- 4,209
- Wasilla, AK
1969-1978 Nissan/Datsun Z nominated by @Custom878
Stats
Production
1969-1978
Styles
2-door coupe
2-door 2+2 coupe
Engines
S20 121 ci/1,989 cc naturally aspirated DOHC inline 6 (rated 160 HP & 130 lb-ft in standard spec or ??? HP & ??? lb-ft in Z432R spec)
L20 122 ci/1,998 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 150 HP & ??? lb-ft, apparently)
L24 146 ci/2,393 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 151 HP & 146 lb-ft)
L26 157 ci/2,565 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 140 HP & ??? lb-ft in early U.S. spec or 162 HP & 157 lb-ft in non-U.S. and late U.S. spec)
L28E 168 ci/2,753 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 170 HP & 163 lb-ft)
Transmissions
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Layouts
Front-engine, Rear-drive
Names
Nissan Fairlady Z
Datsun 240Z
Datsun 260Z
Datsun 280Z
Trivia & Useful Notes
Rather than try to pick sides as far as naming goes, I decided to just call it the Z and list the names in the post itself.Stats
Production
1969-1978
Styles
2-door coupe
2-door 2+2 coupe
Engines
S20 121 ci/1,989 cc naturally aspirated DOHC inline 6 (rated 160 HP & 130 lb-ft in standard spec or ??? HP & ??? lb-ft in Z432R spec)
L20 122 ci/1,998 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 150 HP & ??? lb-ft, apparently)
L24 146 ci/2,393 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 151 HP & 146 lb-ft)
L26 157 ci/2,565 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 140 HP & ??? lb-ft in early U.S. spec or 162 HP & 157 lb-ft in non-U.S. and late U.S. spec)
L28E 168 ci/2,753 cc naturally aspirated OHC inline 6 (rated 170 HP & 163 lb-ft)
Transmissions
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Layouts
Front-engine, Rear-drive
Names
Nissan Fairlady Z
Datsun 240Z
Datsun 260Z
Datsun 280Z
Trivia & Useful Notes
Japanese versions carried the L20 engine normally, but special Fairlady Z432 and Fairlady Z432R models were used the S20 engine out of the then-current Skyline GTR. A few of the ~420 Z432 models built were used as police cars in Japan, the lighter & more powerful Z432R homologation special presumably being too expensive.
Another homologation special was the Fairlady ZG, with a special aerodynamic nose, fender flares riveted to the body, a rear spoiler, acrylic glass headlight covers, and fender-mounted rear view mirrors. This was never sold outside Japan, but to homologate this model for competition in the United States, the special nose kit was sold from dealerships as the "G-nose". 240Zs with it installed are referred to as 240ZGs.
The 5-speed manual wasn't available in the US until 1977, and the 260Z wasn't avaialble with it period.
A heavily modified variant known as the "Devil Z" appears in Wangan Midnight. The name comes from the car apparently being cursed or posessed, becoming extremely fast but attempting to kill its drivers. Most likely, the car would be dangerous even without the supernatural issues, as it's been fitted with the best engine upgrades available (including a massive displacement increase) and is putting down cranked up muscle car levels of horsepower through 1970's suspension and brake technology.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer/Shutokou Battle/Tokyo Highway Challenge? titles have also featured this car in various forms. Tokyo Xtreme Racer featured this car, though it required some hoop-jumping (though no hacks) to acquire in the US version of the game, and it was ridiculously fast when modified. It was driven by the final boss of the game. Two versions, a normal version and a "Devil Z" version, appeared in TXR Zero (and probably 2, which was similar), with the DZ variant having more horsepower to start with and becoming one of the fastest accelerating (and fastest period) cars in the game when fully modified. The same driver from TXR appeared again, driving the second variant, as the final boss of the game. The car appears again in TXR3, but no DZ this time - just a normal, cheap variant with fairly lackluster performance. I could go on about how that one's a disappointment, even with engine swaps.
My Take
I'm tempted to give the car itself a low cool. But I'm more tempted to give the whole thing bottom of SU because of the Devil Z (especially after some things related to its appearances in the TXR games).