The S30 Nissan/Datsun 240Z (known in Japan as the Fairlady Z and later in other markets as the 260Z and 280Z) are sports cars from Nissan of the 1970s. The 240Z was introduced in 1969 with a 2.4 L straight-6 L-series engine, rear wheel drive, and a stylish coupe body. The engine, based on the Nissan 510′s I4, produced 150 hp (112 kW) and only came with a 4-speed manual transmission. A 4 wheel independent suspension consisted of MacPherson struts in front (borrowed from the Nissan 1800) and Chapman struts in back. Front disc brakes & rear drums were standard.
Datsun 240Z
The 240Z and 260Z used a carburetor. Fuel injection (L-Jetronic electronic fuel injection, designed by Bosch) was added for the 280Z. This was
Datsun 240Z Engine
primarily in order to cope with the difficulty faced in getting enough power using carburetors while still meeting emissions regulations. The early 240Zs, prior to smog controls, had significantly more power than the post 1973 models. Those levels of power would not be achieved again until the 300ZX was introduced.
The 240Z was the first sports car from Japan to be widely popular in the US and the first major success for the Nissan Motor Corporation, which at the time sold cars in North America under the name Datsun. The 240Z also broadened the image of Japanese car-markers beyond their econobox success.
In 2004, Sports Car International named this car number two on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s.
Tags: japanese car