Prefontaine's 1971 Datsun 240Z is up on EBAY!

"Mr. Prefontaine was arguably the greatest American Olympic distance runner in history."

I'm not sure there's anything to argue here; he ran in one Olympic final and got 4th. I think there are much better choices for the greatest American Olympic distance runner.

Eugene, OR is the only Track Town, USA !

So somebody bought Pre's car on eBay for $16600. Out of curiosity, how do you pay for something like that on eBay. Not Paypal, surely. The only thing it shows is some car loan deal through eBay, but what if you wanted to buy in cash or get a loan from a regular bank?

Willard wrote:

A rock a think.

Is that the same rock as Pre's rock? If so, I heard that the Stanford guys pissed on it one year. Pretty messed up.

Hingel McCringlberry wrote:

Willard wrote:

A rock a think.

Is that the same rock as Pre's rock? If so, I heard that the Stanford guys pissed on it one year. Pretty messed up.

The thing is, Pre didn't hit the rock wall.

He hit the curb before the rock wall, the car flipped and skidding to a stop just before the rock wall.

A month after you could still see the liquid stains from the car (gas/radiator) that started somewhat before the rock wall...and ran down hill towards the gutter.

I agree with those that suggest tearing down the wall and removing the plaque and asking people not to visit there.

It is morbid, and stupid to make a shrine out of a death site.

You want to celebrate the guy's life?

Go hang in the East Stands and imagine him finishing a race on the East Side (when it was done that way.)

I hear that Mother's Against Drunk Driving are very upset that the running community continues to idolize a drunk driver who never won an olympic medal (and he would not have beaten Viren in 1976) more than more successful and righteous runners like Jim Ryun.

G_D

Looks like its already been sold.

But one of his other cars might still be available:

http://www.bebo.com/c/photos/view?MemberId=1206145563&PhotoNbr=1&PhotoAlbumId=6221615271#photoId=10858071771

Sorry. Too soon?

921 Elrod Street was here he was raised. It was his home. He returned there when he wasn't in school or traveling. He lived many places in Eugene during his college and post-college years: in a freshman dorm, Douglass Hall, in a trailer with Pat Tyson, with friends and Oregon Boosters for awhile, and on Mackenzie Street where he bought the only house he every owned. But home? Home was 921 Elrod Street, Coos Bay Oregon. We all have someplace he call "home," and it doesn't have to mean where you are residing. It's where your heart is, the compass that gives you direction.

It's where his family lived, not where he lived in Eugene.

[quote]Paranoid Much? wrote:

Value of 1971 Datsun 240Z in excellent condition: roughly $12,500

Value of Steve Prefontaine-owned 1971 Datsun 240Z in excellent condition: roughly $12,500 + $1 for novelty.

Who in their right mind would pay more for a car like this because Pre owned it?

[quote]PrePerson wrote:

I see what you did.

Pre-owned. Very clever.

But that should make it less expensive.

marvelous240 wrote:

I bought the car. Not at the sellers asking price. I will be investigating the alleged ownership by Pre but honestly I bought it for the car not it's history. If it does check out to be Pre's car I will certainly treat it with the respect it deserves.

It looks like a nice car even without being owned by Pre. Have fun with it.

If you figure out more about the history of the car, I'm sure there are people on here like me who would be interested in the details.

Datsun > Nissan wrote:

marvelous240 wrote:

I bought the car. Not at the sellers asking price. I will be investigating the alleged ownership by Pre but honestly I bought it for the car not it's history. If it does check out to be Pre's car I will certainly treat it with the respect it deserves.

It looks like a nice car even without being owned by Pre. Have fun with it.

If you figure out more about the history of the car, I'm sure there are people on here like me who would be interested in the details.

Yes! I'd like to know as well what you find out. This past summer I was looking for a new car. Looking for a luxury sedan or a sports car. (I'm in the race timing business, and business is GOOD).

I almost went with a Z model, but ended up getting a newer Audi. If I had waited 3 or 4 months, this car would have been mine!