The Nissan Fairlady Z hit the streets in Japan in 1969 as an alternative to the European sports cars, which had become popular. A year later, it came to the U.S. as the Datsun 240Z since Nissan cars weren’t branded as such in America until the 1980s. With its 2.4-liter inline-6, it sold quite well and eventually morphed into the 260Z and 280Z models. Located in Spring, Texas, this barn/garage find isn’t running, but the body is far from being written off. It’s available here on eBay where the opening bid of $3,500 has yet to be cast.
It’s no wonder the 240Z helped Nissan eventually get a strong hold on the U.S. imported car market. The little cars were attractive, fast, and fun to drive. And, because they were Japanese, the 2,400-cc engines were dependable and modifiable. Output was around 150 hp stock, and the cars were light and nimble, thus popular in rallies. Hitting 125 mph wasn’t out of the question. Most of them, including the seller’s car, were equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission, but the 3-speed automatic was optional for those less adventurous.
Given the assortment of photos, it’s likely the seller found this ’72 240Z tucked away in a garage or barn. The amount of dirt and dust suggests it had been there for a long, long time, parked at 75,000 miles. We’re told the car is original and unmolested, probably just forgotten due to a mechanical issue oh so long ago.
Of course, it does not run, but it seems complete. The body is okay in most places, with the repairable areas identified as a few. The interior may be mostly okay, though it’s full of stuff and hard to sort out. At a minimum, it should make a great parts car if you’re already working on a nicer one. There is no title, likely misplaced decades ago. Would you attempt to bring this once-cool ride back to life?
Texas if correct area helps on the body rust being minimum. I am curious to which drive line needs rebuilding beside fuel and brakes systems. Those carbs could be troublesome in getting tuned up as well as mileage can cause the clutch could to go out. The engines unless dogged daily should start up if pulling the plugs and putting oil down the cylinders and let it set to protect those rings from breaking.
Definitely a nice chocolate 240 Z car on my bucket lists to own and add to the current collection. The current herd is 1963 SW C2, 1954 3100 Chevrolet pickup, 1968 California special J-Code 302.
I have bookmarked to see how the market bears in these tight times.
I have one VERY much like this example, same color combo, 4-speed, but has been kept indoors and came from Arizona, never driven or stored where it was salty.
They are a handsome shape, worked well, sound good, and priced so favorably, there was a waiting list for them, … most folks waited to learn what colors were coming available, but accepting whatever came.
There has been, and likely always will be a question over the origin of its design, my brother Russ and I are credited for designing the Jamaican for Fiber Fab long ago, and it heavily resembles the Fairlady, yet our design was in 1968.
We have considered the Fairlady/240Z a family design, and is the reason I bought a rust-free version of one.
Wow, that’s the first I’ve heard the theory that the design of the 240Z was influenced by the Fiberfab Jamaican. Too bad Count von Goertz (and more importantly, Yoshihiko Matsuo) aren’t around to ask. Congrats on designing the Jamaican, but you do know that the Toyota 2000GT (which I think much more closely resembles the Z) was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965, and development clays for the Z featuring its distinctive window profile (particularly the C-II and A-V) go back to 1966, right?
Add to it all, is the Lambo Miura resemblance. If one digs deep enough, A Goertz claims he designed the Fairlady, and includes in his book, taking the spirit from the Jamaican.
The similar style seen in the Toy 2000 is recognised and acknowledged. Cooling a rear-engined air-cooled engine made sense to have and require scoops.
We still admire the lines and the style of and from Bertone.
That is very interesting. I had never heard of the Fairlady.
I have heard (don’t ask me to cite the source) that the 240Z was largely designed from some fella that worked for Shelby American who was instrumental in the design of the Shelby Daytona who then got sniped by Datsun to work for them and this was his handy work.
We at Fiberfab had just finished the ‘Banshee’ (nee Caribee) and Carol Shelby visited , liking the design and shape, asking if F-Fab could build their Daytona Coupe of fiberglass for him, offering one to make a mold.
Obviously it didn’t happen …
I curse the day I sold my 78 Z. Moving out of State, couldn’t take everything… In retrospect I wish I sold the 67 Caddy convertible and kept the Z. Sold it for 500 bucks in 92. Body looks pretty tight on this one. Car was actually pretty good in city snow with snow tires.
I’m with you. Sold my modified 72 track car and have regretted it ever since. Just a wonderful Datsun model.
I was a vehicle safety inspector for 20 years in Virginia. I never passed a 240Z. The frame rot on these cars was terrible. And the 260’s were no better.
Even the 280 had similar rampant rust damage, the area inside and rear of the front wheel arch would structually de-compose, making the vehicle very sensitive to raise with a sizzors, floor jack or a lift using the body to lift, not the wheels.
Auction ended on 1/21/2026 with no bids.
Steve R