Showing just over 12,700 miles on the odometer, this highly original, unrestored 1971 Datsun 240Z wears its original Silver Metallic paint and black interior well. Purchased new out of Ontario, Canada, the Z remained with the original owner until 2016, parked and stored from 1975 to 2015. With the mechanicals refreshed in 2015, the car has covered about 500 miles since 2016. The 2.4L/151 HP L24 inline 6-cylinder engine generates 146 lb-ft of torque and is fed by twin SU carburetors and backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The chassis is fitted with front disc brakes and rolls on 195/70 Michelin Defender tires. The interior features bucket seats, a center console, a pushbutton AM radio, a locking glovebox, a wood-rimmed steering wheel and shift knob, and instrumentation including aftermarket temperature and volt gauges handsomely set forward of the shifter. The body is adorned with chrome and polished appointments, including the bumpers, bumper guards, window moldings, light bezels, door handles, single side-view mirror, retractable antenna and single-exit exhaust tip. Arguably, the 240Z put Datsun on the map. Nissan, the parent company of Datsun, had a reputation in the Japanese Domestic Market as a sporting brand, thanks to the Skyline and Roadster. While the Roadster was marketed in the U.S., it simply didn’t gain the traction of the more established and familiar European brands. Yutaka Katayama, or “Mr. K,” the first president of Nissan Motor Corporation USA, determined Datsun was only having some success because its cars were very inexpensive. Enthusiasm for the brand was virtually nonexistent. With great interest in advancing both Nissan and Japan’s position as a leading global car maker, the company would have to build something spectacular, a car that commanded attention and respect while delivering outstanding performance and reliability at an affordable price. Nissan agreed and in 1965 called on its Sportscar Styling Studio within the Design and Development Department to begin creating concepts. Largely building off the original Roadster, various concepts were created, with a fastback roof being added in late 1966. By 1968 the final working prototype had been built. Nissan began building what was known internally as Project Z in late 1969 and was marketed in Japan as the Fairlady Z and in the rest of the world as the 240Z.
