Z history....
Z history....
After reading some info on the Z, I decided to share to all who's ever interested. Some points might not be in the exact order. I'm just trying to make it short & informative.... 
Datsun was one of the first companies to sell cars in Japan. First cars were called DAT in 1925...the initials of the 3 owners, Kenjiro Den, Rokurd Aoyama & Metaro Takeuchi. In 1931 DAT became part of the Tobato Imono Co. to produce Datson. Name changed again in 1932 or 1933 to Datsun...."son" in Japanese means "loss" or unfavorable occurence so the name change after the typhoon flooded the new DAT plant, alternatively it may have reference to the "sun" which appears on Japan's National flag. More financial re-organization brought by the depression resulted in another name change for the firm to the Jibosha Seizo Co. In 1934 it was again changed to the Nissan Motor Co. The title still bears today.
Nissan made cars until 1938 when production was switched to military vehicles until Japan's surrender in 1946. American occupation forces took over supervision of the former Nissan plants & production of Trucks was resumed. Automobile production resumed in 1947. By 1955 the Americans left.
In 1971 the 240Z achieved 0-60 mph in 80 seconds & top speed 125 mph. 280ZX 2+TT = first T=Targa Roof, 2 removable glass panels. Second T= Turbo, increased power to 180 bhp. 280ZX 0-60 in 6.8 seconds & top speed 126 mph also a new chasis/body unit which was unitary construction like the 240Z. In '83 equipped with digital instrumentation & 180 bhp.
In 1979 the first four cars in SCCA were Paul Newman, Jim Fitzgerald, Logan Blackburn & Bob Leitzinger. Newman used to drive a Triumph TR6 in 1976 but gave way to the 280ZX in Summit Point Raceway where he took pole position and won the race by 14 seconds with the new model. Newman also won the SCCA National Championships run offs in Atlanta thus giving Datsun it's tenth consecutive title. In '80 Paul Newman drove for Bob Sharp Racing (BSR) in the GTU category but was not successful...Maza RX7's engine developed 300 bhp in IMSA form whereas 280ZX could only manage 270 bhp. Powered by a Twin Turbo 4.2 litre V8 engine, the Bob Sharp Racing Team 280ZX "Big Turbo" was a fearsome 700 bhp that could top 200 mph but proved to be too fragile & heavy to compete with specialists sportscars during Paul Newman's 1981 IMSA GTO season.
The 240Z the '72 model the best in the USA..the '73 best in the UK.
260Z is not so desireable in US because of the carburation that is generally cheaper than the 240Z in the US. In the UK the 260Z tends to be cheaper than the 240Z.
The 280Z was never available in the UK...although some LHD were imported to the UK from the US. 280ZX is more complicated electrically. Z's & ZX's are known to run 250,000 miles before a re-build. There cars do not take kindly to in-activity & require regular exercise. A car with little use can have problems...in suspension rubber bushes becoming hard & cracking. The valve stem oil seals can suffer the same fate resulting in cyclinder head overhaul and replacement of seals.
Production & Sales Figures: US UK Sales & Figures
240Z 156,076 240Z 1,609
260Z 80,369 260Z two seater 899
280Z 230,128 260Z 2+2 1,746
280ZX 382,927 280ZX two seater &
2+2 3,904
Fairlady Z (2 litre) 75,216
Fairlady Z 432 419
Fairlady Z, ZT, ZL, (ZX} 31,701 Totalf 956,836
1st Generation Z '70-78 - 2nd Generation Z '79-83 - 3rd Generation Z '84-89 -
4th Generation Z '90-96 - 5th Generation Z '03 -
In '78 280Z...'80 10th Anniversary 280ZX...'90 300ZX....'03 350Z Track
In 1984-1989 Z31 = Not a good reputation
In 1990-1996 Z32 = Has Twin Turbo ZX
In 2003- Z33....'05 50th Anniversary
In Japan the Z31 came out in '83 and the Z32 came out in '89
300ZX = Twin Turbo & favorite - 300Z Least favorite
Z32 300Z tt = hard to maintain, parts are very expensive.
Best Year '94-'95.......Worst Year '90...least expensive car & had a aluminum calipers which sucked & mostly available...... people wanted steel calipers.
2005 Z....They lowered the torque & boosted the hp..Nissan took off torque for higher end power.
That's all I have to offer everyone and I'm not sure where this thread should be placed...also my CongratZ to nis350ztt on his Fairlady Z story.
