50 years ago, three weeks from today, October 22, 2019, something happened that changed my life forever.

The Datsun (Nissan) Z car was introduced to the world!



Hahaha, no, this is not a post of life altering urgency. But it did give my life a trajectory, it gave me something to care about, love, and while I'll stop before I say "cherish" (because that would be really weird), it did afford me a lot of fun, and something to be honestly enthusiastic about. And that enthusiasm, while slow to start - hey, I was 11 when it was introduced - has remained with me for pretty much the Z-car's entire life.

So I say in advance of the big day: HAPPY BIRTHDAY Z-CAR!!

And while the present model is getting a little long in the tooth (kinda like this Z fan boy), I hope there will be new generations to come beyond the six that we've seen since October, 1969.

Homage pics that follow represent all six generations of Z - and yes, most of these were mine as I've owned at least one of every generation (in total, 14) but one; and I'm still looking for that missing one to complete my ownership status, laff.

2020 370Z 50th Anniversary Model



One of my six (or is it seven?) S30s. Had 240Zs, 280Zs but no 260Z. Also had an actual Fairlady (RHD, imported from Okinawa) at one time.

This is the last one I sold about a year ago. It's for sale again on EBay, largely unchanged from when I had it. Only asking more than I sold it for. Haha.


S130 280ZXR - Not mine but when I find one of these ugly but rare birds!

Not much special about this one, performance wise but for the graphics and the whale tail wing. This car was built to homologate the wing for racing. Only 1,009 units were built. The wing helped Nissan capture several championships because it actually worked at racing speeds. If you see one for sale, please let me know! (Other S130 I've considered are the 10 year Anniversary models - gold/black or red/black. A little pricey now compared to just 3-4 years ago though.)

My departed 1988 Z31 (300ZX Shiro Special)

Same engine as in other turbo Z31s but lighter curb weight, enhanced suspension (Konis were standard), Recaro seats, NO digital junk, special, exclusive pearl paint and a limited run of only 1,075 units produced made this car what it was..

My departed Z32 NA. Loaned to a "friend" who somehow managed to destroy the engine then never paid me for it. Psh. Friend? Retrospectively, not. Haha.



My forever 33. (The Track V.1 wheels found their way onto my Z31, above.)


My Nismo 33.

Most know the story of this one. 1,607 units produced world wide, functional aero body, welded seam construction by Autech, enhanced suspension and body flex reduction, etc.

My Nismo 33 and 34. (Both now living in SoCal)

Pretty much the same story with the Z34 Nismo, aero, suspension, tires/wheels, big tip exhaust, limited & numbered production, etc. But the key here was that it was the first "special Z" that actually came with (still does) more power/TQ than the rest of the Z lineup.

Obviously not mine.

I'm disappointed that the 50th Anniversary package is pretty much just graphics; and while it is in homage to the original BRE championship SCCA racers of 1971-72, they didn't even include the blue color nor has it been breathed on by Nismo/Autech. But oh well.

In tribute (BRE commissioned art work.)



So, on the 22nd of this month, a few of us have talked about a sunset tribute drive through the hills and down to the beach for a bonfire to celebrate. (Watch the NorCal section for announcement - if it happens.)

Oh, and I will be wearing the following all day that day, even if I have client meetings. No care. Let them think me a dork. Then I'll ask them "What have you been passionate enough about all your life that would cause you to wear theme wear?" Laff....








Enjoy The Ride!


Next: "Z's In Motorsports"

 

Thanks for sharing such an awesome personal experience with your great Z models Mic! Very interesting and impressive; made me drool!

 

Youre not alone Mic - I think there are many many people from each generation that would say their Z car has made a huge impression on them … myself included! In a few years, when I'm all old & grey, I'll look back and recall all the fond memories I've had with my z33 and s30 … and I'll remember all the great (and not so great) members of this forum, like yourself, DK, the travlees, the Jerry87s, the Albertos, the shariffs, and so on and it'll put a huge smile on my face!

 

Agreed. I'm only 29, and after having owned only 3 cars the Z has been my favorite.

I bought it when I was 20. My previous vehicle had been stolen and stripped. I was H***-bent on getting a Z. It was the first car that I had financed. It took convincing, but my grandmother agreed to co-sign the loan. I walked out with close to $600 a month between car payment and insurance, but a beautiful silver '05 with only 46k miles. When my ex and I had broke up after moving across state I found myself barely able to afford the car/insurance and the apartment. I worked double-shifts all the time, but I refused to lose the Z.

Fast forward 8 years. My grandma has recently passed, but I still have the car. Because of her name still being on the title and paperwork it stands as (probably) my biggest remnant of her. The Z sits in the garage with 120k on her, but still runs like the day I drove her off the lot. My wife gives me crap all the time because I may drive it once a week on my night off, but I doubt I will ever get rid of the car. Much like many older gentlemen have muscle cars from the '60s and '70s in their garage, the Z will most likely still be there decades from now. Every time I drive that car I smile like the day I drove it off the lot and I love that feeling. Some cars just have that effect.

