[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2015 issue of Grassroots Motorsports. Some information may have changed. Prices have been left as they originally appeared in print.]
The Datsun 240Z exploded onto the sports car scene for 1970 and immediately put the European standards on notice: Change was on the horizon. Suddenly the old guard–cars like the MGB, Triumph …
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Everyone really needs to experience an early Z, especially after driving the day’s sports car status quo. The Z just felt so modern and composed. Great exhaust note, too.
It's good to know that, at least according to Hagerty, you should still be able to find a somewhat-decent example for under $10K.
Top prices went a little crazy, but glad to see the others stay pretty flat.
By the way, back in the day, we watched so many of these get destroyed at SCCA races. Seemed like we’d never run out.
David S. Wallens said:
By the way, back in the day, we watched so many of these get destroyed at SCCA races. Seemed like we’d never run out.
That and the 510, right? I've been led to believe they were often treated as disposable.
Colin Wood said:
David S. Wallens said:
By the way, back in the day, we watched so many of these get destroyed at SCCA races. Seemed like we’d never run out.
That and the 510, right? I've been led to believe they were often treated as disposable.
They were disposable (especially the 510) in Ontario and Quebec Canada, given their attraction to rust. I drove several 510s as $200 winter wrecks... and kept a 240z as the summer car. The floor and frame rails of the '72 240z rusted out in '79 because the original owner had driven it for several winters and my winter storage wasn't 100% dry. Luckily, aftermarket replacement panels were and are still available for both cars.
Gordon
Colin Wood said:
David S. Wallens said:
By the way, back in the day, we watched so many of these get destroyed at SCCA races. Seemed like we’d never run out.
That and the 510, right? I've been led to believe they were often treated as disposable.
Way back in the day, someone gave us a very decent 510. We did a project car series on it. Tim had to weld in part of a rocker. That was all the required metal work.
Yeah, what a great experience they are.
Just kidding! This was yesterday's ride at lunchtime.
As far as "modern world," I'll have to say that I fit a lot better in the Z4 Coupe I had.
Tried my friends 280Z on for size when we lined them up side by side, and I had to lean a fair bit inboard to keep my head and shoulders from bouncing off the door and window.
Otherwise, cars of equivalent size, if not weight. The 70s bumpers on the 280 actually made it longer than the Z4, even if the wheelbase was shorter.
Karacticus said:
The 70s bumpers on the 280 actually made it longer than the Z4, even if the wheelbase was shorter.
That's an interesting factoid. I would have assumed the Z4 was just bigger/wider/longer all around.
Fred930
New Reader
10/9/25 2:05 p.m.
I had a 1973 240Z in the brown / copper color with aftermarket Appliance wheels. Beautiful and quite rare in the mid-west. It was my first new car - very fond memories!! Drove it year-round. But it sure did rust quickly with our winter salt. Sold it six years later for a brand new 1979 RX-7 (first year with a long wait list).
1973 saw introduction of some emission related problems (including the Hitachi carburetors), which resulted in fuel / vapor lock on hot days, and/or when making right turns. Dealer fixes were ineffective, consisting of little more than fuel line insulation. Backdating the carbs and intake manifolds was a suggested fix, but quite expensive relative to the car's value at that time. If I had the room, would consider buying a nice example today.
DavyZ
Reader
10/9/25 2:42 p.m.
The 240Z is still my favorite all around car of all time. I used to lament that they were not given the attention that I believed they deserved in the past, but then prices started to escalate and then I lamented that they were getting too expensive to buy 
. I have one good, rust-free example and am happy about that.
Karacticus said:
I like the Z4 a lot. But that photo really shows the excellent long-hood/short deck styling of the Datsun.
DavyZ said:
The 240Z is still my favorite all around car of all time. I used to lament that they were not given the attention that I believed they deserved in the past, but then prices started to escalate and then I lamented that they were getting too expensive to buy . I have one good, rust-free example and am happy about that.
Ah, so it's your fault we can't afford a 240Z? 
I'm glad you were at least able to get your hands on a decent example.
Back in early 90s I built a good Z with a 75 L28E long block (best FI cylinder head), big flywheel & clutch from 280Z 2+2, 5speed, R200 diff, 15" (15s!?) alloys from a late 280ZX-T. Living in OH, it was only few more winters until the floor & frame rail fell off. Was fun while it lasted.
With EFI, 5speed, air conditioning and the hatchback, it was a very practical and useful 2 seat daily driver.
there is a Chinese company making a complete 240Z body,
This is the same company that is making Bronco, bodies , and a bunch more
DWNSHFT said:
Karacticus said:
I like the Z4 a lot. But that photo really shows the excellent long-hood/short deck styling of the Datsun.
Since I've got the picture from the other side--
In reply to Karacticus :
Think about how exotic the Z must have looked that first day. You had Jaguar and Ferrari, but not a ton of mass-market cars that had those lines.
The kicker, of course, is that the Z still looks so good.
David S. Wallens said:
The kicker, of course, is that the Z still looks so good.
I went to the July Vintage races at Road America in 2023 and said those exact words to myself.
"Man, those Z's still look good and sound great"
Two months later I put a deposit down on a project Z then dragged it home.
(pic for a good looking RA Z)
I owned a total of 4 240Z's in the late 70's and early 80's. It was such an easy car to work on, I had a small business rebuilding Z engines out of my parent's garage. My friends had 240's too, and we autocrossed and road tripped them. Many happy memories in those cars. A common mod was to run the 240 head on the 280 block, which also upped compression significantly. There was a fine art to tuning the SU-type carbs for mixture and air flow (using the Uni-Syn gauge), but once set the car purred like a kitten. My friend had a mint 911T and the 240 would run neck and neck with it.
Copper is the best color, but I'm biased. 
What was the over-under dual exhaust? Was that aftermarket? A fellow in college had that and it was a winner in both looks and sound.
