1977 Datsun 260Z 2+2 Coupe

The legendary Z car was conceived by Nissan's North American President, Yutaka Katayama as a cheaper alternative to Toyota's exotic 2000GT and ultimately became the first truly successful Japanese sports car. Using a six-cylinder engine derived from the unit in the boxy 1600 sedan, the motor had a single overhead camshaft and 150 bhp on tap. The original 240Z also boasted a race-bred rack-and-pinion steering, independent suspension and a five-speed gearbox. The attractive styling, with long bonnet and compact cabin area, has widely been credited to German designer Albrecht Goertz and still looks sharp today. The 240Z was an instant success, particularly in America, but with emissions controls increasingly diluting its performance, Nissan sought to restore some of the power lost by increasing engine capacity - taking the stroke out to 79mm boosted output to 162 bhp. The 260Z retained the classic looks of its predecessor and the appeal was broadened with the addition of a 2+2 version on a slightly longer wheelbase and with a higher roofline to increase cabin space. Today, any well kept Nissan Z car is a delight to own, offering plenty of driving thrills, the practicality of a rear hatchback and large load area. Spare parts are in plentiful supply and cheap. For too long, the early model Zs have been under appreciated in Australia and with classic status assured, values can only rise in the years to come.