The Datsun 240Z came in initially as a two-seater sports coupe weighing around 2,400 pounds.
It featured a long hood, short deck, an overhead-cam six, independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, a four-speed transmission, and full gauge real sports car credentials. The 2.4-liter SOHC six was an upsized relative of Datsun’s robust 2.0-liter I-4.
Both are composed of an iron block with an aluminum OHC head as induction came from dual side-draft Hitachi carbs.
A five-speed and an optional three-speed automatic transmission was sold to other parts of the world while the four-speed manual transmission alone was offered in the U.S.
The 240Z 150 horsepower that doesn’t sound like much these days was a big deal in the 70s for a close-couple sport coupe. It was the Japanese most reliable, affordable and Performance car. Let take a closer look at this Japanese beauty.
The Exterior Design
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The Datsun 240z Japanese beauty is a marvel to behold with strong and dynamic body lines. It features a long hood, short tail, 14in front and rear wheels, recessed headlights that look a lot like eyes as they feature a multifaceted design, framed by a metallic accent that provides a premium and stylish look, slim chrome bumpers and the color lies slightly further down the spectrum. Its suspensions were made of MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar and Chapman struts.
The solidly front discs and rear drums made the braking system excellent. This Datsun 240Z’s amazing body shape is undeniably outstanding and did turn many heads just like the Ferrari and Lamborghinis of today. The 240Z has the perfect mixture of strong and aggressive lines while the curves are seductive enough to still make a fashion statement without going overboard. it uses specific styling cues to attract the right kind of attention.
The Interior
The interior of the Datsun 240Z is a good place to be as it’s clean, simple and more than you’d expect from a budget car. There has been The 240Z has quite a few impressive design features as a lot of emphasis on the small details that can make a big difference to the driving experience comes into play.
Looking at the elegant dashboard and the subtle accents to the gear lever that is perfectly distanced from the steering wheel for effortless traffic driving. Everything reflects the simple but lively nature that personifies the 240Z budget car. The 240z has ample headroom with sizable luggage space. Its front seats are adjustable for both driver and passenger to provide total comfort throughout the cruising period with this Japanese beauty in the city or on the open road.
Engine And Performance
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The 240Z comes with an In-line six, 2393cc accompanied by a five-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. It produces 150bhp at 6000 rpm with a torque of 148lb-ft at 4400rpm. The car accelerates from 0-60mph in 8.0sec with a top speed of 125mph.
The fuel crisis of the ’70s did not really affect Datsun as it did affect the sales of other sports cars as it was compensated for power-sapping emissions equipment by enlarging the L24, first to 2.6 liters for the 260Z in 1974, and then to 2.8 liters for the 280Z’s L28. Wisely Nissan left the styling well alone, only changing it significantly in 1979 with the 280ZX. The Z-car lineage continued with two generations of 300ZX, in 1984 and 1990, and two generations of modern Z in 2003’s 350Z and 2009’s 370Z.
Safety
Speaking of safety, the Datsun 240Z features dual airbags which provide additional protection in the event of a front-end accident. The driver and passenger airbags along with the seat belts will help minimize the impact on the vehicle occupants during a collision.
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