RE: PH Heroes: Datsun 240Z
Discussion
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/
PZR - very interesting account. You certainly seem to know your stuff. I know there are books out there on 240Z so do you think there is a gap for the 'proper' story or is it out there? I used to love the Samuri versions.
Not to detract from the 240Z, but an interesting aside.
Not so well-known and reported, is that one small British company was also at the same time (1969 when the Fairlady Z was launched in Japan) well down the road designing and building a sports car, some would even say is similar in design styling. In a different league regarding 'sales' but nonetheless, if the 240Z 'looked as if it had landed from another planet', then surely you would say the same about this car!
Exactly the same period in time.
Power was by the 3-litre Ford V6.
It is documented that when it was officially launched in 1970 at Earls Court, some Japanese were crawling under it on the stand! (the start of a long standing relationship with a section of the Japanese car enthusiast fraternity that is still there today).
Again, not so well known, is this car was voted 'car of the show' by one highly respected motoring journalist. When the car was later crashed tested at MIRA it produced one of the best results ever seen at that time.
Its opposition was not the Datsun; it was aimed directly at another Brit, the MGB GT. Despite all the efforts of the company in question to get the back to back road-test that they dearly wanted, with a BGT, in the motoring press, this never materialised.
Not to detract from the 240Z, but an interesting aside.
Not so well-known and reported, is that one small British company was also at the same time (1969 when the Fairlady Z was launched in Japan) well down the road designing and building a sports car, some would even say is similar in design styling. In a different league regarding 'sales' but nonetheless, if the 240Z 'looked as if it had landed from another planet', then surely you would say the same about this car!
Exactly the same period in time.
Power was by the 3-litre Ford V6.
It is documented that when it was officially launched in 1970 at Earls Court, some Japanese were crawling under it on the stand! (the start of a long standing relationship with a section of the Japanese car enthusiast fraternity that is still there today).
Again, not so well known, is this car was voted 'car of the show' by one highly respected motoring journalist. When the car was later crashed tested at MIRA it produced one of the best results ever seen at that time.
Its opposition was not the Datsun; it was aimed directly at another Brit, the MGB GT. Despite all the efforts of the company in question to get the back to back road-test that they dearly wanted, with a BGT, in the motoring press, this never materialised.
The Ginetta was a really nice effort, and if there were "Japanese" crawling around - and under - it at the show, I hope we can all imagine that they were being curious rather than looking for some clues to use in their "artful plagiarism".
It seems to be de rigeur to imply that the S30-series Z was "copied" from other designs, as though the Japanese designers and engineers were not subject to the same styling zeitgeist as everyone else was at the time. The same people telling you about this "copying" won't apply the same theory to a Hawksmoor church or a Wedgewood plate, it seems.
It seems to be de rigeur to imply that the S30-series Z was "copied" from other designs, as though the Japanese designers and engineers were not subject to the same styling zeitgeist as everyone else was at the time. The same people telling you about this "copying" won't apply the same theory to a Hawksmoor church or a Wedgewood plate, it seems.
Jimbeaux said:
There are a number of these around the states rusting and cheap. i am always tempted to grab one up and fix it up. I imagine it would be relatively easy to work on with many options.
It's a common falacy that many believe that Jap-crap has always been solid and reliable, durable from get go like the reputation they've enjoyed recently. In those days Jap-crap really were frail and fragile pieces of machinary.It's the USA however and there are following for every kind of car under the sun- so you'd be able to get parts some how some way. I'd imagine that it is easier to work on than my BMW and my BMW is really easy to work on. Don't expect prices to be cheap however- not even down to Mopar levels. More expensive than rennovating an old E21, E30, E28 BMW- definately (Old BMWs are more plentiful)
Edited by Marquis_Rex on Thursday 28th January 01:33
Marquis_Rex said:
Jimbeaux said:
There are a number of these around the states rusting and cheap. i am always tempted to grab one up and fix it up. I imagine it would be relatively easy to work on with many options.
It's a common falacy that many believe that Jap-crap has always been solid and reliable, durable from get go like they enjoyed until recently. In those days Jap crap really were frail and fragile pieces of machinary.It's the USA however and there are following for every kind of car under the sun- so you'd be able to get parts some how some way. I'd imagine that it is easier to work on than my BMW and my BMW is really easy to work on.
