Vehicle Description
1972 Datsun 240Z
"One of the best things about the new Nissan Z, which I recently
reviewed, is how it deftly incorporates traits of several previous
Zs. In particular, it pays tribute to its earliest ancestor, the
240Z, as well as the most tech-forward iteration, the 1990-96
300ZX. It's no mere coincidence that Nissan looked to these two
generations. As Hagerty data indicate, the 240Z and 300ZX are both
climbing in value and, just as important, appeal to a broad swath
of car collectors." Thx to Hagerty, May 2022
For consignment, a 1972 Datsun 240Z with a title verified 94,172
actual miles, and since Datsuns are known to "run like tops,"
that's mid level mileage and certainly low for a car that's more
than 50 years old.
Exterior
Medium Blue coats the car and the jacket is augmented by a white
stripe that covers the slight bulge on the hood, thereby
accentuating it. That stripe continues over the roof and onto the
decklid. The front and rear both wear aftermarket cladding that
adds a long chin spoiler to the front and a lower valance in the
back. It gives the illusion the car is lower than it is, but the
spell is broken when seen in profile as the rocker panels are
standard configuration and the car sits on 14-inch wheels with 65
series tires. The recessed headlights are classic Z cars, posted at
the end of a long and narrow nose, a cabin that cants reward, and a
short, sloping tail that ends abruptly, all lending to a well
balanced car some say ahead of its time. The black rear light panel
is a nice touch and the only imperfection we note on the exterior
are some scrapes on that lowered chin.
Interior
Japanese efficiency is expressed in the simple black door panels
that waste no material with overwrought designs or contouring and
they're in great shape. While the door is open, we note some
surface rust along the rim of the doorjamb, perhaps where rubber
seals have trapped some moisture. The tall black vinyl bucket seats
are pure Z with their four buttons and we note some blemishes on
the passenger door. The steering wheel shows some patina and is
wearing an older aftermarket cover on the rim. Ahead of it, two
main gauge front and center for the driver's observation and to the
right of them, three more gauges relaying five bits of information
including the time. The center stack looks good and houses vent
controls and an AM/FM radio. A patina clad center console is home
to the shifter, wrapped in a laced leather boot and the entire
floor is covered in black looped carpet that appears to be in
decent condition. The same material covers the rear cargo area in
clean condition.
Drivetrain
Under the reverse opening hood, we find a clean 2.4 liter inline
six cylinder pumping out a respectable 138 horsepower. It's fueled
by dual 2-barrel Weber carburetors and in true sports car fashion,
the power is directed to the rear wheels and 3.70 gears. Power
brakes are onboard with discs in front and drums in the rear.
Undercarriage
This is driver quality underneath with surface rust on all of the
usual components including the driveshaft, exhaust, brake
components, and frame. We note no leaks underneath and no invasive
rust of concern. Headers lead to an exhaust which encounters a
stock style muffler before heading back where the valance makes
room for the tailpipe.
Drive-Ability
These sporty cabins were made for the street, but have a race car
vibe. Maybe it's the sitting position and that long nose out front,
but it makes you wonder if Z stands for "zoom zoom", (sorry Mazda).
The six cylinder carries us onto the test loop with confidence
although we're noting a slight detune to the carbs, as if they're
not fully dialed in. But the ride is great with fantastic handling,
straight tracking, and visibility that takes a few minutes of
practice without the right side mirror, which was the standard
configuration. But it's got good acceleration for a little car. We
do note that the radio is not working but all other functions
operate as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that
these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we
cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of
your purchase.
Hagerty is a pretty reliable source for collector market values and
Z cars have been on the rise for quite some time. When we're
fortunate enough to represent one here, it elicits a response from
most people who walk by. It seems they touched a nerve in the 70's
and everyone at one time had some kind of experience, usually
positive, with the Datsun Z cars. This one awaits the next lucky
owner!
HLS30166389
H-L28E Engine
L-Left Hand Drive
S30-Model Number
166389-Sequential Unit Number
