"Need a modern version of this car". Seven years later, I just came to this video directly from the digital unveiling of the Nissan Proto Z. I just wanted to see a 240z G as mentioned in the unveil cause I didnt think I'd ever seen one, but now I remember this model from gran turismo.
Growing up we had a 260Z and I loved that car. It was defiantly one of the coolest cars in our neighborhood. My father was very proud of it. Now I have a 350Z HR and I love it. I agree with Jay. I love the haunches of the Zs. When washing it its just like running your hands over the hips of a beautiful woman. Excuse me for a moment but I need to visit the garage, lol.
Jay leno"s Garage is the best show on UA-cam No other show comes close to the amount of content that he puts out with each one of his episodes. Its not just about the cars, its also about the amazing people that are behind the making of these works of art and amazing machinery, and the history of it all, and he grasps each and everyone of those points every time. Great Series Jay, keep up the Great work. I just wanted to let you know all of us enjoy your work and this hobby, thanks for sharing!
Never not amazed at the amount of memory chips that your vehicles continue to stir Jay. i was stunned at the amount of these i would see Ranger lieutenants driving, while serving in the 82nd Abn. Inf. Div.. This spoke volumes for their appeal to the daredevil careers of these officers. Given my low NCO pay scale, i drove a 54 Chevy, and rode, a 68 Triumph Trophy Sports motorcycle, of which @ age 63... i have and still ride to this day. -Former Sgt. 1/504 71-74
In December of 1970 at 19, I bought a '71 'Z'(in mustard yellow). Everyone I knew preferred American muscle cars at the time. I recall the first time I drove into a hugely popular establishment for hotrods in Brooklyn, NY named Mitchell's. EVERY car owner came over to check out and ask questions about the Z with me, I could not get out of there. The car was incredibly unique for its time and very popular. It was my daily rider. I went back and forth to Manhattan, and travelled the now defunct Westside highway with its hairpin turns. What fun! I remember a trip into Canada, where I was travelling over 115mph between Montreal and Quebec (over that speed - the front end got pretty squirrily). The cabin was pretty spacious and the hatch feature was just perfect. It was a great road car. That said, it had it's mechanical quirks, like: The hub caps flying off the car in tight turns (and once rebounding into the side of my Z, scraping the rear quarterpanel with what looked like a tiger paw slash), the choke sticking causing black smoke from the exhaust a number of times, a part in the tranmission failing causing constant whirring and taking months to fix by the dealer (who then proceeded to canibalize the dash instruments to fix other cars while it awaited the necessary parts), and the 'mica plates' separating between the carbs and head repeatedly, causing big issues with performance and exhaust fuming. I kept it 26 months, put on 26,000 miles and sold it for $3,300. Considering I paid $3,693, it turned out to be a great deal for roughly $400 buck. All considered ...... GREAT MEMORIES
+Ab CRXsi I can certainly agree with that. I've got the 300zx (z31) and the styling doesn't have that sexy curvature to it. But it does have something that I find really compelling.
Such a gorgeous car! My favorite classic japanese sports car I've driven is my friend's '78 280Z. Even to this day it's a lot of fun on a country road in the hills.
Gee,I had a 1978 5 speed stick 280Z in mint condition when I purchased it in 1985 in the south.Moved to the north in 1986 and by 1987 it was a rust bucket.The car hated salt.That was the cars biggest problem.Beaches and salt.
As a first generation Z owner I would love nothing more than to see the original 240z styling back on the market. Would be awesome to finally own both! I love how you can genuinely tell that Jay really loves cars with true class and style. Sorry later model 260,280,& 300z/zx guys but hard to deny the fact that the original was and will remain the best (imo). Hope to see new 240z soon! Take care z lovers (and haters)
i have a 73 240z. awesome car, great performance. could use a bit of chassis stiffening, stiffer suspension, and a bit beefier brakes, but for its age its fantastic. The only thing i have grips with is the damn dash board, way to good damn tight underneath. next to impossible for me to work on anything under there. leg room is a bit tight too. possibly my second favorite car ever.
It's obviously a publicity stunt... He had the original design underneath, albeit with smaller level of opacity (I think, from what I remember when I was playing around in Photoshop)..
This is just promotion and being nice/respectful to Jay Leno. Sketching and design do not work this way at all. It ain't like giving a haircut. These guys know it's BS. Nothing I hate worse than people asking me to draw on the spot. Imagine for a celebrity and on camera. Imagine: can you?