Marquis_Rex said:
It's a common falacy that many believe that Jap-crap has always been solid and reliable, durable from get go like the reputation they've enjoyed recently. In those days Jap-crap really were frail and fragile pieces of machinary.
Nonsense ( quite literally ).These cars were mechanically very rugged, and were well designed and well made in comparison with their direct competition. Nissan had a long winning streak in the East African Safari Rally, and the '240Z' won it in 1971 & 1973. Hardly a "frail and fragile" piece of "machinary".
Marquis_Rex said:
It's the USA however......
Is it? Not from where I'm sitting it's not...God I love my 300zx, its only an N/A but as a 4 wheeled companion its probrably right up there with my old BMW 335i/M5/Z4COUPE, even though shes 20y/old.
And she still turns heads and gets admiring looks.
Shot up behind an Orange 240Z in my ZX on the M25 in the Summer and rode convoy until the Caterham turn off. Gorgeous car, sounded great.
Great artical!!!
And she still turns heads and gets admiring looks.
Shot up behind an Orange 240Z in my ZX on the M25 in the Summer and rode convoy until the Caterham turn off. Gorgeous car, sounded great.
Great artical!!!
PZR said:
Marquis_Rex said:
It's a common falacy that many believe that Jap-crap has always been solid and reliable, durable from get go like the reputation they've enjoyed recently. In those days Jap-crap really were frail and fragile pieces of machinary.
Nonsense ( quite literally ).These cars were mechanically very rugged, and were well designed and well made in comparison with their direct competition. Nissan had a long winning streak in the East African Safari Rally, and the '240Z' won it in 1971 & 1973. Hardly a "frail and fragile" piece of "machinary".
PZR said:
Marquis_Rex said:
It's the USA however......
Is it? Not from where I'm sitting it's not...JonRB said:
Marquis_Rex said:
Brainwashed liberal jap crap worshiper with short memory who doesn't know what he's on about.
What is it about Brits living in America? Do you all turn into over-opinionated tactless jerks or is it that we just seem to attract them on PH? 
Who else is like that?
god i love the 240/260 body shape. the numbers were relative to the engine size werent they? 240 2.4 260 2.6, the only nissan sports cars i can think of that break that tradition are uk supplied s13 200sx (1.8)jap 180sx (2.0) and the utterly horrid 100nx thing. even a ca18det would turn the 240 into a beast, for about a mile before the engine let go anyway!!
last time i looked on auto trader for these a mint one was 40k!!
last time i looked on auto trader for these a mint one was 40k!!
Charlie-Boy, that's a great pair of Z's. Who did the work on the white car. Let me know if you're ever looking to sell.
I'm a veteran of Z's, well three. 240Z with a 2.8 on Webers, Immaculte nut and bolt 260Z on Webers and this little demon, 240Z fitted out with TVR V8, Cosworth box and RS200 slippy diff and erm not a lot of exhaust silencing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IxcUQQbPP0
Enjoy!
Tom
I'm a veteran of Z's, well three. 240Z with a 2.8 on Webers, Immaculte nut and bolt 260Z on Webers and this little demon, 240Z fitted out with TVR V8, Cosworth box and RS200 slippy diff and erm not a lot of exhaust silencing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IxcUQQbPP0
Enjoy!
Tom
tch911 said:
Charlie-Boy, that's a great pair of Z's. Who did the work on the white car. Let me know if you're ever looking to sell.
I'm a veteran of Z's, well three. 240Z with a 2.8 on Webers, Immaculte nut and bolt 260Z on Webers and this little demon, 240Z fitted out with TVR V8, Cosworth box and RS200 slippy diff and erm not a lot of exhaust silencing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IxcUQQbPP0
Enjoy!
Tom
That looks / sounds wicked.I'm a veteran of Z's, well three. 240Z with a 2.8 on Webers, Immaculte nut and bolt 260Z on Webers and this little demon, 240Z fitted out with TVR V8, Cosworth box and RS200 slippy diff and erm not a lot of exhaust silencing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IxcUQQbPP0
Enjoy!
Tom
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