are worth as much unrestored as they are when finished.best way to buy one is after they have had the money spent on them. I can understand why so many incomplete restos are for sale.

you havn't seen my sheds Duane they can fit many trucks and at least 5 belletts high . Council came out home one day as they are not impressed with the one i have at home. They were suprised when they came here to shut me down as they thought i was running a business from them. It was full of toys belletts,boat,caravan and no power as the meter box is behind it . I had a tip off they were coming and not a power lead in sight. For normal people a hoist would give it away but not to these people . They asked a few questions and were ushered of the property and we have been tied up with a paperwork trail ever since Liz is fully trained in this field and with other properties in town they get so confused they sent an order to pull it down it was the wrong shed on the wrong block of land it was funny as 4 cuoncilors ,building inspector, and a town planner looking at a flat pack Liz standing there with her legal books and some red faces funny as. 3 years later they still don't quite know what is going on but we do have one industrial shed sighned of as completed and its not even built they can't take us to court as the paper work would make look as stupid as they are.
another hobby .
plenty more room for more belletts and sheds.

Sounds awesome! I had the option to purchase a commercial property back when I bought my house 10 years ago, with a massive shed on it. As much as it would have been a great real estate investment ($100k right in the middle of Port Adelaide), I could easily see it filling up with so much junk, I'd spend the rest of my life sorting through it. Sadly, sanely, I opted out. I've had enough trouble keeping my oversized double car garage empty enough to use. This weekend I decided it was stocktake time, so Fiat 850 and Honda 1300 parts are going out cheap! Crazy, crazy prices!!!

Man, don't get started on how stupid councils and planners are, this will be a 20 page thread before sundown.

Anyway, nice Bellett GT-R!

Cheers,
Duane

I think the general gist on that GT-R is that it's had a full restoration, floor pans etc resprayed, engine rebuilt, interior retrimmed so it's pretty much the best you're going to find. Usual, no expense spared.

JT, does that sound about right?

That link will expire soon so here are the pics for anyone interested:

for sure this is a big job to get them to any respectable stage and its not cheap.

Looks worth every cent to me, a very nice car. Given top Skyline GTR's and Cosmo 110S's are getting $50-60k in Japan, it's an appropriate price too. You'd lop $10-15k off the price for a 1600GT, but unfortunately, I've not seen anything vaguely close to this standard for sale down here (or over there).

My reaction was something like: Holy cow, that's a lot of money.
Followed by: I don't think all the parts in mint condition add up to that much money.

I'm not good to ask how much a car is worth. My main rule of thumb is that if you are asking a premium price, it should probably be an actual running car, that you could get into and drive, as if it were an auto-mobile. That is followed by I would rather buy a blown up shell that has not been screwed up, as opposed to something that has been modified by someone who doesn't know what they are doing and ruined.

The auction car is not quite original. It says it has a three row radiator, aftermarket ignition, reduction starter, modern alternator, their own brand springs, and their own brand shocks. It's a little less of a list than if it also had their rear leaf spring and a bunch of other stuff, but not quite original. I don't know if that is important to people who own these cars. There have been some comments about some things need to be changed and upgraded. But a $35,000 car might be one of those you expect to tow to the concours judge to get the trophy, and not drive due to the things that are not upgraded parts that would probably kill you if you tried to drive it down the street.

It's a good looking car. I like the idea of something I own appreciating in value, instead of becoming worthless by virtue of me owning it.
I'm keeping an eye out and printing out the ones that go for a high price to show the insurance company. They don't know anything about the cars, they don't read Japanese, and I'm sick of being told that they don't want to pay a $2,000 claim without totaling the car and putting a salvage title on it.

GOLD! I'm amazed how often this is not the case (ahem, including some recent cars I've had put to me). There's a gobsmacker on BaT at the moment, with a guy in the UK asking ~$50k for a Unipower GT that hasn't run in about 15 years! Rare, yes. Desirable, yes. But FFS, at least get it running.

Mind you, the eBay GT recently purchased was a non-runner, hence I didn't bid. It has turned out to be a ripper! Who can tell?

Don't know who JT191 has insurance with but for my crusty green tear drop sedan that has been painted by paint brush
with fence paint my insurance will pay no questions asked in the hand $4000 + I get to keep the car if it is ever writen off.
Touch wood it doesn't!
When I rang Shannons the guy on the other end knew exactly what a Bellett was, knows their rarity and appreciated
the worth of a write off to an enthusiest hence the salvage rites, all for just over $300 a year full comp.
Once resprayed and engine rebuilt they will inspect for possible $8000 agread pay out figure for slightly higher premium.
And thats for a basic sedan.

My two sents worth is i had a guy with a very nice GT that was written off 15 odd years ago and i had enough documentation from cars for sale, newspaper adds etc to get a payout of 3.5K and they offered 1.5K initially.
A lot of insurance Companies can be a pain.
Shannons are one of the best! For value, extras at no more cost and great agreed value.


OZ

Yep, Shanons are good, I have all my cars insured with them.
The yellow peril is insured for $6000 with salvage rights at a cost of $124 p.a.(approx)