20k: Perfect 10: 1970 Datsun 240Z
You won’t see many restored high priced cars on these pages, but today I’m going to make an exception, because this next one looks really nice. Furthermore, the 240Z hasn’t gone through recent massive price inflation like certain German cars (i.e Porsche 911, E30 M3..etc), so if you are going to get one before the boom, might as well get a nice one. Find this 1970 Datsun 240Z here on eBay
currently bidding for $20,100 with 1 day to go, located in Boise, ID.
The first generation Nissan Z car was sold in the USA under the Datsun
marque, using the 240Z nameplate. It was unlike anything seen from a Japanese
manufacturer before in the US market and made quite a splash when
introduced. Prices were low for years and many Z when under the redneck surgeon’s knife, so it is nice to see one this clean and sorted.
The 240Z is powered by the L24, a 2.4 liter cast-iron SOHC inline-6
putting out a respectable 151 horsepower and 146 ft-lbs of torque. The
result was sprightly performance for 1970, 0-60mph in less than 8
seconds, but more importantly the Z had excellent weight distribution
and an athletic demeanor.
This thing looks really nicely presented, but it is hard to tell how much is original and how much is restored. In the end it doesn’t really matter, but this is a professional reseller and it would be best to find the builder/original owner.
See a nicer 240Z? Send it here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Back in the day, everyone had to have one of these things. It's still a classic shape, though structurally they're nothing special. Kinda like the Porsche 944 in that what seemed like a real HP number at the time is now just enough to keep Grandma's Corolla in sight.
The 240Z did to the lower end UK brands like MG, Triumph, what the Honda 750 and Kawasaki Z1 did to the Triumph Bonneville and Norton Commando. Just like with the bikes, the 240Z whipped all comers in every category, but their success was based on their one feature that the others lacked; certainty. When you walked out to your garage, you were certain it would start and do everything that it did the last time you drove it, thereby joining the positive driving experience with reliability. Jeez… you know what that made it don't you? You betcha, a Daily Turismo!!
Nothing is less impressive than a guy in nice business attire, staring at the unopened hood of an Austin Healey 3000 as coolant steam wafts out of every available gap between panels and latches. The guy driving the first 240Z's were the first to pull over and offer the guy a ride to his office.
While driving to lunch on day, a friend of mine with male pattern baldness remarked, "Nothing looks sillier than a bald headed guy walking down the street on a winter day without a hat", to which one of my back seat passengers with a full head of hair remarked, "well, actually, nothing is sillier looking than watching a bald headed guy… chasing his hat down the street on a cold winter day!". Should I have mentioned that he wore one of those tweed British driving caps?