The Z will always remain timeless. Like you said, "what have you been passionate about all your life?"

 

I don’t post much anymore but it’s awesome to see stories that depict the passion for the Z culture.

thanks for sharing!

 

Nice - I bought mine in late 2005 at 14k miles, when I was 25, from a guy going through a divorce!

I had a pretty good job(civil engineering / construction management), tons of work, tons of hours, tons of stress, but a very healthy salary. All my coworkers thought I was bat-**** crazy for buying a 3.5liter Japanese sports car - they were very much so the old-school muscle, new American muscle, and diesels. I would find reasons to take the car out. I'm up to about 67k miles now.

I forgot to mention in my first post - but were pretty fortunate to have the old-school members still around … don't give up on us!

 

Thank you for sharing Mic, love that Hawaiian shirt, beautiful rides you got...

 

Hey Mic-

Great post and one the resonates with quite a few members here. I may have told you the story about my early memories of the 240Z. My father said to his 15-year old son: "Datsun has come out with a new car. Maybe we should go look at one and you could learn to drive in it and I'll use it to go to work". Just a casual comment, but enough to set my hopes sky-high, as he'd never made such statements! So, off to the Datsun dealership we went and I recall looking at an orange 240Z with a SOLD tag on it. After my dad got a load of the markup on the Z in the Denver area, well... that was that.

Fast forward to 2001 and I walk into the Nissan dealership I was affiliated with in the Nissan dealership racing program. Nissan was trying to get dealerships involved in their racing program and paid a $500 bonus for a SCCA National race win. I talked to the dealership's GM and told him I wanted to put down a deposit for the new Z, whenever it came out. "Hmm...we haven't heard of any new sportscar for the future?", he said. But after hearing from my Nissan race resources about a new sportscar powered by VQ power, I told him, "You will, and I want one without a markup on MSRP." He looked a bit surprised, but took my $500 deposit and the rest is history.

 

Thanks, guys. Hope it was an entertaining read.

My wife saw my nearly identical post on Facebook ("dumbed down" for the non-car-people, laff) and said, "You don't think that's a little self serving? Maybe a bit of a brag? I know how much you love the cars but others may think....."

No, not the intention AT ALL. My motivation to post this is the LACK of attention this monumental milestone - IMO - has gotten from Nissan, aside from the painted lady 370Z homage car. Glad they did it but I'd have thought they might actually do something for the enthusiast core who own their past products. A party, or at least an online acknowledgement of sorts, a TV commercial, something. Who knows, they may surprise me come 10/22 but not holding my breath. In the meantime, if Nissan won't acknowledge this milestone, well, you have me to do it. Hahahahahahahahahaha!

Anyhow, I know that while I may be something of a highly Z-ealous Z-ealot <YSWIDT? >, my post would hit home for many who are even more over-the-top enthusiasts and fanatics of the marque and model.

Enjoy the ride!

 

No brag, all facts and a welcome summary of the history of the Z car. As an aside, I think Nissan won't be publicizing anything on the Z since they realize there's no commercial value in doing so. The BRUTAL TRUTH is there's no new Z35 on the horizon as they have bigger fish to fry in the immediate future. It's up to Z enthusiasts to celebrate our favorite model and keep the fire burning bright. Well done, Mic!

 

As we draw closer to next week's 50th Birthday of the Z Car, thought I'd look back at "Zs in Motorsports" and the role they played in defining the car's place in both amateur and professional racing.

I think a good place to start talking about Z cars in motorsports is with perhaps the most well known Z race car that was one of the one's that started it all. The #46 240Z that won the 1970 and 1971 SCCA C-Production championships campaigned by Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE). It was driven to both championships by John Morton. (And of course, Brock and Morton were also the force behind the Trans-Am (U2.5) championship wins (1971 & 1972) with their Datsun 510, ending the dominance of the European/UK marques.)

Ed. note: This is NOT the original car. The original was destroyed. This is the recognized "most accurate" reproduction of the original using many of the parts from the original. And if you look closely, you'll see Rob Fuller (2nd from left) in the pic and Alvin G (far right), who wasn't even born when the original ran.

At the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (AKA "The Monterey Historics")


The legend himself, John Morton, as he is today (with Rob Fuller of Z Car Garage, the racing manager/tuner/logistics guy for many of the Datsuns at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2017. Still driving at the age of 77 and he can still run rings around good drivers half his age. This photo was taken by Alvin G., long time media manager at ZCG and avid Datsun roadster guy!


One of the many #33 cars of Bob Sharp Racing, this one an IMSA GTU (Grand Touring Under 2.5L)


While the S30s (240Z-260Z-280Z) are or close to being half a century old, you will still see them on the track. These particular ones are raced in vintage/historic races and some are still on the grid of many SCCA Club events.

This is Glenn Chiou's beautifully restored, ex-Loren St. Lawrence C-Production car as raced at the RMMR last year when Nissan was the featured marque, the first time a Japanese manufacturer was honored at the Historics.


