Datsun made a big splash with it’s nimble and sporty 240Z. A sort-of Mustang in miniature, the Japanese pony car filled its elongated snout with a silky-smooth straight six, and the styling pays homage to glorious Italian GT cars. This 1972 Datsun 240Z comes to market here on eBay, where at least 11 bidders have set the market value on the San Antonio, Texas two-door above $9500 with four days left.
When most small cars made due with four cylinder engines that rarely inspired spirited driving, this 2.4L (146 cid) inline six sported twin carburetors and generated 151 HP, according to Wikipedia. The fastest car I’ve ever driven was a ’72 240Z with a 2.8L 300+HP version of this L24 built by Leitzinger Motorsport of State College, Pennsylvania. The owner said the redline was around 8000, pointed at the stock tachometer, and said “shift when the needle disappears.” Needless to say, it was a blast!
The Italian influence can’t be missed from this angle, but credit designer Yoshihiko Matsuo for giving the Z gorgeous lines, a unique statement on this corporate halo car. This early version keeps the delicate bumpers that would soon give way to bulkier “diving boards” fore and aft.
This two-tone interior makes a nice surprise versus the black vinyl pit that lines so many ’70s cars. A deep primary binnacle and three hooded central gauges keep the driver well-informed. The seller claims this garage-kept classic covered only 68,000 miles in 53 years, and while some may challenge the “survivor” claim on a repainted car than may have refreshed seat covers, others may say, “it’s here, so obviously it survived.”
A matte black inset tail panel emphasizes the fastback styling, and the hatchback is sure to make ’63-’82 Corvette owners jealous when removing luggage at the car park. Younger wheel-holders who think performance means switching off traction control and aggressively paddle-shifting their 4500 lb pony car’s automatic should really drive one of these one-ton wonders. Would you prefer this classic Z over today’s insulated high-tech power barges?
Todd. You’re last question says it all. And I’m thinking probably about 98.672 percent of the readers here ( including myself) would answer with a resounding YEEEESSSS!!!!!). I think it’s beautiful. To me, paint and interior refreshes are more of a maintenance thing, but that’s me. Either way who cares? For a reasonable price you can get a beautifully preserved early 240Z which should be a blast to drive. Terrific write up Todd I saw this on Fast Finds and hoped it would be written up, and you didn’t disappoint!! Very nice 240Z here. And if Michelle is reading this, one of these is at the absolute top of my bucket list ( which she says is turning into a barrel, but this one makes the bucket first and foremost for sure).
✔️✔️✔️
Back in 92 I had a 78 Z. Loved that car. I actually was able to squeeze a stove in the hatchback.
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In 1973 my dad bought a Datsun 610 , while in the showroom before he pulled the trigger on the 610 I literally begged him to buy the Z on the showroom floor. Needless to say he wasn’t having any of it as the Z only had 2 seats he and mom had us 3 boys plus grams lived with us, my only reasoning I could come up with was mom had the country squire for all the family. He still wasn’t having it and bought the 610. Dad was never a car guy so he just couldn’t understand where I was coming from.
A very satisfying driving car. The engine, transmission, shifter, interior just push all the buttons for a wonderful driving car. All the ones that I drove had Bilstein struts. So I’m not sure what a,stock one drives like. Oh, one thing is probably needed on this car, because it’s an age deterioration thing. The “rag joint’ steering coupler (steering shaft to steering rack) The steering response difference between stock (and most likely worn out/aged) and a replacement solid nylon coupler is amazing. (You no longer halve some of the safety protection in a head on crash. But the steering response should keep you out if the crash as long as you are paying attention! I could spend all day just driving one of these around. I really would like to own one.
I had a ’70 240Z most fun car I ever drove. If you find one in good shape buy it!
When these first came out I was totally into muscle cars so after a thorough examination I determined these were on par with a Japanese wind-up robot toy. Really cool looking but stamped out of thin metal and everything put together just well enough to look like a real car, all highlighted by that stamped steel air cleaner box that I wanted to stick a bottle rocket in it and send it across the lake. The six cylinder engine looked nice though and I imagined if I wound it up tight sparks would fly out the exhaust!
Broken record here. BRZ BRZ BRZ….
I’ve had two of this year and would love to get a third. This one is perfect… but alas, love is not enough. You gotta have the money.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
I think it’s a beautiful car but always felt it resembles a early Jaguar xke
And how is that a bad thing? Any resemblance is very superficial.
Lovely looking Datto. My late brother and sister-in-law had a Datsun 240zed. It wasn’t as nice as this car, but it was nice and reliable.
Yes, I’ll buy a nod to Italian GT styling, or “poor man’s E-type”, but “Mustang in miniature,” or “pony car”? Sorry, I just don’t see it.
Ah, the good ole days……
When I was a wee bit of a mechanic in training, my mentor had me bring a 240Z just like this one into the garage for a little lesson in tune ups. After setting the dual point distributor and changing out all the plugs and wires, he set a cup of coffee on top of the valve cover while it was idling and said to adjust the air needles until the ripples cleared up.
That little rice burner purred like a kitten and ran like it’s tail was on fire.
Sold for $20,000 with quite spirited bidding in the last 30 seconds. Probably as good an indicator as any of which way prices are heading for clean, original, 240Zs.