1970 Datsun 240Z

The Story

The 1970 Datsun 240Z arrived in America like a thunderclap. Here was a sleek, long-nosed sports coupe with a smooth inline-six, independent suspension, and genuine performance, all for about $3,526. It made the British and Italian competition look both overpriced and overcomplicated.

Under that elegant hood lived a 2.4-liter L24 six rated at 151 horsepower, good for a 0-60 dash in around eight seconds. The styling, overseen by Yoshihiko Matsuo, borrowed a little Jaguar grace and a little Ferrari flair, yet the whole package was reliable, affordable, and built to be driven hard every day.

Americans bought them as fast as Datsun could ship them. Just over 16,000 found homes in that first 1970 model year, and worldwide 240Z production would swell past 168,000 cars before the model gave way to the 260Z. The Z single-handedly rewrote the world's idea of what a Japanese car could be.

Decades later, the 240Z is a blue-chip collectible. Clean, original examples now trade in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s, with concours cars climbing far higher. The car that democratized the sports car remains, fittingly, one of the most beloved classics of its era.