1973 Datsun 240Z 

OK, so it's nothing like 1934.  But that year, Nissan Motors was formed from the merger of two Japanese car companies: DAT Automobile Co. and Jitsuyo Automobile Co.  But instead of using the new, Nissan name plate for the front of their cars, they chose to brand them Datsun - the moniker DAT Automobile Co had been using since the previous year - which was a variant of Datson, the name used since the company's first car the year before that, changed because it sounded too much like a Japanese phrase that means “to lose money”.  Come 1984, and with the Datsun brand firmly established across the world, Nissan decided it was about time it marketed its cars under the parent brand's name plate.  Datsun was dropped, but it was a pricey decision.  Changing signs at the 1,100 Datsun dealerships cost $30 million.  Changing the marketing epithet from “Datsun, We Are Driven!” to “The Name is Nissan” cost $200 million.  Then there was another $50 million spent on approved but redundant Datsun adverts.  All in, it was a $500m exercise…

Let's get into the way back machine Peabody, and head to 1973 when Nissan was Datsun, and the company was killing it with their 240Z, which happens to be the car up for consignment.  We have a complete history of ownership for this car as well as a concise list of strengths and weaknesses and inventory of items that come with the car.  I will not bore you with the list of said items however if you are interested it is available for your perusal.  Also, somewhat low original miles, (56,297), and all I can say is rock and roll!

Exterior
With gaps that remain consistent, we can see the consignor stated original white as the driven snow paint.  It is a fair paint job and shines nicely but does have a few areas of overspray in the door jambs leading us to believe there was at minimum some spot in work performed in the past.  The quintessential pony car with Japanese influence, its long hood, inset head lighting, black contrasting egg crate grille and long sloping hatchback the side view sells this car.  I can see why it was so wildly popular in its heyday.  Take this design, throw in plenty of reliability and some sporty performance and we have a winner winner chicken dinner!  Black accenting, chrome bumpers with non stock California bumper bars, as well as the aforementioned black grille and the black rear roll pan give it a sporty yet sophisticated look.  Some surface and beginnings of invasive rust on nearly all of the lowers on this car, some dents and paint peeling off are pretty typical with a car of this age.  Aluminum slotted wheels are wrapped 185/70R14 rubber all around.  These tires are older, although look good, and the consignor states that the left front has a slow leak.

Interior
The word original looking crops up with sleek styled high back bucket seats that have new recovered red vinyl tuck and roll inserts and smooth red bolsters.  Small round air venting is seen on the bucket lowers of the uprights.  A black plastic deep inset instrument molded dash is original and shows with 3 small cracks.  There is a factory wood rimmed steering wheel, inset round sweep gauges are in the front of the driver, and within top of center dash is a trio of deep inset round gauges.  Just below is an AC vent, temp sliders, and factory AM/FM radio. This panel melts into the center console where the shifter and handbrake reside along with an open tray storage area in the back.  The sides of the console covering the hump we note triangulated stitched vinyl in red covering. Behind these seats is a carpeted storage area, ready to hold nearly anything you can throw in.This carpet as well as flooring carpeting is very clean. The remainder of the rear cargo area is covered in a nice black carpet, the headliner is smooth red vinyl and tight, and door panels are smooth and in good condition.  

Drivetrain
An original unrestored 2.4 Liter Inline 6-cylinder graces the engine bay.  On the side are dual 2-barrel Weber carburetors.  Bolted to the back is a 4-speed manual transmission attached.  A 3.70 rear sums up the drivetrain.

Undercarriage
Road dirt, patina and some surface rust abounds although it is not seen as invasive.  Some oil blowback is noted on the transmission and rear gear housing.n  All around, Macpherson strut independent suspension is on along with power disc brakes in front and power drums in back.  The single exhaust has a glass pack style muffler.

Drive-Ability
She fired right up and off to the test track where it ran smoothly, shifted with ease, and had bias free panic stopping.  The handling is great on this sports car.  Noted the windscreen washer sprayer does not function and the clock is stuck.

A slight bit of TLC could be put into this car to make it excellent, but it is a mechanically sound runner, and an early example of the beginnings of the so-called “Japanese Invasion”.  We give you the Datsun 1973 240Z.  Zat's all folks!

HLS30123756

H-L28E Engine
L-Left Hand Drive
S30-Model Number
123756-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.  This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.