Nissan Zed marks 50 with 370 Anniversary
The Nissan Zed car reaches its big 5-0 - no better way to celebrate than with a retro special
While it may sometimes feel like the current Nissan 370Z has itself been on sale for 50 years, there have of course been many iterations of Nissan Zed car since the 240Z first emerged in 1969. It was revealed at the New York show of that year in fact, so there's no better place to pull the covers off this latest special edition five decades later.
The 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition is described as celebrating "the history of the model and its racing heritage, both of which have played a vital role in helping making Nissan what it is today." Which would explain how this car looks, the paint scheme evoking the Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) 240Z that was so successful in various SCCA races in the 1970s. That means white with red boot, bonnet, roof, mirrors and stripes, or silver with black accents. See as well the 50th Anniversary badges, because it's not a special edition without badges.
And, er, well, that's kind of it. Based on the 370Z Sport in the US, the 50th uses the venerable 3.7-litre V6 that's powered the model since launch, with 328hp and 268lb ft. Suspension, gearbox, wheels, brakes, tyres and interior (bar some badges and Alcantara) are carried over unchanged as well. Far be it from us to be the arbiters of what makes a good 50th anniversary sports car, but it does seem a bit of a shame that a little more effort couldn't have been expended on marking such a significant occasion.
Launched as a 2020 model, the 50th Anniversary Zed will likely be available in the States soon - there's no word yet on any UK availability. As you may well remember, there's a GT-R 50th anniversary on the way too, so perhaps that'll be a more enticing prospect. Until then, for some Zed car excitement, here's a 240Z BRE onboard - seems apt, given this 370 pays homage to it. And, well, it doesn't sound bad, either...
I can't help thinking that this is a bit of a wasted opportunity to celebrate a 50th anniversary. This just doesn't seem that special. Incidentally, Nissan celebrated the 40th anniversary with the 370z as well, so it shows how long in the tooth these are now. That at least had some nice red seats. Not sure I'd have this over a Nismo as presumably it will command a premium over the base model.
I am amazed they still haven't put the old 370 out to pasture and it's a shame they didn't do more to update the car over it's 10 years in service. Surely they could also have done more to lift the Nismos above the cooking spec cars. If it had shed 100kgs and had a bit more power and torque it would have been quite a machine.
"While it may sometimes feel like the current Nissan 370Z has itself been on sale for 50 years, there have of course been many iterations of Nissan Zed car since the 240Z first emerged in 1969. It was revealed at the New York show of that year in fact, so there's no better place to pull the covers off this latest special edition five decades later."
What "New York show" was that? Is it part of the PR blurb from Nissan?
The whole S30-series Z variant lineup - that was, at launch, the Nissan Fairlady Z, Fairlady Z-L, Fairlady Z432, Fairlady Z432-R and Export market 'Datsun 240Z' - was first unveiled at Nissan's Ginza, Tokyo showroom on 18th October 1969 (at their 'Press Preview' event) and then on 24th October 1969 at the Tokyo Motor Show (where over 1.5 million visitors passed through the doors over the 2 weeks of the show).
Nissan Motor Co. USA organised a fairly low-key one-day event at the Pierre Hotel in New York between the two above dates, attended by members of the North American press, with just one car present. The same car was then flown to Los Angeles for a similar hotel-based 'trunk show' for the press. Hardly comparable with what was going on in Japan.
Isn't this 50th Anniversary 370Z something dreamed up by NMC USA's marketing department, and exclusive to the USA market?
people moan about modern interiors with too many screens
then people moan about a more old school simple interior with actual buttons
people moan about souless electric cars or small engined turboed cars
people moan about the opposite
i'm thankful that cars like the 370z are still available to buy.
people moan about modern interiors with too many screens
then people moan about a more old school simple interior with actual buttons
people moan about souless electric cars or small engined turboed cars
people moan about the opposite
i'm thankful that cars like the 370z are still available to buy.
MZR have crafted a special edition wide bodied 240Z with everything you could want and more internally, externally and importantly under the bonnet.
Just 10 examples of the MZR 50th anniversary cars will be produced and they are beyond cool, instant kudos to anyone who is lucky enough to get their mitts on one.
Check them out at www.mzrroadsports.co.uk
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