+Jksamonte Yes, and the extended nose in front of the hood... I'm a little disappointed that as big of a car guy Jay is, he (or his staff) didn't have that correct.
I think the best part of old cars, and why they are so timeless, is how simple the lines were. Car manufacturers are just adding more and more lines everywhere, makes it look awful, and gets dated very quickly
My dad owned a few 240s and a 260. Great car. These cars don't get the resale dollars of the US muscle cars but they have their place in sports car history. Thanks Jay!
I agree with Jay's attraction to those smooth curved lines. IMHO, so much nicer than the silly comic book style "angry faces" and "Star Wars" folded sheet metal.
My Father has a 1936 Datsun Roadster w/rumbleseat. He started the Datsun dealership here in Wichita Ks. in the 1960's. We have had this car probably since about this time. It was always in the showroom behind ropes. Since selling his dealership he has had it inside his house believe it or not. In his den. Particulars on the car. The fuel pump line has been replaced from rear tank with an electrical pump and regulator. Carburator needs servicing and the clutch needs adjusted. Jay would you be interested in this car? I have photos.
+Robert Abraham awww dude can u inbox me some pictures of your dates ni would love to see it man the story sounds badass man !!!!! message me back as you can :D cheers man
I was gaga over this car as a kid in the 70s. I don't remember a lot of interest in it from others at the time. Admirers are coming out of the woodwork now though. I guess nostalgia is a big part of it.
300ZX Turbo is my favorite Nissan. It was an original design, and very beautiful at that. The front end was the Bugatti EB110, and later Lamborghini started doing this on their Diablos. Not the best choice for the Diablo, the pop-up headlights are far better for the Diablo. But for the Nissan 300ZX they worked fantastically. I would even go ahead and say that the 300ZX was the best looking car Nissan has ever produced. The front was great, the rear was great, the side was great. What would anyone else want? Aesthetics is 100% when it comes to purchase decision.
Had the first gen 300ZX, later went for the last one (2+2 needed the extra seating) now there's a first gen 350Z in my garage, which in my opinion has the purest shape. No gimmicks. Just form and function.
We have a 1971 Fairlady Z-L we "refreshed" to close to original. The "Lady" was the "Class Winner" in the 2008 Portland Roadster Show. LOVE to drive it through the hills in the summer ... "Enjoy The Ride"!!
I once owned a 1971 240Z and it was pure excitement to drive it but unfortunately the early generations were notorious for rust and mine was no exception. When the frame buckles as the hoist is lifting it up you know it's time to say goodbye...but I enjoyed the thrill of driving it during the time I had it.
Doesn't surprise me that Jay waxes a car now and then. I feel like when you Wax and change the oil in your car is when you really connect with it and get to know it. And there are certain places on the body that are just nice to run your hands over and feel how the wind would flow around it.
+Roy Wilkerson couldn't agree more mate. some curves on the car really tells you like "hey my driver, wanna know where's my sweet aero spot? yessss it's right there mate" lol
One of my favourite cars of all time right there along with the Toyota AE86 Trueno. I'm not really a fan of the extended front and i prefer chrome front mirrors but it's still one of the most beautiful cars ever made in my opinion.
The maroon car is a ZG. The extended nose, headlight covers, and wheelwell arches are all part of the package. Japanese home-market cars had the fender/wing mounted mirrors as standard fare, and they work quite well - you don't have to take your eyes as far off center to check them as you do door mounted units.
...I want to build a 240Zg replica... I totally dig the plexiglass covers over the headlights , and the fender mounted bullit style mirrors , and the fender flairs....totally awesome car.
Yeah, that is more like a Z car usually is, rust rust and more rust. With a smokey L series 6 cyl. I believe the Rotsun now has a V8 in it. But a great look, drive quite well and when the engines are good have a lovely exhaust note as well.
Jay - I hope you visited with Mr. K while you were there. I think you pretty much nailed it. Beautiful Classic Styling {Coke Bottle lines}, Practical Utility {hatch back with large cargo area}. I would have added Light Weight {2500 lbs or less}. Drive train and chassis competitive in SCCA classes today! The Datsun 240Z's are still winning on the track some 40 years after they were introduced. Think BRE and Peter Brock. Bought my first 240Z in March of 70 - and I'm still driving them today.
