Datsun Z

Datsun
Nissan 240Z
240/260 / 280Z Datsun Fairlady
Production period:	1969-1988
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Combi coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.0-2.8 liters (93-118 kW)
Length:	4115-4714 mm
Width:	1630-1651 mm
Height:	1285-1306 mm
Wheelbase :	2305-2606 mm
Empty weight :	995-1325 kg
Previous model	Datsun Sports / Fairlady
successor	Datsun 280ZX

The Datsun 240Z / 260Z / 280Z is a sports car built by the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan from autumn 1969 to summer 1978 .

The vehicles manufactured by Nissan were sold under the Datsun brand - mainly for export. From the beginning of the 1980s, all cars produced were also delivered under the Nissan brand. In the meantime, the Datsun brand has been reanimated for export in order to sell small cars in India and Russia, among others.

The Z series replaced the Datsun Fairlady and was in turn replaced by the Datsun 280ZX . On the Japanese home market it was called Fairlady, which it had taken over from its predecessor .

The Z was a huge commercial success for Datsun, with nearly 500,000 Z and ZX units sold in nine years. The vehicle was manufactured by Nissan Shatai .

Datsun 240Z

Rear view

Datsun 240Z in motorsport

At the Tokyo Motor Show in late 1969, Nissan presented a new, closed sports car as the successor to the Datsun Fairlady, which was marketed again in Japan as the Fairlady and exported as the Datsun 240Z.

The two-seater station wagon with a self-supporting sheet steel body was exported with a 2.4-liter in-line six-cylinder (type L24) with a light alloy cylinder head and two Hitachi HJB equal-pressure carburetors . There was a choice of manual transmissions with four or five gears and a three-speed automatic. All the wheels were individually suspended from suspension struts and wishbones: a MacPherson at the front and a Chapman axle at the rear.

The 2.4-liter was not available in Japan (luxury tax was due above 2.0 liters), the Fairlady there had a two-liter in-line six-cylinder (type S20) with double camshaft cylinder head and 3 double carburetors from the Mikuni brand. On the home market, the Fairlady Z was offered with a shorter front section corresponding to the export model, next to the Fairlady ZG with a nearly 20 cm longer snout, with Plexiglas covers in front of the headlights and a cooling air opening in the bumper. In addition, there was the Fairlady Z432, a motorsport evolution model with its very own 24V two-liter six-cylinder engine (type S20), which was designed to be much shorter-stroke and therefore more easy-turning than the series machine (bore × stroke: 82 × 62.8 instead of 78 × 69, 7 mm). The production engine, like that of the 240Z, was equipped with two SU carburetors, the Z432 engine with three Mikuni double carburetors. The Z432R was based on the Z432, a lightweight version with Plexiglas panes and other measures to reduce weight.

A total of 156,073 vehicles of this type were built. The Datsun 240Z was introduced in Germany at the end of 1973 at a price of DM 17,600 and sold 303 times.

In 1996, Nissan began in the USA in the course of a "Vintage Z" marketing campaign to buy up used 240Zs and subject them to extensive restoration. These were then sold at ten different Nissan dealerships for $ 25,000 with a new vehicle warranty. Of the planned 200 copies, only 37 were completed and delivered in 1997 because the restoration took more time than expected.

Datsun 260Z

Datsun 260Z 2 + 2 (Australia)

At the Tokyo Motor Show 1973 Datsun first showed the new export model with a larger 2.6-liter six-cylinder (type L26), the 260Z, which went on sale in 1974. In addition to the previous two-seater, a 2 + 2-seater with a 30 cm longer wheelbase was added to the range in spring 1974. In 1975 the 260Z and 260Z 2 + 2 Deluxe were available.

The increase in displacement was due to the stricter emissions regulations in the main Z market, the USA, where around 148,000 copies of the 240Z had been sold; Despite the enlargement, the six-cylinder engine produced barely more horsepower there than before, as it also received a lower compression ratio and a catalytic converter in California.

In Japan the Datsun Fairlady stayed with the two-liter engine; the Z432 no longer existed.

The 260 Z 2 + 2 was introduced in Germany in the early summer of 1975, initially costing DM 23,950 and remaining in the range until June 1979; the two-seater was available here from 1975, as well as in other European markets, such as Switzerland. At the end of 1977, numerous minor changes were made to the color selection, interior, gearbox and engine, the output of which was increased by 3 kW (4 PS) (modified camshaft) and the top speed dropped from 205 to 194 km / h.

In the USA, almost 80,000 units of the 260Z and 260Z 2 + 2 were sold in just under two years (1974/1975). However, only 1,638 copies of the 260Z 2 + 2 made it to Europe.

In 2006 there were around 50 roadworthy and roadworthy (condition 3 or better) 260Z in Germany.

Datsun 280Z

Datsun 280Z (1978)

In the summer of 1975, the 260Z was replaced exclusively in North America by the 280Z (not to be confused with its successor, the Datsun 280ZX ) with a further enlarged 2.8-liter in-line six-cylinder (type L28E). At the same time, the engine was switched from carburettors to injection. The injection corresponded to the principle of the L-Jetronic from Bosch . The cars delivered in California already had an unregulated catalytic converter .

A pure two-seater and the 2 + 2-seat variant were still in the program. By the end of the 1978 model year, more than 150,000 units of the 280Z had been sold in the USA.

In June 1976 the Japanese Fairlady, still with a two-liter engine, also received an injection (engine type L20E). As part of an advertising campaign , the Datsun 280 ZZZAP arcade machine appeared in November 1976 .

The 280Z was not offered in Europe. From autumn 1978 the 260Z and 280Z were replaced by the successor Datsun 280ZX in all markets .

The American company McBurnie used the 280Z in 1986 as the basis for a replica of the Ferrari 250 GTO .

Web links

Commons : Datsun 240Z  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

Commons : Datsun 260Z  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Commons : Datsun 280Z  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

swell

• Automobil Revue , catalog number 1973 (technical data and prices)
• Mike Covello: Standard Catalog of Imported Cars 1946-2002 . Krause Publications, Iola (USA) 2002, ISBN 0-87341-605-8 , pp. 213-217 (technical data and prices)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ April 1997: When Nissan started selling new 240Zs again on Japanesenostalgiccar.com
2. ↑ Articles on Pierrezcar.com
3. ^ Mike Covello: Standard Catalog of Imported Cars 1946-2002 . Krause Publications, Iola (USA) 2002, ISBN 0-87341-605-8 , pp. 213-217
4. ↑ Jason Torchinsky: Datsun Was The First Car Maker To Officially Brand A Video Game. In: Jalopnik. Retrieved February 5, 2016 (American English). 
5. ↑ Datsun 260 Z 2 + 2 historical webpage (1977)