Join the Family

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.

Already a member?

How was the drive?

We're glad you're back.

Not a member yet?

Forgot your password?

Reset Your Password

We'll get you back on track.

Market Finds: This is a Good Japanese Driver that has Potential Upside

This is a Good Japanese Driver that has Potential Upside

Petrolicious Productions By Petrolicious Productions
April 7, 2014
7 comments

The car: 1973 Datsun 240Z

Price: $6500 (price at posting time)

Location: Denver, Colorado, USA

Original Ad: Click here

There are folks in this world who will parrot “there isn’t such thing as a collectible Japanese car” but that’s usually a strong litmus test for determining who knows cars and who is talking out of their shiri. How could one not include the Datsun 240Z? A nicely styled sports coupe with a solid inline-six, it served as a populist Carrera for thousands of Americans in the 1970s and helped cement Datsun’s reputation beyond sedans.

This 1973 240Z on eBay is what they call a “Series II” version which had several subtle updates from the original 1969 model. It also has been modified with a tasteful paint job with other mix/match mods like changing the stock flat-top carbs to the earlier round-top carbs with chrome air covers, although the seller has the original carbs and air cleaner. The windshield, rubber gaskets, carpet, header hoses and dash cover all have been replaced. Originally equipped with AC, a previous owner chose to remove it. Inside, the front seats have been recovered. This Z is claimed to be pretty straight and solid all the way around plus it “runs and drives good”–maybe not gramatically correct but a nice, fun driver. However, could you own a Z with an automatic? Perhaps a concession to American driving conditions, we wonder how much it will affect the demand for this Z. This may be a good opportunity for someone to drop in a five-speed and tweak it into something that exploits its potential to the fullest.

Editor’s note: We just found out that the car has been sold for $6600.

If you know of a great, stylish car for sale and would like us to feature it, please let us know!

Petrolicious makes no claim as to the accuracy of the information contained in the car’s original listing, nor will it be held responsible for any errors in said information. If you’re interested in this car, do your homework and research it extensively before you buy.

Tags 240Z/ Classifieds/ Colorado/ Datsun/ Inline-Six/ Japanese/ Series II
Join the Conversation
View Comments

7
Related

Leave a Reply

Matt
Matt

This isn’t a series II. This is a series IV. http://zhome.com/History/1970or1971.html

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
5 years ago
Sid
Sid

No on the paint and the auto. I didn’t even know the 240Z was available with an auto. Next you will tell me they make automatic Miatas.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
5 years ago
Ryan
Ryan

Sid,

I hate to break it to you, but they do, in fact, make automatic Miatas. I have seen them in the NA/NB models but I am not sure if they have automatic NCs. I wouldn’t doubt it, however.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
5 years ago
Sid
Sid

I know, I was being sarcastic. 😉 I am choosing to live in my own reality where they don’t.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
5 years ago
Dustin Rittle
Dustin Rittle

I have to agree with future doc on this one that automatic just really makes this car less desirable. Now if it wasnt a sport car then a automatic really wouldnt bother me that much. After all that being said and done i really do dig the color.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
5 years ago
Future Doc
Future Doc

The automatic would be the deal-breaker. I miss my old Z and there definitely collectable Japanese cars (early Z is a prime example)… my questions would be: “is there and real collectable late-80s-90s American car?” (The answer is yes, but a lot fewer options than those with Japanese badges). The late 60s/early 70s baby-boomer collectibles cars will fade and the rise of the 80/90s J-cars will rise as populations shift.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
5 years ago
Yoav Gilad
Yoav Gilad

Japanese cars are definitely coming on strong! With regard to American cars, there will always be the usual suspects: Corvette, Mustang, Camaro/Firebird and a bit later, the Viper. There were also the multi-brand cars that came from the Mitsubishi/Chrysler partnership such as the Eclipse/Talon, Starion/Conquest, and of course the 3000GT/Stealth; but they were all really imports. And of course the [url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnxzXoKAAWM&list=PLtoI3QrvJpTzxHu7Arw78-AgNoEu0dgL0″]Chrysler LeBaron[/url].

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
5 years ago