Website design By BotEap.comThe history of the Datsun 240z begins in 1969 when it was released as a 1970 model to the automotive world. The Datsun 240z was not a new concept, as many manufacturers had achieved sports cars with excellent performance, solid engineering, and attractive styling with mediocre interiors on the cheap. The success of the 240z stemmed from the fact that the car perfected the idea of ​​a low-cost, reliable sports car. The man responsible for the design and creation of the Datsun 240z was Yutaka Katayama, and in recognition of his involvement in this legendary vehicle, he was inducted into the Automobile Hall of Fame in 1998.

Website design By BotEap.comThe history of the Datsun 240z engine is quite interesting as it is a departure from the Datsun 1600 engine which itself was a replica of the 1960 Mercedes Benz six-cylinder with two fewer cylinders. Add two extra cylinders to the Datsun 1600 engine and you have the 240z engine with 151 brake horsepower. At 146 pound-feet of torque, you’ve got a car that could do 0-60 in eight seconds, add to this rack-and-pinion steering and independent suspension and you have a car with quick response, great performance and handling. To stop all of this in just seconds, it had front disc brakes. With its launch price of $3,500, it was far less than its rivals on the market at the time.

Website design By BotEap.comThere is a strong history of the Datsun 240z with the Sports Car Club of America, as it dominated the C-class production category for 10 years, from 1970 to 1979. John Morton, driving for Brock Enterprises in 1970 and 1971, earned the first victory in SCCA C class production racing with a 240z. In 1972, 1973 and again in 1975 Bob Sharp took victory on a 240z with Walt Mass continuing the winning streak in 1974.

Website design By BotEap.com1974 saw an increase in engine size to 2.6 liters and the vehicle was renamed the 260z, ending the 240z series which sold just under 117,000 models over its lifetime. The 260z engine had a lower stopping horsepower of 139 as a result of increasing emissions regulations in the United States each year.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Datsun 260z proved to be a much more practical car than its predecessor and during its first and only year of production it sold 63,963 units, giving it the all-time sales record for the Z series.