What a great car .I had a 1974 Datsun 240Z in dark blue,5spd manual. Owned it for 5 years or so and it was fast and reliable. It would slide around so predictably on dirt,gravel,sand or in the wet. Perfect for handbrake turns and was even pretty economical. Hope they bring out a new one :)
I just bought a 2019 370Z sport coupe 6M all-black and love it. I've always loved the Zs, since the debut of the 240Z and even its predecessor the Datsun 1600 & 2000 roadsters. I believe my Z still represents the best combination of power, handling ability, style and affordability one can get in a pure sports car today. The only thing I would have changed in my car is to have the weight knocked down a few hundred pounds to about 3,000 lbs.
a guy who lives near me has a 1980's? 240Z. He even parks it at the parking lot of a train station like a regular car. The moment I saw it I loved it, even though I never even heard of Datsun at the time.
I saw the brief 280z bit on Jay Leno's garage and became obsessed enough to find myself here a week later while I googled the hell out of it. Funny because I hated this car as a kid...Now I am in love.
I had a 1972 Datsun 240 Z. I loved it. I particularly liked the innovative little touchs that made it feel like a jet fighter. I am 6'6" so the leg room was fantastic, the seats very supportive, the view from the low driving position very relaxed. The vents and the center console dials were clever, as were the little doors to give you access to the battery and the washer fluid. I liked that the hood hinged forward, so as to work with the slipsteam, should it come loose. It came with bias tires, so I immediately put Michelin radials on for handling. It wasn't a fast car off the line and certainly not a drag car, but I think I got it up to 135 mph on a long straight. Hell I would buy another, but I would probably have to settle for the Toyota FRS. I thing it was Toyota who first designed this car and called it the "Fairlady", it appearing in a "Bond" film. Beautiful.
Hey Jay and producers of these videos: Great job! Production quality has really gone up since a few years ago, however a bit of constructive criticism here. ometimes Jay would be talking about a part of a car, in this video for example, the gearknob designs and boot of the 240Z. However the time the camera spends on those parts are too short and sometimes we can't get a good look of it without pausing. Perhaps show us those details Jay point out on screen more? Just Jay's voice-over is good
I owned 8 Z cars and still own one nice Z with a G-nose (as the extended nose is known). Besides the fact that the car seems to have a pact with the 'rust devil' it's a great car and superfun to drive! Thanks Jay for your attention to this great japanese product of the 70tees, Pete
personally I'm not a Nissan fan but I am an old school car fan. I love the cars that came out in the 70s, 80s and 90s. and Nissan cars were beautiful back then.
Did Jay Leno finally get a 240 or 280 Z or ZX yet in his garage ??? My first car was a black on black 1978 280z & my 3rd car was a Gold 1979 280 ZX I drove it for over 5 years.
The 300zx took a classic idea and turned it into a powerful machine. The VG30 is one of the best V6 motors ever built and is the origin of the V6 you see in the new GTR. If the new team at Nissan can combine the classic styling of the original 240Z with the performance advancements made in the 300zx they will build a wonderful vehicle.
The Datsun trim and styling on the brown fairlady at the beginning of the package was Japanese quirky. It would be interesting to see a book on Japanese car design to get how Japanese car styling evolved over time. Now Japanese style in car design is amongst the most daring and exciting.
Omg this is one of the coolest videos...How that heck you get inside there! hahah I love the fairladys and you are spot on what makes the Zs sexy! Thanks for such great video! great work!
The 1969 240Z is one of my favorite cars, while I didn't mind the 2002-2009 remakes I always thought they looked a little too bulky (especially the earlier ones) and I thought they should have done a better job designing the sides of the car like the doors and fenders etc. hopefully this new one has some of the side lines of the original and those cool indentation things that the lights sat in!
After spending some significant time in Japan, I found myself coveting the Nissans/Datsuns the most. Its a shame how many of their JDM models never make it to the U.S. and other countries in any form when new.
The formula for the GT86/FR-S/BR-Z is almost exactly the same as the original 240z. It really does hold that place in the market today. A sub-3000 lb coupe with amazing handling, iconic styling, and a lively engine for not too much money.
I own a pretty heavily tuned 350Z. The outer body/shape is untouched other than it is lower than stock due to the suspension modifications and runs 18in black wheels with a deep (but not overly deep) lip in the rear. I love the shape of the 350 and didn't want to take away from it...only enhance it. I would LOVE to see the Z35 hark back to it's original 240 design in some aspects w/ a modern iteration. Even today, the 240Z looks fantastic and is one of my favorite designs of all-time.
