The History and Evolution of the Nissan Z Car
The Z car is perhaps the most iconic sports car that Nissan has ever made. Its history dates back to October 1969, when it premiered in Japan as the Nissan Fairlady Z. When the Z was exported overseas, it was called the Datsun 240Z. The masses have loved this line since its inception, resulting in its continuous production over the decades.
Nissan’s Z car is notable because it beautifully combines style, spectacle, and speed at a relatively affordable price – you’ll be hard pressed to find other coupes in its class that are as outstanding and cost less than $30,000. The Z has leisurely switched over the years to keep it in request and maintain its edge.
Here’s a look at the history and evolution of the Nissan Z car.
Nissan Fairlady Z and Datsun 240Z
The Nissan Fairlady Z began as a quest to create a halo car for the brand that would boost its photo with consumers. It was sold for the one thousand nine hundred seventy model year in October one thousand nine hundred sixty nine with two iterations. The Nissan Fairlady Z, was for the Japanese market. It had a Two.0 liter inline-six engine and its name reflected the Datsun Sports roadster that preceded it.
The American version of the car, the Datsun 240Z, was very first released on October Two, 1969. It had a Two.Four liter inline-six engine and Hitachi carburetors that produced one hundred fifty one hp. The public loved its sporty look and speed, and the car received a warm reception in the US. During its very first year on the market more than 45,000 Datsun 240Zs were sold. It continued to sell well for the one thousand nine hundred seventy two and one thousand nine hundred seventy three model years, leading Nissan to tweak it a bit and come out with an updated model in 1974, the 260Z. This Z car had a Two.6 liter engine and was available with a Two+Two bod.
Another version of the very first generation of Z cars, the 280Z, debuted in one thousand nine hundred seventy five in the US and it was the very first to use a Bosch fuel injection system. This switch offset the weight from its extra features and larger bumper and permitted the car to reach one hundred seventy hp.
2nd Generation 280ZX/S130
The Nissan 280ZX maintained the use of the Fairlady label in Japan and was the Datsun 280ZX in America. This model ushered in the 2nd generation of Z car and had more luxurious features such as climate control, leather seats, headlamp washers, two toned paint, and gold alloy wheels. During its very first year on the market, the 280ZX sold over 86,000 units, which was a sales record. It was also recognized as Motor Trend‘s “Import Car of the Year” in 1979. This iteration of the Z car put aesthetics and luxury features over driving speed and spectacle, which most of the public didn’t mind. Some sports car aficionados, however, voiced concern about where the car’s switches.
Third Generation 300ZX/Z31
In one thousand nine hundred eighty four Nissan determined to totally revamp the Z car and included its fresh Three.0 liter V6 engine in the design. The third generation of the model would also mark the ripping off of the Datsun label, and all Z cars thereafter were sold under the Nissan name in all markets. In addition to a fresh engine, the 300ZX and 300ZX Turbo had different aesthetics than previous iterations of the Z car. The assets was wedge shaped and had pronounced pop up headlights. The trend of excessive luxury features continued with this version of the model, and the 300ZX even had the option to include seats that vibed along to the music being played in the car. Still, the car remained popular and sold well. In one thousand nine hundred eighty seven the 300ZX was restyled to soften its lines, but the car remained largely unchanged until the 1990s.
Fourth Generation 300ZX/Z32
From one thousand nine hundred ninety to one thousand nine hundred ninety six the fourth generation of the Nissan Z was produced, and it had sweeping switches in terms of style, power and spectacle. This marked an exotic turn for the model, and the 300ZX was compared to the Corvette and Porsche nine hundred twenty eight S4 because of its markedly improved spectacle and treating. The twin turbo version of the one thousand nine hundred ninety 300ZX earned the title of “Import Car of the Year” from Motor Trend, and the public was enamored with its stunning looks.
In addition to looking good, the fourth generation 300ZX had slew of speed. It was able to reach two hundred twenty hp, which was significantly more than the one thousand nine hundred eighty nine model year Z. Its stronger weight was about the only criticism levied against this version of the Z car, but it was so convenient that few seemed to mind. For all of its beauty and superb features this Nissan Z was pricier than past versions, which lead to the model’s sales numbers dipping. As a result, the Z car was pulled from the US market after the one thousand nine hundred ninety six model year, but it continued to sell in Japan.
The 240Z Concept
The American public increasingly turned to SUVs during the 90s, so Nissan focused on producing those to avoid tanking financially. In 1998, the company introduced a restoration program wherein original Z cars were purchased, restored, and sold at Nissan dealerships with a price tag of $24,000.
The 240Z Concept premiered in one thousand nine hundred ninety nine at the North American International Auto Showcase and was a nod to the very first iteration of the Z car. Fabulous bright orange paint, a two seater assets, and classic styling brought back the American public’s love for the Nissan Z, and in a few more years it would come back to the US market.
Fifth Generation 350Z/Z33
The Nissan Z returned to America for the two thousand three model year as the 350Z. It was only sold as a two seater and had a naturally aspirated six clinger engine, larger wheels, and a tapered tail end. Its V6 engine produced two hundred eighty seven hp, but the model didn’t take many risks with its design or engineering. During the next few years after its reintroduction, the Nissan Z underwent several tweaks to give it better styling and reach a balance inbetween luxury features and power. This was significant to keep the price in check and ensure request for the vehicle stayed high enough to warrant its production.
As a result of its switches, the Nissan Z’s popularity grew. A 35th anniversary edition of the Z car was released in two thousand five that had a manual transmission and a revised engine that gave it three hundred hp. For the two thousand seven to two thousand eight model year, the Nissan Z featured a Trio.Five liter engine that produced three hundred six hp and an improved transmission.
Sixth Generation 370Z/Z34
The 370Z is the sixth generation and most current iteration of the Z car. It began production in two thousand eight for the two thousand nine model year and gets its name from having a Trio.7 liter V6 engine, which provides two hundred seventy lb-ft torque and three hundred thirty two hp. The current design was created with reducing weight in mind, which is why Trio.9 inches was liquidated from the wheelbase and the car’s overall length was shortened by Two.Two inches. The exterior of the 370Z is noticeably different and is a combination of traditional Z car styling and contemporary design cues. This gives the 370Z a distinct look that sets it apart from its predecessors.
It’s also slew speedy and does an excellent job of being affordable while also performing as well as cars that cost many times its base price of $30,000. Nissan used the Porsche Cayman as a spectacle benchmark for the 370Z, and the car is able to actually consistently meet or exceed the former’s speed. Going back to its roots of delivering beautiful spectacle and style at a price the masses can afford is what makes the 370Z one of the best models in the history of the Nissan Z.