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Datsun 240Z
This is a really important car when we look at Japanese auto, because previously where American and European and British buyers had looked at the Brit and Euro market to give them the sports cars they desired, now had a Japanese contender in the mix.
The Datsun 240Z wasn’t just sold as any old car, it was billed as a personal GT not a sports car, yet the American adverts of the era show rally drivers lauding the credentials that make it a road and race car: the 2.4 litre overhead cam engine, the handling with fully independent rear suspension and disc brakes to front.
Datsun: from Nissan with pride and the pride the brand took in the car is evident. They created a car which was well built, took the styling credentials of other cars in its market and refined them all and combined it with brilliant power.
Motorsport magazine felt it was destined for big things and said it was ideal for the MGB GT owner looking to spend more to enhance performance and prestige.
As we’ve come to expect from Japanese auto, the car was reliable and didn’t throw up all the silly errors and easily avoided mishaps BL seemed to be putting out. The car was front-engined unitary chassis with all independent suspension with McPherson struts to front and rear. The 2.4 straight six engine was paired with a four forward speed box and weighed in at a ton, unladen.
In the late 60s, Datsun, as Nissan were known in the UK and America at the time, had been a brand, sure, but hadn’t been a big contender like they are today. In fact, they only came to Britain in 1968 I believe!
By the 70s, that was changing with cars like the 240Z making people sit up and take notice of the brand as manufacturer.
By 1971, the year this car came to market, Datsun were 5th place in the world for car manufacture and nearly 200 dealerships were in place across the UK. Very fast progress indeed.
Now something I will say, if you read US tests on these it’ll refer to the 4 speed box and if you read the UK tests on these, it refers to the 5 speed box. A small takeaway after driving is that the 5 speed box would definitely be preferable, it does hum a bit in top gear! This being a US import on manual or stick as they refer to it over there, is a 4 forward geared car.
The top speed was quoted as 125mph but in the 5 speed manual loaned by Datsun to MotorSport in 1971, it struggled to top 115 and was vibrating badly; so perhaps whilst it’s a top speed it’s not a speed you’ll be wanting to try and reach!
The 240Z whilst it changed hearts and minds on Japanese cars, was not around all that long in this guise. I believe it came to market in 1969 and was replaced by the 260Z in 1973.
It’s still remembered fondly and despite only doing just over 20 miles per gallon, it’s a sports car I’d drive over many others of the sports cars I’ve tested! With this being a car borrowed from Bidding Classics, we won’t be doing an owners interview today and we’re skipping straight to interior walkthrough.