Remove the forward mirrors and the fender flairs...immediately! There's no adding clutter on a 240Z! New motor with some HP, five speeds, upgraded leather interior with all the up-to-date bells and whistles, alloy racing wheels but keep those magic proportions on the body as close to the same as possible with little departure. Like 36-24-36...never gets old. I think they call it Fibonacci.
This car has ruined me with envy, fml - Jay describes it so well @ 5:40. My father had a 1969 Datsun 1600, it is my duty as a son to own this car, I did not choose this fate.
Whatever Nissan comes out with I hope its built solid and reliable for a long time. My early 90's Nissan's were solid and aged very well considering they were 10yrs old. My 2000+ Nissan's sadly were not built to the same standard as they required major engine work when they reached 10yrs old. This is the first time I don't have a Nissan in the garage and to be honest I long for another. Of the Japanese brands I've always had a soft spot for Nissan.
OK, had a '72 240Z. Out of 10 or 15 cars, including a '70 Roadrunner, still my favorite car to drive. PERIOD! It was just sweet, in the way it handled. Precise. Nothing overpowered anything else. Well, my Yamaha RD-400 was close. (Jay, do a test drive of that bike!) steve
"Need a modern version of this car".
Seven years later, I just came to this video directly from the digital unveiling of the Nissan Proto Z.
I just wanted to see a 240z G as mentioned in the unveil cause I didnt think I'd ever seen one, but now I remember this model from gran turismo.
Jay, Thanks for coming to Zama. Great video.
HOLY NISSAN JAPAN
Growing up we had a 260Z and I loved that car. It was defiantly one of the coolest cars in our neighborhood. My father was very proud of it.
Now I have a 350Z HR and I love it.
I agree with Jay. I love the haunches of the Zs. When washing it its just like running your hands over the hips of a beautiful woman.
Excuse me for a moment but I need to visit the garage, lol.
The mirrors forward like that allow you to see your blind spots.
***** And because of this you do not have to turn your head back, keeping your eyes forward where they are meant to be.
Ethan Nicosia exactly
The engineering and thought that goes into some of these cars are so interesting to me.
They are less safe in case of a collision, however. Sad thing they don't do these anymore.
Two words: pagani huayra
Jay leno"s Garage is the best show on UA-cam No other show comes close to the amount of content that he puts out with each one of his episodes. Its not just about the cars, its also about the amazing people that are behind the making of these works of art and amazing machinery, and the history of it all, and he grasps each and everyone of those points every time. Great Series Jay, keep up the Great work. I just wanted to let you know all of us enjoy your work and this hobby, thanks for sharing!
Never not amazed at the amount of memory chips that your vehicles continue to stir Jay. i was stunned at the amount of these i would see Ranger lieutenants driving, while serving in the 82nd Abn. Inf. Div.. This spoke volumes for their appeal to the daredevil careers of these officers. Given my low NCO pay scale, i drove a 54 Chevy, and rode, a 68 Triumph Trophy Sports motorcycle, of which @ age 63... i have and still ride to this day. -Former Sgt. 1/504 71-74
Thank you for your service, Sgt.
In December of 1970 at 19, I bought a '71 'Z'(in mustard yellow). Everyone I knew preferred American muscle cars at the time. I recall the first time I drove into a hugely popular establishment for hotrods in Brooklyn, NY named Mitchell's. EVERY car owner came over to check out and ask questions about the Z with me, I could not get out of there. The car was incredibly unique for its time and very popular.
It was my daily rider. I went back and forth to Manhattan, and travelled the now defunct Westside highway with its hairpin turns. What fun! I remember a trip into Canada, where I was travelling over 115mph between Montreal and Quebec (over that speed - the front end got pretty squirrily). The cabin was pretty spacious and the hatch feature was just perfect. It was a great road car.
That said, it had it's mechanical quirks, like: The hub caps flying off the car in tight turns (and once rebounding into the side of my Z, scraping the rear quarterpanel with what looked like a tiger paw slash), the choke sticking causing black smoke from the exhaust a number of times, a part in the tranmission failing causing constant whirring and taking months to fix by the dealer (who then proceeded to canibalize the dash instruments to fix other cars while it awaited the necessary parts), and the 'mica plates' separating between the carbs and head repeatedly, causing big issues with performance and exhaust fuming.