Datsun was one of the first companies to sell cars in Japan. First cars were called DAT in 1925...the initials of the 3 owners, Kenjiro Den, Rokurd Aoyama & Metaro Takeuchi. In 1931 DAT became part of the Tobato Imono Co. to produce Datson. Name changed again in 1932 or 1933 to Datsun...."son" in Japanese means "loss" or unfavorable occurence so the name change after the typhoon flooded the new DAT plant, alternatively it may have reference to the "sun" which appears on Japan's National flag. More financial re-organization brought by the depression resulted in another name change for the firm to the Jibosha Seizo Co. In 1934 it was again changed to the Nissan Motor Co. The title still bears today.
Nissan made cars until 1938 when production was switched to military vehicles until Japan's surrender in 1946. American occupation forces took over supervision of the former Nissan plants & production of Trucks was resumed. Automobile production resumed in 1947. By 1955 the Americans left.
In 1971 the 240Z achieved 0-60 mph in 80 seconds & top speed 125 mph. 280ZX 2+TT = first T=Targa Roof, 2 removable glass panels. Second T= Turbo, increased power to 180 bhp. 280ZX 0-60 in 6.8 seconds & top speed 126 mph also a new chasis/body unit which was unitary construction like the 240Z. In '83 equipped with digital instrumentation & 180 bhp.
In 1979 the first four cars in SCCA were Paul Newman, Jim Fitzgerald, Logan Blackburn & Bob Leitzinger. Newman used to drive a Triumph TR6 in 1976 but gave way to the 280ZX in Summit Point Raceway where he took pole position and won the race by 14 seconds with the new model. Newman also won the SCCA National Championships run offs in Atlanta thus giving Datsun it's tenth consecutive title. In '80 Paul Newman drove for Bob Sharp Racing (BSR) in the GTU category but was not successful...Maza RX7's engine developed 300 bhp in IMSA form whereas 280ZX could only manage 270 bhp. Powered by a Twin Turbo 4.2 litre V8 engine, the Bob Sharp Racing Team 280ZX "Big Turbo" was a fearsome 700 bhp that could top 200 mph but proved to be too fragile & heavy to compete with specialists sportscars during Paul Newman's 1981 IMSA GTO season.
The 240Z the '72 model the best in the USA..the '73 best in the UK.
260Z is not so desireable in US because of the carburation that is generally cheaper than the 240Z in the US. In the UK the 260Z tends to be cheaper than the 240Z.
The 280Z was never available in the UK...although some LHD were imported to the UK from the US. 280ZX is more complicated electrically. Z's & ZX's are known to run 250,000 miles before a re-build. There cars do not take kindly to in-activity & require regular exercise. A car with little use can have problems...in suspension rubber bushes becoming hard & cracking. The valve stem oil seals can suffer the same fate resulting in cyclinder head overhaul and replacement of seals.
Production & Sales Figures: US UK Sales & Figures
240Z 156,076 240Z 1,609
260Z 80,369 260Z two seater 899
280Z 230,128 260Z 2+2 1,746
280ZX 382,927 280ZX two seater &
2+2 3,904
Fairlady Z (2 litre) 75,216
Fairlady Z 432 419
Fairlady Z, ZT, ZL, (ZX} 31,701 Totalf 956,836
1st Generation Z '70-78 - 2nd Generation Z '79-83 - 3rd Generation Z '84-89 -
4th Generation Z '90-96 - 5th Generation Z '03 -
In '78 280Z...'80 10th Anniversary 280ZX...'90 300ZX....'03 350Z Track
In 1984-1989 Z31 = Not a good reputation
In 1990-1996 Z32 = Has Twin Turbo ZX
In 2003- Z33....'05 50th Anniversary
In Japan the Z31 came out in '83 and the Z32 came out in '89
300ZX = Twin Turbo & favorite - 300Z Least favorite
Z32 300Z tt = hard to maintain, parts are very expensive.
Best Year '94-'95.......Worst Year '90...least expensive car & had a aluminum calipers which sucked & mostly available...... people wanted steel calipers.
2005 Z....They lowered the torque & boosted the hp..Nissan took off torque for higher end power.
That's all I have to offer everyone and I'm not sure where this thread should be placed...also my CongratZ to nis350ztt on his Fairlady Z story.
Last edited by sluggoZ; May 22, 2005 at 03:45 PM.