This S30 was at last year's (2018) SCCA National Runoffs in Sonoma. You might note that early Z's which were formerly C-Production cars now run in E-Production.



While I (and many people, I suspect) associate Z cars with road racing, Zs are surprisingly well represented in many other forms of motorsports.

Autocross (not too much of a stretch as preparation is similar to road race Zs).

For the same reasons the Z was/is a big competitor in road racing right out of the box (good power:weight ratio, outstanding suspension with IRS (independent rear suspension), etc., the Z car was and still is competitive in AX.

Sidenote: One of the things that I still laugh at is my inability to do well in this discipline. I can run a road course at inches (OK, maybe a foot or three ) off a top competitor time given a properly prepared car; but for some damn reason, just plain suck at cone work. I think it has to do with the transition speed between sections of the course. On a road course, I know what's coming and while I'm at 100+ mph, can anticipate and plan my position on course. But in AX, I'm like, "Holy shid, where'd those cones come from?!?" or "Why are those cones on their side? Did I nick that one? Wait, I haven't even gotten there yet!" But yeah, I think I have dense reactions to the fast changes. Hahaha.

Drag Racing - Well, sure, the six-bangers are largely gone in favor of monster V8s but even those that are running small displacement 4 and 6 turbo engines are pretty fun to watch.





Rally - Don't forget that one of the first (if not the first) professional race win by Datsun was at the East Africa Rally where 240Zs placed 1-2 overall in 1971, 3-top-10 finisher in '1972, and again, the overall win in 1973.





And of course, Drift. I find it amusing that drifting has been around since the early 70's (and probably before) having originated on the mountain roads of Japan but only "emerged" as a competitive sport here in the USA in the last 25 years or so.

In the days before angle kits, hydraulic e-brakes and much of the specialized hardware used on dedicated drift cars and well before USA sanctioned and organized events like Formula D, it was pretty exciting to imagine the likes of earlier Datsuns and Toyotas throwing their rearends out, front ends opposite locked in controlled mayhem around turns precariously close to steep mountain drop offs and many times, over those edges. We've come a long way since those clandestine days.


Today, the S130 Z car (280ZX) is still largely unheralded (from a showroom/resale perspective), many not reselling like the original S30. However, what many don't realize is that the S130 played a huge role in Datsun's dominance in road racing with many wins, many championships at a time when the car was contemporary and leading edge.

This 280ZX is one of Jim "Fitzy" Fitzgerald's many Datsun/Nissans. For those that don't know, Fitzy is the winningest driver in SCCA history, many of those wins at the wheel of Datsuns (and later, Nissans) like this one. He was one of the pioneers in the history of Datsun and motorsports, having started with a Datsun roadster and eventually winning in the highest closed wheel class, GT-1, in a Z car.


One of the early and instrumental cars in the ZX's success in racing is this S130 (280ZX) car of Electramotive, the firm run by aerospace engineer Don Devendorf.

What is significant about the Electramotive cars is that they raced and won championships in IMSA GTU (under 2.5L) in1979, IMSA GTO (over 2.5L) in 1982 and it was these very cars that led to the development of....

....the IMSA GTP-ZX Turbo. No parts were shared between the cars but Electramotive used all they learned in IMSA competition to build the Prototype car (which, in itself contributed to Nissan's factory developed R9X endurance prototype racers).


As famous, if not more famous than the BRE championship winning team and the Electramotive cars was the "semi-factory-backed" winning race team of Bob Sharp Racing. If you followed road racing at all, you knew who these guys were. Besides Bob himself being a winning driver (6x SCCA National Champion, all in Datsuns), his team backed most of the racing efforts of famous Hollywood guy, Paul Newman, who went by the racer name "PL Newman". PL wasn't just a famous-actor-turned-racer, he was a true racer who had his hand in the sport out of love and talent, not publicity. When I first met him, I was awestruck to be around a famous guy; but after being around him here and there, recognized that he was "just the driver", nothing more. Amazing guy. And faster than so many on grid. Raced almost to the day he died.


Z31 (1984-88 300ZX) based SCCA car as campaigned by the renamed "Newman Sharp Racing" in the mid-80's.





Perhaps the wildest racing version of the S130 was this Paul Newman/Bob Sharp 280ZX, built to compete in the IMSA AAGT class, stomping grounds of the venerable Porsche 935. It was built to class competitive spec using a Japan home market V8 engine out of a Nissan President. Sadly, the car was not that competitive due more to politics than design. It had a distinct weight disadvantage and the development and racing efforts ceased after just a couple of years. The class itself was also killed off in favor of the then new GTX (Grand Touring Experimental) class based around FIA Group 5 cars which again, favored the P-cars. Don't get me wrong, I'm not dismissing what Porsche was able to achieve but I do think of this era as the "Porsche period" when Porsche pretty much had IMSA at their fingertips, giving them many competitive advantages over pretty much every else. (I have my own stories about that but unrelated to this.)