I kept it 26 months, put on 26,000 miles and sold it for $3,300. Considering I paid $3,693, it turned out to be a great deal for roughly $400 buck.
All considered ...... GREAT MEMORIES
He touched my soul when he said he liked the curve of the 240z. I guarantee you he doesn't the 300 or 280zx bcz they dont have that classy curve.
+Ab CRXsi I can certainly agree with that. I've got the 300zx (z31) and the styling doesn't have that sexy curvature to it. But it does have something that I find really compelling.
Afrikan Racing he pointed out the 280 on that picture with all the different Z cars and sad "dont like", so yes you are right.
Agentum Silwer Silwer actually, I think he pointed out the 240, 260 then the last two new ones.
He is spot on on that rear pillar/quarter panel. And also, the car looks SO much better with the original NON flared wheel wells.
Seeing this after seeing all this 400z hype.
Thanks Jay.
5:50: I was very uncomfortable with how Leno was touching the rear quarter panel.
I was hoping so hard that one of the guys would do a cat call lol. I would've laughed so hard lol.
@may day Lighten up.
I wasn't.
:D
Such a gorgeous car! My favorite classic japanese sports car I've driven is my friend's '78 280Z. Even to this day it's a lot of fun on a country road in the hills.
Gee,I had a 1978 5 speed stick 280Z in mint condition when I purchased it in 1985 in the south.Moved to the north in 1986 and by 1987 it was a rust bucket.The car hated salt.That was the cars biggest problem.Beaches and salt.
Tom B very poor corrosion control... so sad that one detail destroyed so many classics
My first car was a 1973 240z...guy hit me head-on in it :(
one of the best cars I ever owned.
You learned the hard way not to drive on the wrong side of the road?
Jay broke my heart when he said he didnt like the 300zx body style.
love the body but night the head lights! aha
jay is right, it's fat and obese
barthoedemaker Aww. What do you mean, I think it's the sexiest of all the z cars.
thats because Jay's got good taste :P
Nah the ugliest is the 350z.
As a first generation Z owner I would love nothing more than to see the original 240z styling back on the market. Would be awesome to finally own both! I love how you can genuinely tell that Jay really loves cars with true class and style. Sorry later model 260,280,& 300z/zx guys but hard to deny the fact that the original was and will remain the best (imo). Hope to see new 240z soon! Take care z lovers (and haters)
+clay jones I liked all the bodies "south" of the 300's... and has HAS to be the inline 6.
I always thought this car was underrated. Awesome that he did a episode on this car.
I'm with Jay on the wing mirrors, they look so cool close up
I care.
burn
Dabs
I wasn't born when this car was produce and still it is definitely the one I love the much. 40 years later it is still such a beauty !
"its like buying a suit", you mean you wear something other than the double denim combo Jay ? I think not. Hahaha
Ya he does, he has a full suit made out of denim as well. ahahaha.
Dont forget his Denim jumpsuit for changing the oil.
Ross Rossiter he wore a new suit every night on his show. What he wears now, goes with the theme of this show.
Ross Rossiter the double denim combo 😂
He doesn’t wear them, they’re part of him.
i have a 73 240z. awesome car, great performance. could use a bit of chassis stiffening, stiffer suspension, and a bit beefier brakes, but for its age its fantastic. The only thing i have grips with is the damn dash board, way to good damn tight underneath. next to impossible for me to work on anything under there. leg room is a bit tight too. possibly my second favorite car ever.
6:47 Jay keeps telling him what to draw, but the guy keeps drawing the same thing he already had. Finally Jay was just like "whatever".
It's obviously a publicity stunt... He had the original design underneath, albeit with smaller level of opacity (I think, from what I remember when I was playing around in Photoshop)..
Jay was about to design The Homer.
The Mike Brady paradox.
This is just promotion and being nice/respectful to Jay Leno. Sketching and design do not work this way at all. It ain't like giving a haircut. These guys know it's BS. Nothing I hate worse than people asking me to draw on the spot. Imagine for a celebrity and on camera. Imagine: can you?
Agree he keeps drawing the same thing. If it had regular 15" tires, he would have more room for artistic creativity.
If they release a 2014 240z, i will be celeblating fo sho!
The way the artists design these cars is amazing. I never really thought about it until now.
The 240Z with the glass headlight covers and the arches is called the 240Zg which only came out in Japan.
+Jksamonte Yes, and the extended nose in front of the hood... I'm a little disappointed that as big of a car guy Jay is, he (or his staff) didn't have that correct.
