The '70s were bittersweet in the automotive industry. While the Japanese market was booming with best-selling vehicles like the Datsun Sports Roadster and the Nissan Skyline GT-R, the rest of the world, or at least part of it, wasn’t so lucky. The U.S., for instance, faced an oil crisis, which forced performance-focused automakers – who formerly went full throttle on the “more power” approach – to adopt a more efficient philosophy.

This was when the renowned Japanese automaker, Nissan, decided to demonstrate to the world that they could do more than just affordable and dependable vehicles. The brand brought a sports car that was not only efficient, but reliable and affordable, the Nissan Fairlady Z. Also called the Datsun 240Z in the U.S., the Nissan Fairlady Z marked the start of something special with its 1969 US debut.

Taking inspiration from the superior and unrivaled sports cars from the European market of its day, the Datsun 240Z oozed a unique sports car vibe, with an aerodynamic exterior, modern engineering, and, most importantly, an efficient inline-6 engine, all at an affordable price of $3600. The 240Z became a top pick vehicle for car enthusiasts, with sales growing from 16,215 units in 1970 to 33,684 units the following year. And by 1972, the Datsun 240Z had already cemented itself as an unbeatable sports car icon. This turned out to be just the beginning of the Z, a lineage that has grown to be the best of its kind today.

So, what exactly made the Datsun 240Z so special on the market that offered the likes of the Mazda RX3 and the First-Gen Honda Civic? To answer this, we’re diving into some outstanding features of the Datsun 240Z.

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The 1972 Datsun 240Z: Efficient, Yet Punchy Inline-6 Engine

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The Datsun 240Z was fun to drive around, with its confident 2.4-liter inline-6 motor that made around 151 horses at 5,600 RPM and 146 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 RPM. Equipped with a twin carburetor, the L24 engine was offered a new Z personality, along with tons of power. The engine was so reliable that Nissan maintained it for the 240Z’s entire period, from 1969 through 1973. Although, unlike most powertrains, the 240z’s straight-6’s both intake and exhaust manifolds were installed on the same side of the engine, which, when viewed from a more modern-day perspective, would undoubtedly strike you as ‘odd’. But it was one of the things that made the engine unique.

The engine sent power to the rear wheels through a standard, swift-shifting 4-speed manual transmission. A 3-speed automatic gearbox, which was introduced in the previous year, was still optional, coming with the apparent “Nissan fully automatic” badge on the car. The Japanese market also received a 5-speed manual version that never debuted in the US.

The 1972 Datsun 240Z Has An Above-Average Highway Drive

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One of the things that made the Datsun 240Z so impressive was the performance. Despite demanding effort from the driver, the Datsun 240Z was easy to drive. The standard 4-speed was very responsive, along with the steering, which controlled the front wheels with authority and valor, despite the road conditions. And even though the engine was made to be more efficient, it still provided the car with a decent output for any occasion. The engine also did a great job of hauling the 2,302-pound body, propelling it from zero to 60 mph in just 8.0 seconds, with a top speed of 125 mph.

While they weren’t exactly the smoothest in the class, the Datsun 240Z’s independent suspensions - comprising MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar, coil springs, lower transverse and telescopic dampers in the front, and Chapman struts, and lower wishbones in the rear – provided a firmer experience, either on the highway or the racetrack.

And speaking of racing, the Datsun 240Z was a prized contender in the World Rally community, winning the 21st East African Safari Rally in 1973.

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The Datsun 240Z Had An Incredibly Stylish Character

1972-datsun-240z-side-angle
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The most outstanding feature of the Datsun 240Z was its exterior design, which, unlike the later years, flaunted a chrome 240Z badge on the sail pillar and rear hatch vents. On the side, it looked incredibly aerodynamic, with the 4.5J-14 steel wheels and 175SR14 tires that further boosted its profile. From 1971, the 240Z dropped the rear hatch vents and the sail pillar badging was updated to just a Z, which looked bolder and more elegant.

While the exterior caught lots of attention, the interior, however, was really basic. Still, it had driver-focused controls and a great driving position, and its 90.7-inch wheelbase unlocked a lot of cabin space, even though the design seemed to favor the long nose. And speaking of the nose, its pointy design and sleek hood contributed to the car’s aerodynamic appeal, making it faster and more fuel economic.