240Z
Introduced in Japan in December 1969 as the Fairlady Z, the Datsun 240Z belongs to the first generation of Nissan’s Z sports cars, identified by the S30 chassis code. Its long hood, rear hatch, and two-seat fastback coupe body set it apart from the small open roadsters that had previously defined many affordable sports cars. Export-market 240Zs used the 2.4-liter L24 inline-six and became the name most closely associated with the car in North America. Nissan presented the model as a European-style sports car with an emphasis on attainable pricing and everyday reliability. The timeline requires some market awareness: the S30 appeared in Japan in 1969, while the 2.4-liter 240Z reached North America as a 1970 model. A 1969 reference should therefore be checked against the market, production date, and chassis identification rather than treated as a universal model-year definition.
Variants by year
1969
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
Introduced in Japan in December 1969 as the Fairlady Z, the Datsun 240Z belongs to the first generation of Nissan’s Z sports cars, identified by the S30 chassis code. Its long hood, rear hatch, and two-seat fastback coupe body set it apart from the small open roadsters that had previously defined many affordable sports cars. Export-market 240Zs used the 2.4-liter L24 inline-six and became the name most closely associated with the car in North America. Nissan presented the model as a European-style sports car with an emphasis on attainable pricing and everyday reliability. The timeline requires some market awareness: the S30 appeared in Japan in 1969, while the 2.4-liter 240Z reached North America as a 1970 model. A 1969 reference should therefore be checked against the market, production date, and chassis identification rather than treated as a universal model-year definition.
History
The Z project reflected Datsun’s ambition to build a sports car that could challenge European coupes without matching their price or mechanical complexity. Nissan identifies the Fairlady Z as the starting point of its Z-car lineage: it was launched in Japan in December 1969, while the 2.4-liter 240Z for North America arrived as a 1970 model. That distinction explains why catalogs from Japan, North America, and other export markets may assign different names or dates to closely related cars. The S30 body combined a two-seat cabin, long hood, and rear hatch. Typical export-market 240Zs used the L24, a 2,393cc overhead-cam inline-six. Independent strut suspension and front disc brakes contributed to the car’s balanced road manners, while the layout remained comparatively straightforward to service. Nissan also developed the Fairlady Z for competition. A works 240Z won the 1971 East African Safari Rally, and another took the overall victory in 1973. Those results helped establish the model as more than a stylish road car. The 240Z became strategically important to Datsun, especially in the United States. Its appeal came from the combination of distinctive styling, useful performance, mechanical accessibility, and pricing that undercut many imported European sports cars. That formula helped make the S30 one of the most influential Japanese performance cars of its era.
Generations
The Datsun 240Z is not a separate generation; it is an export-market version of the first-generation Z car, commonly identified by the S30 chassis code. That code covers several names and configurations depending on the country. In Japan, the original model was sold as the Fairlady Z with a 2.0-liter engine, while the 240Z name generally referred to export cars using the 2.4-liter L24 inline-six. Nissan states that the 240Z was initially developed for North America and added to the Japanese lineup in November 1971. The core design remained consistent: a two-seat coupe with a rear hatch, long hood, and rear-wheel drive. Regional regulations, equipment, engines, and body treatments created visible differences within the S30 family. Japan’s Fairlady 240ZG is the most obvious example, using an extended G-nose front end, covered headlamps, and bolt-on fender flares. It remains an S30 variant rather than a separate generation. The 240Z’s direct successors included the 260Z in 1974 and the 280Z in selected markets. The S130, introduced in 1978, represented the next Z generation, with a larger body and a more touring-oriented character. For identification purposes, the S30 chassis code, original market, engine, and chassis number are more dependable than an isolated model-year label.
Key differences
The most important differences are market-related. An early Japanese Fairlady Z may use a 2.0-liter engine, while an export 240Z normally uses the 2,393cc L24 inline-six. Published power figures also vary with testing standards, emissions equipment, and market specification, so figures from different catalogs should not be compared without context. S30 bodies share the same basic shape, but details can separate regional versions. Bumpers, taillamps, gauges, mirrors, carburetors, emissions hardware, and interior trim changed over time and between countries. Japan’s 240Z-L and 240ZG do not correspond exactly to North American trim levels. The 240ZG is particularly easy to distinguish because of its extended G-nose, headlamp covers, and bolt-on fender flares. Competition cars can differ much more dramatically. Nissan’s rally 240Zs used modified engines, transmissions, suspension components, and brakes, so their specifications should not be treated as representative of a standard road car. The most reliable comparison method combines the chassis code, market, production date, engine identification, and period equipment rather than relying on badges alone.
Photo recognition
A standard 240Z is first recognized by its two-seat coupe shape: a long hood, rear-set cabin, fastback roofline, and glass rear hatch. The S30 chassis code is a key clue, but it does not by itself establish the commercial name, because the same family was sold as the Fairlady Z in Japan and as the Datsun 240Z in several export markets. For an export 240Z, the L24 2.4-liter inline-six is an important mechanical identifier. The chassis plate, stamped identification numbers, and engine-bay markings are more dependable than badges, especially on restored or modified cars. Bumpers, taillamps, dashboard instruments, mirrors, and carburetors can provide additional evidence of the original market. The Japanese 240ZG has the clearest visual distinction: an extended G-nose, covered headlamps, and bolt-on fender flares. A car carrying those features should not automatically be classified as a standard 240Z. Wheels, flares, seats, paint colors, and trim are useful supporting clues, but they may have been changed during restoration. Identification is strongest when visual details agree with the chassis, engine, and market documentation.
Important versions
The 1969 Fairlady Z marks the beginning of the S30 family, although the 240Z name is most closely associated with the 2.4-liter export version. The North American 240Z is the best-known specification, using the L24 inline-six in a two-seat coupe body. Japan later offered the Fairlady 240Z, 240Z-L, and 240ZG. The 240ZG is the most visually distinctive, with its extended G-nose, covered headlamps, and bolt-on fender flares. Factory rally cars hold a separate place in the model’s history. Overall victories in the East African Safari Rally in 1971 and 1973 gave the 240Z international competition credibility. For accurate classification, however, a standard road car should be separated from a Japanese-market version and from a heavily prepared works or privateer competition car.
References
- Fairlady 240Z / Datsun 240Z Heritage CollectionNissan Motor Corporation
- Datsun 240Z Heritage CollectionNissan Motor Corporation
- https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33338595/datsun-240z-designer-yoshihiko-matsuo-obituary/caranddriver.com
- https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a27437962/1973-datsun-240z-auction/caranddriver.com
- https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15143644/datsun-240z-road-test/caranddriver.com
- https://www.hemmings.com/stories/parts-and-time-make-the-whole-1972-datsun-240z/hemmings.com
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Datsun 240Z produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 1969.
- How many Datsun 240Z examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 1 published scan from 1 member, with the latest photo added in July 2026.