What is in the name...350Z?
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What is in the name...350Z?
By any other name it would be just as great. It has a nice sound to it. I hope the 350z has just as many hp...wishfull thinking 
. I am just curious. Any ideas?
. I am just curious. Any ideas?
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oh man..not another HP guessing thread!!!! ahhhhhhh
yeah, the 350 is for 3.5 liter
kind of like BMW 325 or 330, either a 3.25 liter engine versus a 3.3 liter
one has 180 hp the other 225 I think.
And man I can't wait until Nissan releases the HP numbers. Not cuz I really want to know...but I just want this conjecture to be over and done with.
yeah, the 350 is for 3.5 liter
kind of like BMW 325 or 330, either a 3.25 liter engine versus a 3.3 liter
one has 180 hp the other 225 I think.
And man I can't wait until Nissan releases the HP numbers. Not cuz I really want to know...but I just want this conjecture to be over and done with.
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Originally posted by exsilio
oh man..not another HP guessing thread!!!! ahhhhhhh
yeah, the 350 is for 3.5 liter
kind of like BMW 325 or 330, either a 3.25 liter engine versus a 3.3 liter
one has 180 hp the other 225 I think.
And man I can't wait until Nissan releases the HP numbers. Not cuz I really want to know...but I just want this conjecture to be over and done with.
oh man..not another HP guessing thread!!!! ahhhhhhh
yeah, the 350 is for 3.5 liter
kind of like BMW 325 or 330, either a 3.25 liter engine versus a 3.3 liter
one has 180 hp the other 225 I think.
And man I can't wait until Nissan releases the HP numbers. Not cuz I really want to know...but I just want this conjecture to be over and done with.
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From: Nashville, TN
Originally posted by VQracer
name corresponds to displacement? am I correct?
350Z - 3.5L
300ZX - 3.0L
280Z - 2.8L
240Z - 2.4L
??????
name corresponds to displacement? am I correct?
350Z - 3.5L
300ZX - 3.0L
280Z - 2.8L
240Z - 2.4L
??????
Yes, you are correct, but you forgot about the 280ZX- which also had a 2.8L inline 6.
Another point to mention about the model name of the 280ZX is the "<B>X</B>". In 1979, when the 280ZX was released, the idea was to move the car further towards the "GT" / "Luxury" market. The 280ZX had more bells and whistles, and more weight, than its predecessor (the 280Z). The car moved further away from the "pure, light, simple" sports car concept that made the original 240Z such a success. This trend continued with the introduction of the 300ZX (Z31) in 1984, which featured even more luxury features. In 1990, the second generation 300ZX (Z32), attempted to re-capture the basic sporting theme of the 240Z, but I suspect that due to its high degree of technical complexity (twin turbos, four wheel steering, etc..), the "<B>X</B>" was still retained.
Now with the 350Z, Nissan has dropped the "X". The 350Z is not about luxury (sorry Touring model folks!). Its not about <B>g</B>rand <B>t</B>ouring (although you can do that if you want to...!). This car is about spirited, performance driving. Add in the low sticker price relative to its competitors of similiar performance, (just like the 240Z), and a return to the old naming convention is justified.
Now of course there is one other naming convention that I haven't spoken about it- so I guess I'll bring that one up too. I think it is important that I do so, because its usage has been incorrect many times on this site. It seems that many folks here think that the convertable version of the 350Z will be called the <B>350ZR</B>. Well if Nissan is consistent with their naming conventions (as they have been for the last 30 years), the convertable will not have a distinct model name, and <B>R</B> will not stand for "roadster". In 1979, the "R" designation was used to describe a limited edition version of the 280ZX- ie- the 280ZXR.
The DATSUN 280 ZXR's (see attached picture) were produced by the NISSAN Factory to homologate a large rear wing for racing (IMSA and SCCA). This car had to be manufactured in 1000 unit lots to meet the qualification requirements for "Production Class" status. Thus only 1000 were produced. The ZXR was a standard 280ZX coupe with blue stripes on a silver mist paint scheme. The factory registered special edition cost the new owner $399.00 extra.
I saw a mint 280ZXR at the White Rose Z Car Club- Z Expo in 1998. In fact, I took a picture of the ZXR along with my '84 Anniversary Edition and a 1980 280ZX 10th Anniverary Edition (Gold on Black). That's a fairly rare photo... Unfortunately I don't have that picture scanned, but I can scan it if anyone is interested.... Attached is a pic of the 280ZXR from www.Zhome.Com
Ethan
Last edited by ethan84ae; Jun 4, 2002 at 05:20 PM.
Very Nice! Ethan (or anyone), can you help me with a couple more questions? First, was there also not a 260Z? Second, This being my first z-car, I am not familiar with the alternate naming of the Z's. Which ones go with the Z31, Z32 etc, and why the two designations? I figure if I'm going to own one, in order to hang with the rest of the Z'ers I better do a little homework. Thanks.
