The 260 market drying up? Some worrying observations.

[David]

You've probably noticed some turmoil in the market for ZT260's and Rover 75 V8's recently, much of which can be explained away by COVID I imagine, and to a lesser extent, fuel prices and the advent of EV's. This last 6 months the number of cars has shown an even more marked plummet however, before the Ukranian situation, and now only a handful of cars are known still to be for sale (See: Complete List of 260s FOR SALE.)

It used to take me an hour a day, updating twice daily to keep the 'Complete List' up to date. Now that's about 10 minutes.

At present, there are five members' cars are listed there, all MG 260s, but only one is being shown as being advertised elsewhere. Forum 'In-house' listings are fine, but generally ineffective as the sole manner of promoting sales, of course. Bit short-sighted, maybe? Excuse the pun, but also short-sited!

Dealers are simply not listing them any more. Several dealers could be relied on to have a few in their showrooms from time to time a couple of years ago, but not any more. Are they not being offered them, or actively avoiding them even?

OK, SMG have still got the 20-mile Rover 75 V8 of course, but outside of that, nothing.
Summit of Dudley last sold a 260 a year ago and have had none listed since.
Exactly the same with Beech Hill Garage, Studio Cars of Preston and Damen & Kroes in Holland.
Elite of Borden last listed a 260 over 2 years ago.

None of the upcoming auctions are showing any ZT 260 or R75V8, and haven't for over a year.
CCA, SWVA, Anglia, Barons, Brightwells, Mathewsons, Historic, Bonham's 'The Market' all found wanting!
Even Coparts can't help, by not having listed any "bent" ones at all for about 2 years!

Other than a single Facebook Marketplace listing, on-line listings are virtually absent in the UK.
Autotrader, eBay, Gumtree, Pistonheads haven't shown any listing for weeks and only one (member's) car is still listed, and actually for sale, on Car & Classic. Also true of the other RHD markets of Australia/NZ and S.Africa.

On the continent of Europe it is little better. One car is listed by Mobile.de, and the same car (actually a relisted RHD R75V8) is also on AutoScout24.
In France VIN #012 is still listed by Leboncoin, and the black Norwegian R75V8 (again) for sale from the dealer. Nothing on Reezo.de, Gaspedal.nl or eBay sites in Germany. Belgian, Scandinavian and Spanish sites, and the international "The Parking/Le Parking" have had nothing at all listed for a long time.

... and that's it!

Are they simply not out their? If not, why? Have dealers decided that they are too risky to have in showrooms or on forecourts at 17 years old+ ?
Are all our cars either dead or declared as "keepers" maybe?
Worse still, no longer regarded as desirable or "classic"?
With such scarcity of available cars, you would think the ones that are would be selling like 'hot-cakes', but apparently not.
Answers on a postcard!

David