RE: Datsun 240Z: PH Heroes

[73RS]

Here's my RHD 1973 example.

[danjama]

73RS said:

Here's my RHD 1973 example.

Do you have a readers thread?

I love these cars.

Also, top lurking, seriously.

[jason61c]

PZR said:

vsonix said:

I don't get all the converting LHD to RHD business, are there none left in Japan?

Quite a lot of S30-series Zs left in Japan, but the good ones are expensive.

MadDog1962 said:

I remember (14 years ago) seeing a very nice 200Z (a Japanese domestic variant) at a classic car auction at Turner's in Auckland NZ. It was beautiful and went for a mere NZ$12,000.

That would have been one of the Fairladies I mentioned above ('S30-S' Fairlady Z or 'S30' Fairlady Z-L, both powered by the L20A SOHC straight six which predated the L24). There was no '200Z' until later generations.

f328nvl said:

A friend's dad had one of these years ago under a tarpaulin waiting to be restored (it never was). It was always referred to as a rare "Samurai" version. was that correct and what was it all about?

Plenty written over the years about UK based tuning company and sometime race entrants 'Samuri Conversions' (note the missing 'a') and Mr Spike Anderson. Fun story to look into.

mrtwisty said:

Did many of the 24valve or lightweight versions find their way to the uk in subsequent years?

Sadly, not a single one so far. They change hands for a lot of money in Japan.

What would make a great article would be for a feature on your cars, along with correct history/detail descriptions etc. Its about time there was a factually correct article written and I don't think there's anyone better to help pen it. Also lots of pics of the ZG!

[BarbaricAvatar]

One of the very few cars where the designer got everything just right.

[Lowtimer]

73RS

Yum. That is delicious. Utterly lovely.

[morgs_]

The grand-daddy of my car and one of my dream garage cars. I always drool a little when I see one

[J4CKO]

73RS said:

Here's my RHD 1973 example.

Perfection.

[custardtart]

AW111 said:

There are a few in the classic rally scene here in Australia, and I see the odd one on the roads, usually very neat.

Our cars don't rust anything like in the UK.

There an ex race car on carsales at the mo, looks like it has all the right mods although a tough pricey at $27k. Would make a very nice track day toy.

[iloveboost]

73RS said:

Here's my RHD 1973 example.

That's lovely I think the 240Z and 260Z both look nicer than the generation of Mustang and Capri that came in at that time. Like the article said many are nicely modified to give them higher performance, better looks, more reliability, etc. They seem good value if you can get a nice one for a reasonable price but I guess that's difficult in this country because of rust.

[s m]

I remember Colin Goodwin on CAR magazine having one of these as a project car in the early 90s.
Always seemed to be battling rust
Nice though, Datsun's 2.8 Capri

[jason61c]

s m said:

I remember Colin Goodwin on CAR magazine having one of these as a project car in the early 90s.
Always seemed to be battling rust
Nice though, Datsun's 2.8 Capri

Not comparable to a Capri at all really, The 240z was miles ahead in design.

[s m]

jason61c said:

s m said:

I remember Colin Goodwin on CAR magazine having one of these as a project car in the early 90s.
Always seemed to be battling rust
Nice though, Datsun's 2.8 Capri

Not comparable to a Capri at all really, The 240z was miles ahead in design.

Maybe, but it didn't translate into any advantage on the road from the ones I remember

[jason61c]

s m said:

Maybe, but it didn't translate into any advantage on the road from the ones I remember

The chassis was miles ahead in design and quality, if you can't remember you should try them both again

[s m]

jason61c said:

s m said:

Maybe, but it didn't translate into any advantage on the road from the ones I remember

The chassis was miles ahead in design and quality, if you can't remember you should try them both again

I remember them picking a Scimitar GTE over a later 260z in a group test, that's for sure.
Remember also that the 2.8 Capri was pretty highly rated for handling, despite it's leaf sprung rear and Mac strut front so it's no slur on the 240Z for it to be compared. Sadly as the 2.8 Capri came later than the 240Z we won't see a valid as new comparison but the Datsun certainly wouldn't get away from one even with all that design.
By the way, to the poster further up, William Galliers is still going near Shrewsbury, friend had a car from there
I've got no pics of his 260z but a couple of his later 280 ( which wasn't as nice )

[PZR]

s m said:

I remember Colin Goodwin on CAR magazine having one of these as a project car in the early 90s.

HOW 348L.

I bought it from Colin (out of a lock up) as a dusty, engineless project. Rebuilt it, modified it to a period-style Japanese market spec, and enjoyed it for several years as an everyday driver whilst I was living in central London. Fond memories.

[jason61c]

do you know what happened to that one? Looks lovely.

[J4CKO]

jason61c said:

s m said:

I remember Colin Goodwin on CAR magazine having one of these as a project car in the early 90s.
Always seemed to be battling rust
Nice though, Datsun's 2.8 Capri

Not comparable to a Capri at all really, The 240z was miles ahead in design.

Z cars were always quite a bit more expensive that Capris, a bit like Supra's were, the Silvia amd Sunny Coupe were more Capri Competitors in terms of price, Supras were always more expensive as well.

[s m]

PZR said:

s m said:

I remember Colin Goodwin on CAR magazine having one of these as a project car in the early 90s.

HOW 348L.

I bought it from Colin (out of a lock up) as a dusty, engineless project. Rebuilt it, modified it to a period-style Japanese market spec, and enjoyed it for several years as an everyday driver whilst I was living in central London. Fond memories.

That's the one - looks a lot better in your pics!

[PZR]

jason61c said:

do you know what happened to that one? Looks lovely.

It still exists, but it's been off the road for a few years. I sold it pretty much as you see it in the photos. Would have been maybe something like 10(?) years ago now.

Colin Goodwin borrowed it back for a day, and used it for a feature in CAR Magazine when the Z33 debuted (2002?). I've got a copy of the mag around here somewhere...

[s m]

PZR said:

Colin Goodwin borrowed it back for a day, and used it for a feature in CAR Magazine when the Z33 debuted (2002?). I've got a copy of the mag around here somewhere...

- was looking at that earlier when digging out the other snippet above