RE: PH Heroes: Datsun 240Z
Discussion
PZR said:
aeropilot said:
I never understood though, why they didn't do a proper homologation special version of the 240Z by fitting the wonderful S20 6 cyl 24v DOHC triple sidedraft carb'd engine from the original 1969 Skyline GT-R..?
They did. It was called the 'Fairlady Z432' ( model code 'PS30' ). It had a super lightweight sibling - the 'Fairlady Z432-R' ( model code 'PS30-SB' ) - which had thinner gauge steel and some fibreglass body panels, acrylic windows, race seats and lots of 'delete' options, and was built to homologate the model for Japanese GT racing. You won't read about them in articles like this, because the author is following the same "Made for the USA" theme that so many other journos follow when talking about the S30-series Z family.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4ocdL9QXLw
Want
Let me rephrase then..... it's a pity they never imported them into the UK
PZR said:
aeropilot said:
I never understood though, why they didn't do a proper homologation special version of the 240Z by fitting the wonderful S20 6 cyl 24v DOHC triple sidedraft carb'd engine from the original 1969 Skyline GT-R..?
They did. It was called the 'Fairlady Z432' ( model code 'PS30' ). It had a super lightweight sibling - the 'Fairlady Z432-R' ( model code 'PS30-SB' ) - which had thinner gauge steel and some fibreglass body panels, acrylic windows, race seats and lots of 'delete' options, and was built to homologate the model for Japanese GT racing. You won't read about them in articles like this, because the author is following the same "Made for the USA" theme that so many other journos follow when talking about the S30-series Z family...Too much emphasis on Yutaka Katayama here too. The design team working on the S30-series family were greatly encouraged by Katayama, but they were working on a family of models ( both RHD and LHD, and L20A, L24 and S20-engined ) and Katayama walked into the story when it was already underway. No denying Katayama's influence, but the designers and engineers working in Japan had just as much if not more influence than "Mr K.". How about a shout for Yoshihiko Matsuo and his team?
Articles like this also seem to overlook the great differences between those "USA" market cars and all the others. The USA / Canada market 'HLS30U' model was effectively a dumbed down and softened up Z - with softer springing and damping, no rear anti-roll bar ( when all other markets got one from the beginning of production ), a slower steering rack ratio, and an arguably non-sporting 4-speed trans and 3.364 diff ratio ( when all other markets got a 5-speed and 3.9 diff ). The HLS30U may have sold in great numbers, but high sales figures don't indicate a 'better' car, and the S30-series was designed and engineered with a natural bias towards the RHD configuration ( although great effort was made to ensure the LHD layout worked well ). One thing they didn't change with the RHD and LHD configurations was the handbrake lever, which was always on the right side of the trans tunnel regardless of RHD or LHD model.
The mind boggles at the thought of two extra cylinders being "welded on" to a Nissan L4 engine. In fact, those L4s has DNA shared with the first Nissan 'L-Gata' engine, the 'L20' SOHC 6 of the 1965 H130-model 'Cedric Special Six'. This engine never made it to the USA, so many journalists have presumed that the four-cylinder L-series engines were the 'first'. Not so.
Still, at least the article doesn't mention the dreaded 'Count' Albrecht Goertz...
Georgeous car!!
If you want to see some lovely images of the new(ish) and the old look at this
http://www.motivemagazine.com/gallery/gallery.html...
If you want to see some lovely images of the new(ish) and the old look at this
http://www.motivemagazine.com/gallery/gallery.html...
Fantastic car, someone near me has a pea green one. It's immaculate.
I think Nissan were launching the 350Z in the UK, but for whatever reason they had this yellow one at the Goodwood F.O.S. one year. I saw it was open, and cheekily opened the door. Someone came bounding over and I thought I was done for. The guy saw I was 6'2'' and rushed over to move the seat back so I could get in easily. Made my day !
I think Nissan were launching the 350Z in the UK, but for whatever reason they had this yellow one at the Goodwood F.O.S. one year. I saw it was open, and cheekily opened the door. Someone came bounding over and I thought I was done for. The guy saw I was 6'2'' and rushed over to move the seat back so I could get in easily. Made my day !
"with the basic front-mounted-straight-six-driving-rear-wheels layout of America's seminal sportscar, the Chevrolet Corvette"
Not really. The Corvette was a fibreglass roadster from day one and received a V8 in 1955. The layout was really very different and the 240Z was probably aimed more at Mustang sales. Nearly all cars back in the 70s were front-engined RWD so it was hardly copying anything. While the Corvette C2 and C3 had spawned a coupe version, the roadster was still part of the Corvette DNA and the coupe didn't even have an opening boot and had large V8s with up to 420hp.
I loved the 240Z from the moment I first set eyes on a metallic green one in the Datsun dealers on the Wirral and we followed it's success in the East African Safari and had both CORGI versions of it in EAS Rally and US Rally guise. It remains one of my all-time favourite cars.
Not really. The Corvette was a fibreglass roadster from day one and received a V8 in 1955. The layout was really very different and the 240Z was probably aimed more at Mustang sales. Nearly all cars back in the 70s were front-engined RWD so it was hardly copying anything. While the Corvette C2 and C3 had spawned a coupe version, the roadster was still part of the Corvette DNA and the coupe didn't even have an opening boot and had large V8s with up to 420hp.
I loved the 240Z from the moment I first set eyes on a metallic green one in the Datsun dealers on the Wirral and we followed it's success in the East African Safari and had both CORGI versions of it in EAS Rally and US Rally guise. It remains one of my all-time favourite cars.
The 240Z with it's Japanese spec twin cam engine was certainly the dogs danglies.
I've recently been looking into finding a reasonably priced '69 Skyline GT-R, but I can't find one at what I call sensible money. Plenty of $60,000 fully restored versions, with the proper kit. And a few single cam "lesser" versions.
I've recently been looking into finding a reasonably priced '69 Skyline GT-R, but I can't find one at what I call sensible money. Plenty of $60,000 fully restored versions, with the proper kit. And a few single cam "lesser" versions.
[quote=sneijder]Fantastic car, someone near me has a pea green one. It's immaculate.
A beautiful car for sure. The 240Z not the bloated thing with American fridge door handles next to it. Why, oh why can't they make cars like it today? Why is everything so big, fat, overweight and ugly nowadays?
A beautiful car for sure. The 240Z not the bloated thing with American fridge door handles next to it. Why, oh why can't they make cars like it today? Why is everything so big, fat, overweight and ugly nowadays?
hornetrider said:
Slight thread diversion. The article piqued my interesting in googling for a Toyota 2000GT for sale.
I am stunned to see an asking price of £250k!
http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C110129/
Ridiculous. For that money you could buy a Lamborghini or Ferrari or Porsche or car from a manufacturer with real sporting pedigree, etc, etc...I am stunned to see an asking price of £250k!
http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C110129/
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff