We’ll never know if Dennis Collins and his YouTube channel's ability to find remarkable classic cars is through luck or effort.
Yet his latest automotive adventure will leave enthusiasts envious and curious about how Collins manages to do it, following his weekly adventures with many Ford Mustangs and other cool cars getting new homes.
This time, he heads to nearby Arlington, Texas, to retrieve a one-owner 1972 Datsun 240Z that’s been sitting in a garage for 30 years.
A Classic Datsun 240Z Barn Find With A Unique Story
Collins introduces viewers to the 240Z’s owner, David Cash, a U.S. Army veteran - Cash’s time in the service included a stint in Africa during the 1970s, which coincided with an interest in owning a 240Z.
This led to Cash ordering his 1972 Datsun 240Z sports car, a California-spec model from a dealer in Ethiopia, and a patient wait of a couple of months.
Following his African duty, Cash shipped the car back to the U.S., where it’s been in his possession since - he's selling the car because he doubts he’d fit in the compact cabin, and Collins is more than happy to take advantage of the situation.
Collins Gets To Work On One Of The Best Finds Ever
Like clockwork, Collins sets about with the automotive treasure before him.
While the car isn’t perfect, originality is what sparks his interest - a look under the hood reveals a numbers-matching 2.4-liter engine, factory rated for 150 horsepower (a respectable number in the day).
We also learn that except for a thorough respray, rear window louvers, and a replacement clock and radio, this Datsun 240Z Japanese-made sports car is stock.
Air conditioning got installed later, but the addition was via a factory-authorized dealer, 38,000 miles on the odometer adds to the appeal of this sports car, too.
Collins also lucks into a pair of classic Kawasaki motorcycles, including one with 967 miles.
The Significance Of The Datsun 240Z Sports Car
Collins emphasizes how rare it is to find a first-generation Z-car in good condition, calling out his latest acquisition as an example - this breakthrough model helped establish a benchmark for Japanese sports cars in the U.S.; a market dominated by European and American automakers.
Arguably reaching their peak in the 1990s, Japanese sports cars live on in the seventh-generation Nissan Z, which debuts for the 2023 model year.
While Toyota started selling the Supra again for 2020, it’s perhaps more of a hardtop version of the BMW Z4.
Other notable examples, like the Mazda RX-7 rotary-powered JDM car, left the market years ago.
Source: YouTube via Dennis Collins