I happened to write more about this racing period because it was running during the time I was actively racing and supporting the Datsun/Nissan race cars that ran here in the Bay Area at the time so I had a chance to be up close and personal with this one and most of the other Nissan/Datsun race cars of this era.

As an aside, the Bob Sharp team was financially well backed so they always had well prepared cars and besides PL, they provided early rides for some of the biggest names in road racing. Here's a few who drove under the flag of Bob Sharp Racing: Eliott Forbes-Robinson, Bruce MacInnes, Jim Fitzgerald (mentioned above), Sam Posey, Bob's son Scott Sharp, Tom Cruise (yes, that Tom Cruise), football great Walter "Sweetness" Payton and several others.

Oddly enough, as I was going through the interwebs looking for pics of Z32 (1989-2000; discontinued in USA after 1996MY) race cars, I found very few. I don't know why this is. But the one that kept popping up was the IMSA car of Steve Millen (brother of rally ace Rod Millen, former Nissan factory driver, and owner of Stillen, Steve Millen Motorsports)


Now we come to the car that brings us all together here on my350Z.com, the Z33.

Below is one of the JGTC (Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, AKA "Super GT") campaigned 350Z racers. They mostly competed in the GT500 class and a few de-tuned, smaller motor versions also ran in the GT300 category.


Where we find the 350Z in competition these days (stateside) is mostly in SCCA Amateur (Club) racing.


This SCCA campaigned Touring 3 350Z (above and below) is raced by our own David Muramoto (you know him as "dkmura"). Photos were taken at Sonoma Raceway during the 2018 SCCA National Championship (AKA "the Runoffs").



And continuing the tradition in club racing, this Z34 (370Z) campaigned by Derek Kulach, 2017 SCCA National Champion in Touring 3 (in this car).


Z34s are still raced in many forms, here in Autocross.





That's it! I'm sure I've left out many Nissan Z based competition cars I could've/should've included but this was just to whet your appetites and hope you'll consider choosing a Z as your first/next race car! (And feel free to post up pics of your Z-racer here!!)

October 22nd (the Z's 50th Birthday!) is next Tuesday! Make sure you drive your car that day!!

LONG LIVE THE Z!!



NEXT: Limited Edition Z Cars of the Past 50 Years


Photo credits: Most are public domain, others by myself and several by Alvin G. from Z Car Garage.

 

Excellent summary on the rich racing history of the Z, Mic! Interestingly enough, I just submitted written requests to the SCCA CRB (Competition Racing Board) to classify the 350Z into the STU class, and to lower some of the many restrictions (namely restrictor and tire size, as well as lowering the minimum weight) for 2020. Save the Z (in SCCA racing)!

 

On this, the 50th Anniversary of the Nissan Z Car, I conclude my serial tribute to the car (and Nissan for bringing it to us) with a retrospective of the many "Limited Edition" Z cars.

Like other manufacturers with a deep history of bringing the motoring enthusiast community special cars like the Porsche Weissach Edition 911 or the BMW M3 Lightweight, Nissan has brought us some very special cars over the half century of Z car production.

Fairlady Z432 - The first Z-car to be recognized as a rare, limited edition Z-car is the Japan-market only PS30 or known in the market as the Fairlady Z432.

What set this model apart from all the others is the engine, or more precisely, the cylinder head. The "432" designation stood for 4 valves per cylinder, triple carburetors, twin camshafts. The engine produced 160 PS (or roughly 159hp) from an engine displacing a mere 2.0 liters (0.4 liters less than the 2.4 liter most associate with the first S30s).

This should all sound somewhat familiar to Nissan enthusiasts as this was the same S20 motor that powered the KGPC10 Skyline GT-R Hakosuka, first introduced in 1969. This would be the industry equivalent of installing the modern day 480hp VR38DETT from the R35 GTR into a 370Z. (With less dramatic results of course, but it's still a fair comparison.)

Only 420 Fairlady Z432s were everproduced.


Fairlady Z432R - As rare as the Fairlady Z432 is, there's one that's even more rare called the PS30SB or by its market designation, "Fairlady Z432R".

And yes, the "R" designation did stand for "Race". Mechanically, the Z432R shared its drivetrain with the "standard" Z432 but with a few extra tweaks (based on racing requirements) giving it slightly more power to suit its competition application. (And yes, I cannot believe I used the term "standard" in the same sentence as "Z432" but its the only word I could think of to distinguish between the two models. Laff....).

The key difference between the "standard Z432" and the Z432R was the weight (and the aforementioned engine modifications and race tune). The R was a factory lightweight, built for race car homologation purposes. The lighter weight was achieved through the use of fiberglass fenders, hood, doors, seats and other interior weight reductions and deletions of road use features such as the radio and heater.

Visually, the distinction was obvious. All Z432Rs were painted this orange color with matte black on the fiberglass hood.

