Datsun was a celebrated car company owned by Nissan. The company began in 1931 but was phased out in 1981 in order for the Nissan brand to grow and become a dominant force in the global economy. During its time on the market, Datsun produced many great cars. They had the Fairlady roadsters, the 510, but many consider the 240z to be their best.

At the time, this was Japan’s closest competitor to the Ford Mustang. In fact, Jay Leno even called it, “One of the greatest sportscars out of Japan". The Datsun 240Z was produced from 1970 until 1973. This car is beloved by the car community at large due to its power, reliability, and simply because it’s a cool car from a great company.

Here's what we love about the 1973 Datsun 240Z.

The 1973 Datsun 240Z Has A Powerful Engine

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Of course, if this car was, or is, compared to the Mustang, it has to be two things. Fast and powerful. The 1973 Datsun 240Z is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-6 engine that produces a brake horsepower of 151 (111.136 KW) at 5,600 rpm. It has a torque of 145 ft-lbs (197 NM) at 4000 rpm. This is paired with two transmission options. There is the 4-speed manual as well as the 5-speed, which was the non-US version. The 1973 Datsun 240Z is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

The engine has a compression rate of 8.8:1. In terms of speed, this bad beast can go from 0 to 60 in 8.7 seconds, according to conceptcarz.com. For the sake of comparison, the Ford Mustang Match 1 from the same year could do the same in only 6 seconds. The Datsun may not be as fast, but it is comparable. The 240Z can go a quarter-mile in 17.7 seconds and has a top speed of 122 mph.

It must be remembered that as of this time in car history, Japanese companies were not known for their sports cars. This means the Datsun 240Z was a bit experimental for them. What’s most important is that although this one may not have been as fast or as powerful as the Mustang, it laid the foundation for what would eventually become one of Nissan’s best cars.

RELATED: 1972 Datsun 240Z Combines Two Worlds: American Muscle And JDM

It Is Worth a Pretty Penny

Datsun 240Z
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This two-door coupe from Datsun is still worth a good bit of money. It should be noted that this is without it being a rare ride. To put things into perspective, the original base model MSRP for this ride was $4,695. If you’re looking for a 1973 Datsun 240Z today, you’ll spend a good bit more than that.

According to nada guides, you can find one for an average of $11,700. This is for a 240Z that’s not in the best condition. If you want one that is in mint condition, you can expect an average of $29,500. This car on the used market can go up to an average of $50,000 if you want one in pristine condition. Of course, these are averages. It should be noted that the prices have increased over the last few years, and it is expected that this trend will continue.

One reason for the spike in prices is that people who have always loved the look of the 240Z are now both older and richer. This means that some of them finally have the money to buy their dream car. And yes, the Datsun 240Z is the dream car of many.

As mentioned earlier, this car isn’t rare. This means that if you want one and have the money, it’s practically yours. This is one of the great things about loving mass-produced cars. Conceptcarz.com reports that there as 231,191 units produced for the 1973 model year.

RELATED: 10 Fascinating Facts About Sung Kang's Award-Winning Datsun 240Z

The Datsun 240Z Lives On

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Production for the Datsun 240Z may have ended for the 1973 model year and the Datsun same itself was later put to rest, but the 240Z lives on. Not only is it still a celebrated and highly sought-after car, but Nissan continued to use the Z nameplate. In fact, a 2023 Nissan Z has recently been announced, and it looks like a modern-day Datsun 240Z.

People love this ride, and it’s easy to see why. Not only is it fast and powerful, but it’s a well-made car that has truly withstood the test of time. Some cars die when they are discontinued. It has happened to many of our old favorites, but not this one. It was the car that proved that Japan could compete in the sports car market, and it has left an invaluable mark on the industry at large. The price of one may be a bit much for some who are in search of a used car but believe us when we say this iconic ride is worth every penny as well as the hype surrounding it.