1973 Datsun 240Z

The Nissan 240Z was the first generation of the GT two-seat coupés produced from 1969 to 1978, offering a modern design, a relatively low price, and readily available thanks to the growing dealer network. The Series I launched in 1970 with the Series II in 1971 with minor design changes in-between. Power was initially sourced from a 2.4-liter (2393cc) straight-six cylinder L24 engine with overhead camshafts and delivering around 150 horsepower. Zero-to-sixty mph was accomplished in about eight seconds and top speed was achieved at 125 mph.

The Nissan Motor Company was formed in 1933 and marketed most of its exported products as Datsuns until the latter name was dropped in 1983. The 240Z was not the first of the sports cars to emerge from the Datsun (Nissan) factories, preceded most notably by the Fairlady series of the 1960s, but with the Big Z's arrival in 1969, the Japanese firm established itself as a major force to be reckoned with in the sports/GT market. Indeed, the Datsun 240Z was the first Japanese-made sports car to achieve worldwide recognition.

The Datsun 1600 and 2000 roadsters had enjoyed moderate success in the U.S. market, demonstrating Datsun could build a very capable competitor to the best of the British roadsters, including the MGB, Austin-Healey 3000, and Jaguar E-Type. The arrival of the 240Z helped reinforce the company's reputation as a sports car builder, though Japanese cars still faced negative attitudes in the US.

The Datsun 240Z offered a thoroughly modern package consisting of a five-speed manual (initially, a four-speed) gearbox, front disc brakes, a precise rack-and-pinion power steering, and an independent suspension all round with MacPherson struts at the front and Chapman links at the rear. A three-speed automatic (from 1971 onwards) and air conditioning were among the list of options. The inline-six-cylinder engine had a cast-iron block, alloy head, seven-bearing crankshaft, Direct Acting OHC, two valves per cylinder, and a compression ratio of 9.0:1. Its bore measured 3.27 inches and its stroke of 2.90 inches. It used a mechanical fuel pump, twin Hitach HJG 46W 1.75 inch SU-Type carburetors, which were replaced with the arrival of the 260Z with Hitachi one-barrel side-draft carburetors beginning with model year 1973. This change allowed the engine to comply with strict emissions regulations, but with a reduction in overall performance. To compensate, a Bosch-designed L-Jetronic electronic fuel injection was added to US market 280Zs in 1975.

The 240Z was very impressive, by anyone's standards, with impressive performance whilst retaining the ability to achieve in excess of 30 mpg, putting the 'Z' ahead of many of its contemporaries and on a par with Porsche 911's of the time. According to Classic and Sportscar, the 'Z' was 'In a different technical league' whilst Road and Track magazine noted, 'Datsun have reinvented the sports car with the sleek, civilized, sexy and sporty 240Z'. Car & Driver said: 'A brilliantly conceived car with twice as much thought having gone into it when compared to the Big Healey, MGC, Lotus Elan, Porsches and Corvettes'. For many years, the Datsun 240Z was heralded as the most successful sports car of all time.

The well-balanced muscular lines of the 240Z were designed at Nissan by a team headed by Yoshiko Matsuo, with input from consultant Count Albrecht Goertz, stylist of the BMW 503 and 507. Design cues included a long bonnet, recessed lights, and tense rear haunches. Many of the flowing lines were clearly inspired by European influences, notably the E-Type Jaguar fixed head, yet it was pure and elegant enough to have an appeal of its own. Chrome 240Z badges were placed on the sail pillar, and two of the two horizontal vents located in the rear hatch below the glass molding were both decorative and functional, providing flow-through ventilation. In mid-1971, the sail pillar emblems were restyled with just the letter Z placed in a circular vented emblem, and the vents were removed from the hatch panel of the car, due to exhaust fumes being circulated into the car. 1972 brought a new location of the bumper over-riders, along with emission control devices to comply with emission regulations.

By the time the 260Z took over in 1975 (followed by the 280Z), Datsun had sold 150,076 examples of its 240Z. The keenly priced 240Z proved an outstanding success in the all-important North American market, taking sales from MG, Triumph and Jaguar. Along with its commercial success, the 240Z was immediately successful in motorsport, particularly in club racing in the USA and on the world rally stage. Factory rally cars quickly gained a reputation for durability on long-distance events, especially the Safari Rally where the 240Z won outright from 1971 to 1973. Among the list of leading drivers included Edgar Hermann, Rauno Aaltonen, Harry Kallstrom, Shekhar Mehta, and Tony Fall.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2022