It is unknown (I'll clarify.... *I* don't know) what the actual production numbers were for the Z432R as it is included in the total Z432 production run of 420 built and sold. I would estimate that the figure is probably no more than 25 as these were "custom built" for the race teams in the short run from late-1969 to 1973 (coinciding with the production of the 240z).


280ZX (S130) - With the advent of the S130 (280ZX as we know it here in the US), two limited edition "10th Anniversary" models were sold here in the US.


These were built and sold to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Z-car and were available in two color combinations shown above and below). They were not marketed as such but are formally known as the "280ZX-10 10th Anniversary Special Edition" 2,500 were black/gold and 500 were black/red.



As with most of the commemorative Z cars, they were largely appearance packages atop otherwise mechanically stock Zs of their respective eras (see below, Z33 and Z34s). A few of the distinctive features besides the paint jobs were the color keyed wheels, Goodyear Wingfoot tires (predecessor of today's Goodyear Eagle F1 line of performance tires), color coordinated leather interiors, and several other "luxury" items not found on the standard model S130s.

Sidenote: I "almost" bought a few of these over the years. Just 5-6 years ago, I ran across several locally; 2-3 in gold and at least one in red. Didn't buy them even though they were "only" priced at about $4,000 and in very good, easily restorable condition. Didn't pull the trigger on them, being "less desired" Z cars. Try to buy one now for that price. Nope, no longer a "deal" car. Hahaha.


280ZX-R - The other "limited edition" S130 was this one.

A 1979 S130 known as the 280ZX-R, and in contrast to its "R"ace designation, it was hardly considered a race car. The car itself, decked out in period graphics signaling the beginning of the colorful 1980s, was pretty much a stock 280ZX other than its aesthetics.

EXCEPT for the rear wing.

The wing was co-developed (in a wind tunnel) FOR racing by Electramotive and Nissan. It was produced in enough quantity to homologate the wing for racing. Highly functional in producing much needed downforce for the tail light ZX and used with other Electramotive front aerodynamics (which were "open" so no homologation required), this wing alone has been credited with much of the S130's success in amateur and professional racing.


Almost every team fielding a 280ZX wore this wing; such as the IMSA GTU and GTO champion cars of Don Devendorf (Electramotive), Bob Sharp Racing, Jim Fitzgerald, Frank Leary, and every SCCA and IMSA team in between.

There were 1,009 280ZX-Rs produced in 1979 to meet the homologation requirement. And it most certainly paid off in wins.

Sidenote: Just to be clear and for those not familiar with the word, "homologation" is the requirement of a manufacturer to produce a certain number of cars to qualify it for racing, particularly in production car racing. This is done to prevent "one off" race cars from competing in classes based around "real" road cars. Many of the top manufacturers have built such "homologation specials". The big ones that come to mind: BMW, Porsche, Nissan, Renault, and so on.


300ZX (Z31) - During the mid-late 1980s, Nissan produced another couple of limited edition cars built on the Z31 (300ZX) platform.

For model year 1984, Nissan built another "anniversary car", this time, the 300ZX 50th Anniversary car. This car was built to commemorate Nissan's 50th anniversary as a car manufacturer not just for the Z-car.


Again, in the tradition set by the previous 10th Anniversary special, this car was a largely cosmetic and luxury feature laden car with no upgrades to the performance or mechanical design of the car. It featured special 16x7 wheels (fairly unique and considered large at the time), a unique paint job, special emblems on the fenders (below) and...


...matching interior emblems on the seats, floor mats, a special gold key set, upgraded stereo system with "Bodysonic" speakers built into the seats, and perhaps the one major visual exterior feature distinguishing it from all other Z31s, rear fender flares.

5,000 of these 50th Anniversary cars were produced.


Nissan 300ZX Shiro Special - For model year 1988 (introduced mid-year), Nissan once again built a "special edition" car called the 300ZX Shiro Special.

What set this apart from all other Z31 300ZXs was set of PERFORMANCE features and a deletion of almost every "luxury feature" that made the Anniversary model four years earlier a special car.

The Shiro Special featured a one-model-only Pearl White paint on the body and oddly, a standard white paint on the European model front air dam and wheels. The paint scheme is what gave the car its name as "shiro" means "white" in Japanese.

Along with the one-off paint, the car featured a performance tuned suspension including Koni shocks, revised springs, larger anti-sway bars, and 16x7 wheels with performance tires.

Inside the car, Recaro seats were standard equipment and a deletion of all of the electronic digital reading instruments of the standard car were replaced with clean reading analog gauges, stereo, and no electronic "voice" telling the driver "Your door is ajar." (The feature that was de riguer in the '80s that afforded owners of other 300ZXs the private joke "No, it's not, it's a door.") OK, sorry, you might have to think about that stupid one.

The Shiro Special also had the distinction of being the fastest Z car in Japan. It retained the standard car's VG30ET turbo V6 rated at a "mere" 205hp but had no speed limiter (standard Zs were limited to 137mph) and the lighter weight enabled the car to achieve a top speed of 153mph.

