"Since when did Japanese cars become relevant in America?"

Well, until about 15 years ago that sentence would have made sense, but now the Japanese stuff is hotter than ever. And the truth is, you already knew that. The recent surge in these cars is no secret to the car enthusiast world, but where we turn the clock back a couple of decades is where things get hazy.

Mk 4 Supras, 3rd gen RX-7s, twin-turbo 300ZXs, and all the cool stuff have become meer filler words in the tuner scene and collector markets and everyone knows that clean examples will bring a nice chunk of cash.

But when Datsun Z cars bring monstrous 6 figure sales prices, we must take a step back.

Quick And Dirty History

via Fastlanecars

Most people think that Datsun was the company that became Nissan sometime in the 1980s, however, Datsun was simply the nameplate for some of the models that were imported by Nissan. That's why on the build plaque on the inside of your 280z says "Built by Nissan."

The 240Z, in all its 1960's beauty, was released for the '69 model year and offered a 2.4l 6 cylinder motor that was derived from the 4 cylinder in the Datsun 510. As the years went on and throughout the early to mid-'70s, the 260z and 280z were released with a nearly identical body style but slightly bigger engines. As one may infer, the 260z had a 2.6 L engine and the 280z had a 2.8L.

Over the course of 9 years (1969-1978) the Z cars -or S30 chassis- would sell like hotcakes, and though Nissan had difficulty keeping up with the demand for the sports car, the first 4 years of the 240z alone saw 168,000 units. And they would go on to produce a huge number of the 260z and 280z in response to the worldwide popularity of the chassis.

Related: The Early Years Of Nissan And Datsun Pickups Explored

Aftermarket Wars

via Speedhunters

When debunking the popularity of a certain car, every aspect must be accounted for, and in recent years, the aftermarket scene for all types of cars has exploded. For people who can't take their car to the shop every time it breaks or every time they want an upgrade, the aftermarket is there to help.

Two decades ago, the only model-specific aftermarket companies were for pony cars and Chevy trucks, but now, the Japanese market cars have created their own industry and especially with the old S30 cars. Now you can spend all the money you don't have on specially made coilovers, interior pieces, splitters, diffusers, and wheels to make your Z completely unique.

Related: Hemmings Find: 1972 Datsun 240Z Restomod

Possible Sacrilege

via Engineswapdepot

But don't think that we forgot about the engine swaps. The discovery of this phenomenon will forever be the most controversial topic over not only Z cars but every old car in general. Those old inline 6 motors were heavy, bulletproof, and most importantly, longer than any engine you could ever imagine. Of course, it took an American to say, "Hey, we should fit a V8 in this" and that they did.

V8 swaps became a viable option for Z cars as a cheap and simple way to get your power to weight ratio to approximately -death. Along with the huge motors, you could also fit a 295mm tire on the rear and put the power down on the track without trouble.

Related: 20 People Who Boldly Added V8s To Their Beaters

You Don't Know What You Have Until It's Gone

via TheDrive

Yet, despite all the aftermarket popularity, this is where it gets tricky. Since Nissan built a zillion Z cars, they were everywhere on the road for years and years until they all were either crashed, rusted to bits, or put under a cover in a heated garage. And then 50 years later, all the people that loved them are kicking themselves and crying because they forgot how much they appreciated seeing that beautifully shaped car driving down their street.

Recently, an all-original 1971 Datsun 240z sold for $310,000. And after all the feelings of shock and confusion, you start to analyze why someone would fight over a car like this with cash in hand, and it ends up being very simple.

People buy the cars that they want. The two or three people who bid on that certain car knew that, firstly, they were getting probably the single nicest 240z in the world, and secondly, that they could look at it every day and experience the feelings and memories they had when they first saw one and loved it. That is why older Japanese cars, in particular, are gaining respect. The once plentiful cars, are now disappearing and taking priceless memories along with them, inspiring people to buy their own drivable nostalgia.

Next: All-New Nissan 370Z Reportedly Inspired By Legendary 240Z