For Sale: 1972 Datsun 240Z in Katwijk, Netherlands

Datsun 240Z, 1972. Two owners, 153,245 km.

Nissan spent years pretending it had no idea what it was sitting on. Then, in 1969, sports cars suddenly rolled into the showroom that looked as though they had been penned by an Italian, yet had the reliability of a Japanese wristwatch. A long bonnet, two seats, a straight-six with twin carburettors, and a price tag that nearly made rivals in Stuttgart and Modena choke on their espresso. The Datsun 240Z. The East politely asking whether Europe might kindly step aside.

And it worked. This was no imitation of an E-Type or a 911, this was simply its own idea that happened to get everything right. The lines by Yoshihiko Matsuo, the six-cylinder from the L-series, the weight that was never excessive anywhere. America fell head over heels, Europe panicked, and the Z became the best-selling sports car of its era. Not because it shouted, but because it simply made sense.

Clarkson would tell you that you are not a real car enthusiast until you have owned an Alfa. I reckon you should keep a spot open for the 240Z too. Because anyone who has ever sat behind that long nose, with that straight-six building up to a sound that calls to mind a European grand tourer rather than anything Japanese, understands exactly why this car now fetches sums it would never have dared dream of back then. A clever alternative at the time, now a car that collectors are elbowing each other aside to reach.

The story continues on our website, where the full file is kept as well. 79 photographs. The service history, scanned in full. Paint thickness measured panel by panel. The original factory brochure to page through. A timeline from 4 July 1972 to today, with every owner and the mileage year by year in a single graph.

Every car here follows the same route: first pre-market, then the showroom, and finally the online auction on our own website. What changes is the way you buy, not the location - once a car has arrived, it stays with us in Katwijk. This one is in the showroom and you are welcome to come and see it, no appointment needed. You buy it here at a fixed price: no bidding, no waiting. Our showroom in Katwijk, 30 km from Amsterdam Schiphol, is open Mon-Fri 9-18 and Sat 10-17. Call ahead and it will be standing ready, with someone free for you.

Within the EU no customs duty arises on this purchase. Registration tax and registration costs in your own country are not included. We supply the export documents and assist with the registration. The price shown is the full price for collection in Katwijk. We arrange insured door-to-door transport worldwide, cost quoted per destination beforehand.

Prefer a different colour or specification than this example? Tell us what you are looking for - another Datsun we can often find through our network of marque specialists and collectors, outside the listings.

Our showroom measures 6,000 m�, with over 150 cars under one roof. HooG Selections, Katwijk, the Netherlands. Call or WhatsApp: +31 85 043 05 86.