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From: Nashville, TN
Originally posted by Dr Bonz
Very Nice! Ethan (or anyone), can you help me with a couple more questions? First, was there also not a 260Z? Second, This being my first z-car, I am not familiar with the alternate naming of the Z's. Which ones go with the Z31, Z32 etc, and why the two designations? I figure if I'm going to own one, in order to hang with the rest of the Z'ers I better do a little homework. Thanks.
Very Nice! Ethan (or anyone), can you help me with a couple more questions? First, was there also not a 260Z? Second, This being my first z-car, I am not familiar with the alternate naming of the Z's. Which ones go with the Z31, Z32 etc, and why the two designations? I figure if I'm going to own one, in order to hang with the rest of the Z'ers I better do a little homework. Thanks.
Doh, I'm such a dumbass! Good catch- ya the 260Z was produced for one year only- 1974.
Below are the <B>factory</B> designations for the car. I'm not sure exactly why they exist- perhaps because the Z's have different model names in different markets, but a universal system is needed at the point of production. Virtually every car manufacturer has internal designations for their cars and platforms...
1970-1978:
<B>S30</B>
240Z,260Z,280Z
1979-1983
<B>S130</B>
280ZX
1984-1989
<B>Z31</B>
300ZX (first Generation)
1990-1996
<B>Z32</B>
300zx (second Generation)
Oh- Another note of clarification- my previous post, and this one, apply to U.S. only- there were in fact different models, with different names, in different markets. At the risk of confusion, I'll mention that , a 200ZR and 300ZR were sold in Japan...( see http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~ranfa/myfairlady-e.htm )
Ethan
Last edited by ethan84ae; Jun 5, 2002 at 04:42 PM.
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Many thanks to everyone! The stuff you learn on this site! I am in the same boat as Dr Bonz (I am also a physician) and this is my first Z car. It's nice to know a little bit about the history of the Z car. Thank you for all that information ethan84ae! It's certainly very enlightening.
Thanks again Ethan. Just a couple more questions (now I must sound like ZBarrister). When did the company cease to be called Datsun and become Nissan. I remember THE cool car to see when I was in high school (76-80) was the DATSUN 280Z. Finally, what is the factory designation of the 350Z? Z33?
ZMAN. What kind of doc are you? Where do you practice? What model/color 350Z are you getting?
ZMAN. What kind of doc are you? Where do you practice? What model/color 350Z are you getting?
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I found this:
The Z-Car is a series of sports car produced by Nissan Motor Corporation from 1970 through 1996.
What's In a Name?
The car was called the Fairlady Z back in the late 60's while it was under prototype construction. Nissan had a four cylinder sports car at the time; commonly called the Fairlady or Roadster 1600 in the Americas. This Roadster had varying sizes of engines through its production in the USA. With each change came a change to the name. The Roadster 1800 and 2000 reflected an engine size of 1800cc and 2000cc. (cubic centimeters)
The Fairlady Z was just called a Z in the USA. The abbriviated engine size was used as a prefix to the name. Thus the 2400cc Fairlady Z bore the name 240Z.
This was the first Z-Car...
Two Names
In the early 1940's, Nissan of Japan decided to make a daring business venture into exporting automobiles. They decided to use the name Datsun on their exported models. If the market failed, the name Datsun would go away leaving Nissan in Japan.
As Datsun was established in the US, they began to save production time by using the same Nissan engine parts on their autos while keeping to the Datsun badges on the outside of the cars. While the Datsun 240Z stated Datsun on the side of the car, the engine valve cover was clearly marked with Nissan OHC.
In the early 1980's Nissan didn't want there to be any confusion about who Datsun was. They began to mark advertisements and emblems with Datsun/by Nissan logos. In 1984 Nissan offically did away with the name Datsun and every car has since then been called a Nissan.
A Legend Is Born
The 6-cylinder 240Z was produced at a time when import cars were not popular in the US market and Nissan was hiding under the name Datsun to protect its investment into import automobiles.
The 240Z had an inline six cylinder engine that produced 150 horsepower with a single overhead cam, two valves per cylendar, and two SU carburetors. It came stock with front disk brakes and a split rear end. Features like these were common for exotic imports and high end cars. Nissan made a reliable sports car that could out perform a Porshe at half the price.
It was an instant hit.
The Z-Car is a series of sports car produced by Nissan Motor Corporation from 1970 through 1996.
What's In a Name?
