Page 145 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

THE BACKSTORY
Datsun, which is how Nissan marketed itself in the US until 1981, had only a marginally successful sports car presence in North America through the 1960s with the Datsun Sports 1500, 1600 and 2000 roadsters, modeled after the MGB. But with a maturing global export market and concerns that convertibles could face increasingly stringent US legislation, Nissan embarked on an ambitious program to develop a low-cost sports coupe that could compete with the best that Europe had to offer.
Various origin stories exist on the styling of the new coupe, but Nissan’s first exploratory step began with a joint project between Nissan and Yamaha, the latter looking, literally, for a vehicle to market a 2.0-liter DOHC four it had developed. Albrecht Goertz, better known for his work on BMW 507 roadster and 503 coupe, consulted on the design of the Yamaha concept, but the collaboration with Nissan ultimately went nowhere and was later picked up by Toyota, evolving into the 2000 GT.
Datsun 240/260/280Z/280ZX
In the meantime, Nissan redirected its efforts to the development of its own coupe, which was launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in November 1969 as the Fairlady Z and marketed overseas as the 240Z. What resulted was a sharply shaped GT powered by a 2393 cc, 150-horsepower SOHC six created by adding two cylinders to the proven 510 unit and breathing through twin Hitachi-SU carburetors. It weighed only 2,238 pounds and was as fast as a 3.8-liter E-Type: 0-60 mph came up in 8.7 seconds, the quarter mile in 17.1 seconds at 84.5 mph and top speed was 122 mph. Front disc brakes were fitted, steering was by rack-and-pinion and four- wheel independent suspension was composed of coil springs and McPherson struts up front with Lotus-style Chapman struts in the rear. All this could be had for the then-shocking price of $3,526. Demand was such that it wasn’t uncommon for dealers to request advance deposits while customers waited months for delivery.
The 240Z launched with a four-speed transmission and wouldn’t get upgraded to a five-speed in the US until 1977. However, options like a three-speed automatic transmission and efficient air- conditioning were available almost from the start. The seats were comfortable and big enough for Americans and Europeans, while the decision to make the 240Z a two-seat hatchback provided 8.5
TOP LEFT: Nissan first ventured into the sports car market with its Datsun Sports roadsters, which it marketed in various forms until early 1970. By the late 1960s, it was clear that a clean-sheet design was required for the next generation. TOP RIGHT: The 240Z was launched less than a decade after the E-Type and offered tremendous sports car value for about $3,500. ABOVE: Artist Shin Yoshikawa’s detailed cutaway of the 240Z reveals the ingredients that gave the “Z’ broad appeal: a straight-six overhead-cam engine and independent rear suspension, all wrapped within a gorgeous fastback silhouette.
Wayne Carini  Affordable Classics  143