From the Classifieds: 1971 Datsun 240Z
Beautifully restored orange Datto has a couple of tasty enhancements hiding awayThe Datsun and Nissan Z lineage is one of the most famous and iconic sports car legacies going around, and it could even be argued the early models set the tone for affordable sports cars going forward.
Known by a number of different names around the world, the original Z was the Datsun 240Z and it should come as no great surprise these are perhaps the most sought-after models by collectors and enthusiasts.
Go down to any local rally sprint and chances are you’ll see at least a couple of tickled-up 240Zs or later 260Z models roaring around the parkours, putting the younger models to shame – they were incredible machines in their day and still make for a joyous and engaging drive if looked after.
Being so iconic and desirable usually means a high asking price for well-looked-after examples, just like this fully-restored, Australian-delivered 1971 example currently listed on carsales for a cool $119,500.
Admittedly, this particular car has been treated to a few upgrades as part of its restoration, including a bigger-capacity L28 engine pinched out of a 280Z.
The early Z cars’ nameplates were directly reflective of the engine hiding under the bonnet in most major export markets – the 240Z was a 2.4, the 260Z a 2.6, 280Z/ZX a 2.8 and 300ZX a 3.0-litre.
That trend continued up until the 370Z and its 3.7-litre V6 were put out to pasture just a couple of years ago.
The seller says the new engine is good for about 127kW of power, which mightn’t sound a lot compared to modern sports cars, but it’s a nice improvement over the standard 113kW 2.4-litre mill and plenty when you consider the car weighs little more than a tonne.
Harnessing the bigger engine’s extra power and torque is modern five-speed manual transmission (instead of the OG four-speed), an all-new suspension set-up, fuel tank, wiring assembly and sexy 16-inch Panasport Racing alloy wheels wrapped in Falken Ziex tyres.
The beautifully restored body has been professionally resprayed and pairs with a fastidiously reupholstered black leather interior to create one of the cleanest Z cars on the market, and according to the seller, there’s a truckload of spares and original parts.
“Car comes with original motor and many original parts from the restoration including steering wheel,” the ad reads.
“This car has been in storage for the last four years and only driven a few times a year.
“The rebuild/restoration has taken many years and been done with no expense spared.”
Click here to view the full listing while it lasts!
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