Ninety percent original paint. Kilimanjaro White color. The classic lines now being reinterpreted on a new car once more called the Z and shown at the LA Auto Show this year. That’s what you get for a current bid of just north of $16K here on ebay. But relax; you’ve got time. The auction lasts until next Thursday. You’ll have to pump up the numbers, though, as the reserve has not been met. Should you push this 1970 Datsun 240Z over the line, you’ll be responsible to collect it from Glendale, CA, which is a stone’s throw north of LA.
In the mid- to late-1960s, your choice of car outside of the many varieties of US-built rides came down to something like (and admittedly this is a non-scientific list) a Mercedes sedan, an import (all the way from Citroen, for instance, or a VW) or a sports car. The latter was the catch-all name of British and Italian runabouts with charm and pep, but often questionable reliability. Where were the Japanese-made vehicles in all of this? Look up “Datsun 1600” and you’ll find out. But then one day—kaboom—Datsun landed the 240Z, and the world changed as much as it would do again in 1989 when the Miata came out. The original Z, the 240, launched in the US in 1970, lasted for a few model years and was succeeded by the 260Z and 280Z variants. Immediately upon US launch, the car was destined to change sports car ownership forever.
Reminiscent of a Jaguar but with definite ponycar styling blended in, the Datsun (now Nissan) Z-car promised performance from its 2.4-liter engine, and this particular unit is all-original in its mechanicals with 90,000 miles having rolled past. To try and establish a value, compare this to a car Barn Finds had a couple of weeks ago. That one became an ebay relist at $22,950. It was an original paint car in the iconic and attractive orange. It seems like the white car is going to command more than this. What does it need? Sounds like nothing. The meticulous description even gets to tiny components like the cigarette lighter and radio antenna, both of which are in perfect operating condition. (Kids, get some instruction in how those lighters work before you hurt yourselves.)
If this is your kind of car, this seems like an opportunity staring you in the face. The mileage shouldn’t be an issue. The bits and pieces are sorted. Even better, they don’t need sorting because they’ve been cared for. Are you up for reliving those early 1970s days when the muscle car was waning and a new breed of sporty ride was emerging? Check the links the seller provides for more photos, like some engine shots, and bid away!
The pure good looks of his car will tell you why I ordered one right after seeing one at a dealers. What it morphed into was sad, but what it originally was can’t be beat.
I don’t think the interior is anywhere near factory….
If you’re talking about interior color, blue or red were quite common for a few years on Datsuns with white exteriors.
My understanding is that the blue interior is uncommon on the Series 1 cars, but it definitely was a thing. I believe that the red interior was only offered on the 240Z in ’72-73. It is quite striking with a white or silver exterior.
Really blue interior looks like something George would drive . Other than that nice ride
We have a black 64 VW Bug, black with the same shade of blue interior in our area, it is stunning.
Black and blue is cool but this Z needs a lite brown leather
A friend had one in 72. We would race at night through the old navy blimp base in Miami. It’s the zoo. Narrow ,twisty , tree lined roads snaked through the place. That car was brilliant. They kept the engine for the 200sx that came later That car I owned. The z,s ugly cousin that was also brilliant
The 200SX and later 240SX were 4 cylinder.
In high school, I was good friends with a kid who had one of these. His family was extremely wealthy. They were from Jordan and owned a restaurant chain. One day he bumped into something and put a small dent in the front fender. He was so upset that we drove straight to his house. They lived in a huge mansion. He told his mother what had happened and she said, “Don’t worry, just go to a dealer and get a new car”.. He shouted, “I don’t want a new car, I want mine fixed”.. That’s how good these cars were. 16yr old kid turned down his choice of new cars! His was silver with a black interior. We had a lot of fun in that car.
This specific car, in this condition, is verifiable documented rocking horse faeces. It is real. Stunning originality. I have NEVER seen an original 240 dash that is NOT cracked.
“rocking horse faeces”. I had to look that up. Loosely defined as Something exceedingly rare or, more likely, nonexistent.
The author of this story should get the name of the car right. It wasn’t called the 240Z in 1970 it was called the Fairlady Z
Fairlady Z outside of US. I bought a new Datsun 240Z in 1970.
Always called a 240Z in the US and Canada.
nope , I remember the advertising and was at the dealer looking. ( Bob Glinski Datsun Volvo, Las Vegas Nv)
Interior looks to be a twin to the interior on my blue-on-blue 1970 z-car that I bought new.
We had a wonderful 240z when new, after many months of waiting for delivery. Sadly, living in southern NY state and driving to VT to ski, soon created rust which ate the rear quarter panels, and had to be replaced This of course, also required a full repaint (to the sharp original (slightly greenish) yellow with black interior). An honest non-skiing CA car sounds possibly good.
A true classic and can be loads of historic fun.
Shocking blue – perhaps a darker blue inside with everything(dash, steering column, carpet) also blue would be better, tho more of an american car trend back then, i guess.
The two 1970 240Z’s I owned were both excellent cars. Two idiosyncrasies: universal joints should have been designed with grease fittings and were not. Replacing U joints was part of the deal. The carbs both needed oil added to then periodically—-again part of the deal.
I had to replace the rear axle u-joints, too. The carburetors , being Asian copies of SU’s weren’t a mystery. Keeping the dashpots filled was no surprise.
I found Nissan did themselves well with the car, these had all the build quality of a 510 for twice the price. Still loved it.
amazing condition. incredible actually.
I bought a new green 72 and put on a black 240Z side stripe with black front spoiler. Got a lot of looks and thumbs up. Loved the car. Had it 10 years. Of course gave up replacing broken choke handle and side seat bolster was worn open as was typical for these. It was stolen. I think I paid around $4400 and with 60000 miles insurance gave me $3200. I had just listed it for sale at $220 and would have taken $1900 so I made out lol