Personal note: For me, this "vintage Z" was the one to have. And I did for about a year, only to see mine destroyed in a one driver crash in front of my house that took out not only my Shiro but also totaling another and damaging two others. Idiot.



350Z (Z33)
Now we come to the section that is probably most relevant to this crowd, the Z33 or 350Z, the subject of our adoration here on my350Z.com.

As with many of the other "rare Z cars" in this post, most were built and sold outside of the USA and for "consumption" by discerning international buyers. I tend to believe this is a tribute to the car as it demonstrated the world wide attraction of this "new" Z. With this "comeback model" introduced in 2002, Nissan showed its resilience and design prowess once again.


Fairlady Z Type E - One of the rarest of all Z33s was the Fairlady Z Type E which was "produced" in 2004 for the Japan market. This was essentially a limited production, homologation car to qualify the 350Z for competition in the JGTC or later known as the "Super GT series" in Japan. It featured a long nose and rear "parcel deck" fascia with underbody diffuser, in addition to other aerodynamic pieces.

Limited production indeed. Only five units were produced. It is unknown if or where these cars still exist; but if you see a real one and can positively identify it as genuine among the myriad replicas, you can be assured you are seeing a real unicorn. It's one of those cars so rare that there barely photographs of it anywhere.

350Z GT-S was a single concept car built by Nissan in celebration of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. It featured revised aerodynamics, but relatively conservative bodywork.


What made this car unique was the engine. It was a stock-block VQ35DE fit with a radial supercharger mounted upfront, intercooled and put out some 380bhp. Does this sound familiar? It should, the whole installation looks almost exactly like a Vortech supercharged Z33 and puts out comparable horsepower. I don't know if there's any connection between this and a Vortech S/C but the resemblance is clear.



The car was never actually marketed but created more as a design exercise to showcase how durable the engine was and how astute Nissan engineers were.


350Z S-Tune - Never sold in the USDM but available as a whole-package car overseas. However, any or ALL of the S-Tune parts, including the graphics package - could be ordered and dealer installed on any new car ordered (USDM or otherwise) OR to DIY, over the counter from the parts department.

What was included in the full S-Tune package (or one could pick and choose):

- Factory supplied Body Aerodynamics - F&R spoilers, winglets, underbody airflow management, side skirts.
- S-Tune suspension - Stiffer springs, bushings, sway bars
- S-Tune exhaust
- Brake pad upgrade
- 18" Nismo LMGT4 wheels
- Cooling upgrades - oil, transmission
- Gauge pack (not available USA)

If you bought all that along with the graphics package, the dealer would have certainly appreciated it. At about $10,000 USD for a complete S-Tune outfitting, the goodies weren't cheap but you'd have a great performing 33 in need of little else. S-Tune parts can still be found and the S-Tune exhaust - the most popular S-Tune upgrade - is now being produced again in what I'll call "S-Tune exhaust V.2". Laff. The only problem I see with this new V.2 exhaust is that it does NOT include the Y-pipe, the main contributing piece to make more power. But if buying for sound-only (most buyers), it functions very nicely.


350Z NISMO S-Tune GT - In 2005 Nissan produced another special version (again, not in the USA) called the S-Tune GT to honor the Z's success in motorsports.

It was several steps above the "basic" S-Tune including special bodywork (including a revised long nose, similar to earlier G-nose S30s, spoilers), a specially tuned, higher output VQ35DE called the "S1". In reality, this was the international version and introduction of the VQ35DE RevUp motor, first offered in the 35th Anniversary Model here in the US, and suspension tuned by Nismo. Coincidentally, this is the suspension system that eventually made its way onto the USDM 350Z Nismo.


NISMO R-Tune - Up the performance scale from the S-Tune versions is a further developed 350Z model called the NISMO R-Tune. Once again - and this is getting old - you couldn't buy one as a whole car here in the USA. But, you could (and still can) obtain all of the R-Tune components that make it what it is.

Sidenote: The R-Tune configuration was sold with NO warranty, the sum of its performance parts making this as close to a road going road racer as can be. And, installing the R-Tune components on your standard production Z could have also voided the warranty. (The workaround: you merely had to wait the 36 months before putting the parts on. )

Like the S-Tune, it featured many performance upgrades over the standard production models; but here's where it differs from the S-Tune:

- Exhaust manifolds replaced with true, big tube headers.
- Higher lift, higher duration cam set.
- Specially tuned cold air intake
- And where it's truly different from production line Z33s, a clutch type limited slip differential instead of the standard viscous unit that we all know and love (and eventually hate when it overheats). The differential could be tailored to the customer's needs, 1.5 way, 2 way, and with easily adjustable pre-load to tune to the customer requirements; giving different breakaway torque as needed for a particular track or varying surfaces, e.g., rally competition.

