1973 Datsun 240Z 82157 Miles Silver Coupe 2.4 L 5 Speed Manual

Description

It seems a little difficult to believe now, but back in the early '70s, most car buyers had trouble associating style and performance with Japanese auto manufacturers. Nissan, the parent company of Datsun, saw an opportunity to change this, and set their sights on knocking as many of the existing sports car favorites of the day off their perches as possible. This 1973 Datsun 240Z is a proud member of that disruptive class of cars, and this one, having been... brought back to top form both inside and out, is an excellent example. Released at a time when most sports cars were sporting cabins that sat somewhere near their midpoint, with hoods only slightly longer than their deck lids, this 240Z resembled few other cars of its day and you can see why it caused such a stir, as its long hood was a styling feature normally associated with exotic European cars. With its smooth and even silver paint sitting underneath a very strong clearcoat to provide a great shine, this '73 is a great representative for the model. It evokes nostalgia for sure, but some 45 years after it debuted, still looks agile and capable. A thorough restoration has left its exterior looking great, with clean and level chrome bumpers both fore and aft, fresh rubber surrounding the windshield and well-fitted body panels on all four sides that show nice, uniform gaps that allow its doors, hood and rear hatch to open and shut easily. Take a look inside and you'll see that this black, vinyl interior wasn't just refurbished, but rather restored from scratch. There are fresh, supple-looking surfaces everywhere and the pair of high-backed bucket seats look particularly impressive, showing no perceptible wear on their smooth surfaces and sitting astride a center console reflecting the same condition. You'll find the original steering wheel securely in place, with its woodgrain finish shining and branded Datsun centerpiece looking as it did when new. The dash area is head and shoulders over most of its counterparts of the era as far as design is concerned, and features an assortment of renewed, clear gauges in its cluster and a new dash pad on top. Fresh black carpeting lines the entire floor, as well as that of the very tidy storage area in back, which is also surprisingly spacious and harbors a factory spare underneath. A 2.4 liter inline six engine sits in an engine bay that looks to have recently been steam cleaned, surrounded by fresh looking hoses and properly routed wiring. The powerplant was overhauled just a few years back and is at the top of its game, teaming with an updated 5-speed manual transmission from a 280Z to propel this very lightweight vehicle - it weighs just 2400 lbs. - with conviction. The low-slung 240Z was already an able corner carver when it was first released - its handling was one of the reasons Sports Car International magazine once ranked it #2 of the Top Sports Cars of the '70s - and this one, lowered by 1-1/2" via its Eibach springs for an even lower center of gravity, takes that ability to an even higher level. Power brakes at all four corners, with discs up front, provide this pivotal Japanese classic with plenty of stopping power as it cruises the highways on a set of 14" steel rims outfitted with BF Goodrich TA radials. This 1973 Datsun 240Z offers the chance to own one seriously influential sports car that almost singlehandedly changed the standing of the Japanese auto industry forever. Call today!