The car was called the Fairlady Z back in the late 60's while it was under prototype construction. Nissan had a four cylinder sports car at the time; commonly called the Fairlady or Roadster 1600 in the Americas. This Roadster had varying sizes of engines through its production in the USA. With each change came a change to the name. The Roadster 1800 and 2000 reflected an engine size of 1800cc and 2000cc. (cubic centimeters)
The Fairlady Z was just called a Z in the USA. The abbriviated engine size was used as a prefix to the name. Thus the 2400cc Fairlady Z bore the name 240Z.
This was the first Z-Car...
Two Names
In the early 1940's, Nissan of Japan decided to make a daring business venture into exporting automobiles. They decided to use the name Datsun on their exported models. If the market failed, the name Datsun would go away leaving Nissan in Japan.
As Datsun was established in the US, they began to save production time by using the same Nissan engine parts on their autos while keeping to the Datsun badges on the outside of the cars. While the Datsun 240Z stated Datsun on the side of the car, the engine valve cover was clearly marked with Nissan OHC.
In the early 1980's Nissan didn't want there to be any confusion about who Datsun was. They began to mark advertisements and emblems with Datsun/by Nissan logos. In 1984 Nissan offically did away with the name Datsun and every car has since then been called a Nissan.
A Legend Is Born
The 6-cylinder 240Z was produced at a time when import cars were not popular in the US market and Nissan was hiding under the name Datsun to protect its investment into import automobiles.
The 240Z had an inline six cylinder engine that produced 150 horsepower with a single overhead cam, two valves per cylendar, and two SU carburetors. It came stock with front disk brakes and a split rear end. Features like these were common for exotic imports and high end cars. Nissan made a reliable sports car that could out perform a Porshe at half the price.
It was an instant hit.
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Originally posted by exsilio
BrianZ,
Thanks for correcting me...I knew I screwed up..and I couldnt remember which post....yeesh..I'll just stick to making pictures and leave the shop talk to the people that know. :P
BrianZ,
Thanks for correcting me...I knew I screwed up..and I couldnt remember which post....yeesh..I'll just stick to making pictures and leave the shop talk to the people that know. :P
I only know because I drive a Beemer!
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From: Los Angeles
Here's a tidbit:
Nissan
The name Nissan is derived from Nihon Sangyo Co., one of two companies which joined in 1933 to form the Nissan Motor Company. The other company, Tobata Imono Co., had absorbed the DAT Automobile Manufacturing Co., whose origins can in turn be traced back to the formation in 1911 of the Kwaishinsha Co., makers of the DAT (meaning hare in Japanese) car.
By the time of the merger, Tobata were building a car called the Datson (literally, son of DAT). The name was later changed to Datsun, because Datson sounded like the Japanese word for ruin.
Or depending upon who you believe:
"DAT" for the constructors K. Den, R. Aoyama och A. Takeuchi, "sun" for "son"; the first car was named DAT, the following cars got the name Datsun.
Nissan
The name Nissan is derived from Nihon Sangyo Co., one of two companies which joined in 1933 to form the Nissan Motor Company. The other company, Tobata Imono Co., had absorbed the DAT Automobile Manufacturing Co., whose origins can in turn be traced back to the formation in 1911 of the Kwaishinsha Co., makers of the DAT (meaning hare in Japanese) car.
By the time of the merger, Tobata were building a car called the Datson (literally, son of DAT). The name was later changed to Datsun, because Datson sounded like the Japanese word for ruin.
Or depending upon who you believe:
"DAT" for the constructors K. Den, R. Aoyama och A. Takeuchi, "sun" for "son"; the first car was named DAT, the following cars got the name Datsun.
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From: Los Angeles
Originally posted by exsilio
Sad thing is...so do I. :P An M3.
But I realized my mistake too late...ah well. Heh heh. Sometimes your brain just doesn't engage before your typing.
Sad thing is...so do I. :P An M3.
But I realized my mistake too late...ah well. Heh heh. Sometimes your brain just doesn't engage before your typing.
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From: Nashville, TN
Originally posted by Dr Bonz
When did the company cease to be called Datsun and become Nissan.
Finally, what is the factory designation of the 350Z? Z33?
When did the company cease to be called Datsun and become Nissan.
Finally, what is the factory designation of the 350Z? Z33?
1984 was the transition year for Nissan/Datsun. Cars produced that year featured both names! Starting in 1985, only the Nissan name was used. Actually- this is the best way to tell the difference between the 1984 and 1985 300zx's- '84s still say Datsun on the back!
I don't know if anyone knows the factory designation for the 350Z just yet- I was thinking about posting that on ZCar.Com- maybe ZISME knows.... I kinda doubt that its going to be Z33, just because the car is so different from the 300ZX's (both 1st & 2nd Gen).
Ethan
Actually, It was 82 when they started the switch. My 83 sentra had 'Nissan Sentra' on one side of the trunk and Datsun on the other. I believe the previous year, that was reversed on most models, saying datsun ____ and nissan on the other side.