35th Anniversary - For 2005, the thirty-fifth anniversary of the introduction of the original 240Z, a special "35th Anniversary Edition" was offered. Retrospectively viewed, the car's main attractions had some nice upgrades such as the special coloring with choice of two colors, Ultra Yellow and Pearl Blue, the new 300hp VQ35DE RevUp engine, specially colored exterior emblems and new five-spoke wheels.

Of course, come model year 2006, all of these "special features" - except the colors and emblems - became standard features on most trim packages. But it did qualify as a unique, one-year only car.

Fairlady Z Type F - At the tail end of the Z33's production (2008-09) came a limited run of Japan-market-only Z33s called the Fairlady Z Type F. This was a run of some 600 cars, 100 each of 6 body colors not found in the regular Nissan catalog.


In addition to the semi-unique colors (which were all just slightly different from their standard production line brethren), these cars featured all-red leather interiors (including steering wheel, door panels, shift ****, aluminum kick panels.


On the outside, they were equipped with Rays forged wheels in an 18/19 double stagger configuration, Brembo brakes, VDC. Essentially, they were equipped with select borrowed components from the USDM 350Z Nismo MINUS the performance goodies developed by Autech/Nismo placing the car between the standard cars and the Nismo versions. Aesthetically, I like to think of these as the pre-cursor to the 40th Anniversary 370Z, which came later in the year (late 2009-early 2010).


End PART I

 

Rare Z Cars of the past 50 Years - Part II (cont'd)


350Z Nismo (North American Market) - What post about limited edition Z cars would be complete without the 350Z Nismo (NA Market), offered in the 2007 and 2008 model year runs of the Z33?

This is probably the most well known of the Zs offered that were touched by Nismo. Similar to other "tuner" cars like the original AMG Mercedes or those from the BMW Motorsport division, the 350Z Nismo starts out as a production line Z33 but well into its production, it was shipped off to Autech, subsidiary "tuning" company of Nissan to be transformed into a true performance GT car.

Autech takes the near completed Z33 and gave it what was perhaps the closest thing to a race car preparation as possible without it actually ending up being a racer. Seam welding of the body and the addition of Yamaha developed chassis stiffeners to eliminate body flex under cornering, Yamaha designed performance tuned suspension with Tokico built shocks and springs, Rays forged wheels in the same 18/19 double stagger configuration as the Type F (above) and of course, the functional aerodynamic bodywork - front long nose/splitter, dual plane rear spoiler, and rear bumper fascia with underbody air flow management that developed downforce aiding the car in high speed handling.

Further setting the 350Z Nismo apart from regular production 33s was the handsome interior with red seat inserts, red stiched leather panels and trims, and the special numbered identification plaque on the center console.

1,607 350Z Nismos were produced over its two year run.

Sidenote: There were a few 350Z Nismos (outside of the North American production run) built specifically for police use in Japan.



Nismo Type 380RS - There was another Nismo built Z33 model available in the Japan market around the same time the 350Z Nismo (North American market) was offered here in the United States. This one was called the Nismo Type 380RS.

While the outside appearance looks identical to the North American market 350Z Nismo, the Type 380RS was decidedly different with it's 3.8L version of the VQ35HR engine. It was a de-tuned version of the then-current "corporate race motor" as found in the other Type 380 called the Type 380RS-Competition (or 380RS-C for short).

This motor, even in its "detuned" configuration was rated at 350PS (348hp) and 293 ft lbs of torque. This is up some 44hp and and additional 25 ft lbs of TQ from the standard VQ35HR of the time. The Nismo Type 380RS was created as a road version of the then-current NISMO 380RS-Competition which was run in the Japanese Super GT Championship.

Only 300 of the Type 380S were ever built so when one of our members here showed us his car, I nearly fainted. Haha. (I seem to recall he was from Australia and the car was imported from Japan.)


Congratulations, you made it to the final section of this post on limited edition Z cars!! (If you read this line, you're in elite company.) Haha.

370Z (Z34) - There are almost as many Z34 (370Z) limited production models out there. Here's a few of them.

370Z Nismo - In 2009 and continuing to today, the 370Z Nismo has lived on and is entering it's 12th year of production. The only reason I don't get as wordy about this car as throughout it's run, it's pretty much stayed the same as it was when introduced in model year 2009. As similar to the Z33 Nismo version, the Z34 Nismo features special Nismo-only features. VQ37VHR engine, Nismo tuned suspension and aero body work with only a slight change to the front and rear of the car in MY2015, upgraded interior.

But while I seem to wax "boredom" with the model due to its long production run, I have to say that of all my Z cars, the Z34 Nismo DOES live up to the hype. My OPINION (open to challenge ) is that the lighter weight, higher chassis stiffness and, as the only limited edition model to feature as such, it's extra power - 350hp v. 332 hp - is most welcome. It may not seem like a lot but that little bit of extra power can be felt throughout the gears over other Z34s and a lot over the last VQ35HR Nismo, which did a respectable job of distancing itself from its other production brethren.


370Z 40th Anniversary Edition - In model year 2010, Nissan offered another "anniversary car", this one, the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Z Car. (Note: I had to spell that out because it's easy to confuse which anniversary the car was built to celebrate... like the previous 1984 300ZX 50th Anniversary - of the manufacturer - versus the 10th and 50th anniversary versions celebrating the Z itself).

Offered atop a 370Z Sport Package car only in the exclusive "40th Graphite" exterior color, this model featured red Akebono brake calipers, specially colored ("smoke") Rays Sport wheels, red leather seats and door panels, and like the Nismo models, red stitching everywhere with an identification badge inside and one unique Anniversary Edition emblem on the rear deck. Only 1,070 of these were ever produced. 1,000 for USDM and 70 units in Canada.


There were several 370Z Specials available in the European and Japanese markets that are worth mentioning here.

370Z S-Tune GT


Similar in concept to the Fairlady Z S-Tune Z33 version, the S-Tune GT Z34 could be purchased as a complete car (above) or any customer car (or DIY) could be customized with S-Tune parts which included body aero, exhaust, suspension tweaks (again, all differing from the components offered on the complete 370Z Nismo cars), and the Nismo S-Tune LMZ5 19" Rays wheels. However, purchasing and installing the parts by oneself would not qualify it to wear the S-Tune GT badging (below).


Sidenote: the LMZ5 wheels (pictured above) were never that popular stateside and as such, not many exist here. I would guess under 100 sets were ever sold (based on my looking for them on literally thousands of Z34 pics). And I own one of those sets. They are my favorite wheels on my 33 (below) and not only for the aesthetics; but these are the lightest 19" wheels that I've ever owned at some 20.2lbs average per corner in 19x9, 19x10 sizes, far lighter than most other Z wheels of any size (except for the 18" Track V.1) and most aftermarket 18s and 19s.



There were several Z34s available in Europe (and one in the USA) where the "specialness" was mainly the color. These were the "yellow cars", obviously described as such because they were all yellow.

In the UK, there was the uniquely named "370Z Yellow Edition". (Haha.... uniquely? More like "Obviously named") This car was produced in homage to the British GT race car of the day.


In Germany, another yellow version (but a different shade of yellow) called the Nurburgring Edition which differed from production Z34 primarily with its OZ wheels and a big exhaust system. Only 80 units were produced and I suspect these were not actually Nissan built cars; rather, outside tuner cars as promotional vehicles for the famed race circuit after which this car is named.



370Z Heritage Edition - A USDM 2018 370z Heritage Edition. Prepared as the prequel to the 2019 50th Anniversary of the Z-Car. This was available in two colors, "Chicane Yellow" and black.

These cars were built in homage to other, earlier Z cars, the 1977 280Z ZZZap Edition (yellow) and the 1978 280Z Black Pearl Edition.

This "Heritage" version is built atop a Base model 370Z, it adds a stripe and interior package including splashes of color on the interior.

370Z 50th Anniversary Edition - This is the car presented by Nissan this year to celebrate its 50th Birthday, the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition.


Like all of the previous anniversary cars, the 50th Edition is a Sport package equipped 370Z decked out in stripe graphics (said to be inspired by the BRE 240Z race car livery that went to the SCCA National Championship Runoffs winner's circle in 1970 and 1971, the first big win for the 240Z), a unique interior of color splashes and seat coverings, 50th Anniversary wheels by Rays. Two colors available, white with red trim (above) and silver with black trim (below).




And with that, we come to the end of this 50th Anniversary tribute to the Z car with perhaps THE most unique and rarest Z car of them all.

Mister K's personal 240Z


Above, as it is today (essentially unchanged) and maintained at Z Car Garage.

Below, in 1970 with Mister K. at the then USA headquarters of Datsun in Gardena, CA (and where I attended much of my training).



On this, the 50th Anniversary of one of the most iconic cars in the world, this is as much of a salute to you, Mister Katayama. For without you and your vision, we might not have ever have been able to enjoy the Z car for the last 50 years!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

LONG LIVE THE Z!!


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Acknowledgements:

Most photos are public domain.

Note: My knowledge of the "rare Z models" (as well as the other Z car history posts I've made recently) is highly limited to the USA models. Most of the information on the international models noted in this post have been gleaned from various web sources. I'm sure there are probably other rare models made for the international market that I'm unaware of. Please feel free to post any I've missed!

On that note as well, I have to recognize Carl Beck, one of the original members of the "Internet Z Car Club" that was founded back when us car guys were huddling around newsgroups, email groups and other early forms of "social media" such as internet messaging forums (most common of them, the "BBSes" - no, not not the wheels of the same name, but "bulletin board services") and this all taking place several years before "the web" or "social-media-as-we-know-it-today" was even a thing. (Well, it was a thing but NOTHING like today. Apparently I'm old. Hahaha.) Much of the Z-car information I've posted these last few weeks had to be verified through the IZCC, which still exists today! Thanks, Carl. Hope your celebration of the Z is going to be or was great!