Jay Leno should drive the 2023 Nissan Z. It certainly reminds you of the first 240Z. 400hp is nothing to sneeze at.
I think the best part of old cars, and why they are so timeless, is how simple the lines were. Car manufacturers are just adding more and more lines everywhere, makes it look awful, and gets dated very quickly
My dad owned a few 240s and a 260. Great car. These cars don't get the resale dollars of the US muscle cars but they have their place in sports car history. Thanks Jay!
Did they just design the "FairLeno" ..? LOL
Ford Fairleno??
I agree with Jay's attraction to those smooth curved lines. IMHO, so much nicer than the silly comic book style "angry faces" and "Star Wars" folded sheet metal.
To see jay leno making the sweet sweet love with the 240z, skip to the minute 5:45. Doggy Style.
Filthy! VULGAR!
kz1000ps thanks breh.
making love to a sweet fairlady.
Jay's a Savage.
Mm right up in there 😏
Wow! You definitely see that back quarter in the 400Z. Now we know were it came from.
My Father has a 1936 Datsun Roadster w/rumbleseat. He started the Datsun dealership here in Wichita Ks. in the 1960's. We have had this car probably since about this time.
It was always in the showroom behind ropes. Since selling his dealership he has had it inside his house believe it or not. In his den.
Particulars on the car. The fuel pump line has been replaced from rear tank with an electrical pump and regulator. Carburator needs servicing and the clutch needs adjusted.
Jay would you be interested in this car? I have photos.
+Robert Abraham awww dude can u inbox me some pictures of your dates ni would love to see it man the story sounds badass man !!!!! message me back as you can :D cheers man
I was gaga over this car as a kid in the 70s. I don't remember a lot of interest in it from others at the time. Admirers are coming out of the woodwork now though. I guess nostalgia is a big part of it.
300ZX Turbo is my favorite Nissan. It was an original design, and very beautiful at that. The front end was the Bugatti EB110, and later Lamborghini started doing this on their Diablos. Not the best choice for the Diablo, the pop-up headlights are far better for the Diablo. But for the Nissan 300ZX they worked fantastically. I would even go ahead and say that the 300ZX was the best looking car Nissan has ever produced. The front was great, the rear was great, the side was great. What would anyone else want? Aesthetics is 100% when it comes to purchase decision.
Had the first gen 300ZX, later went for the last one (2+2 needed the extra seating) now there's a first gen 350Z in my garage, which in my opinion has the purest shape. No gimmicks. Just form and function.
Jay wanted to slap that kid. rear haunches not outline the car dummy. lol
dumb kid!
He can't speak English
We have a 1971 Fairlady Z-L we "refreshed" to close to original. The "Lady" was the "Class Winner" in the 2008 Portland Roadster Show. LOVE to drive it through the hills in the summer ... "Enjoy The Ride"!!
Nissan, the gauntlet has been thrown down by the BRZ/FRS. You NEED to produce a new 240Z.
Jay, awesome to see you talk about Z's! I've owned several in the past and restoring a 240 is near the top of my bucket list!
Group Renault
Killing all our dreams of an affordable pure Nissan sports car
That's what the Z originally was, and should be now...
gorrilaunit99 renault are suck
It won't come back, the times are different now
Well we ha ve the gorgeous new A110 now
I once owned a 1971 240Z and it was pure excitement to drive it but unfortunately the early generations were notorious for rust and mine was no exception. When the frame buckles as the hoist is lifting it up you know it's time to say goodbye...but I enjoyed the thrill of driving it during the time I had it.
Doesn't surprise me that Jay waxes a car now and then. I feel like when you Wax and change the oil in your car is when you really connect with it and get to know it.
And there are certain places on the body that are just nice to run your hands over and feel how the wind would flow around it.
***** Then I won't mention what I use to clean around the emblems (my tongue)
Roy Wilkerson Holy crap, I don´t want to listen that you clean the exhaust pipe also... ;-)
+Roy Wilkerson couldn't agree more mate. some curves on the car really tells you like "hey my driver, wanna know where's my sweet aero spot? yessss it's right there mate" lol
+Roy Wilkerson That's hot.
One of my favourite cars of all time right there along with the Toyota AE86 Trueno.
I'm not really a fan of the extended front and i prefer chrome front mirrors but it's still one of the most beautiful cars ever made in my opinion.
The 240z wheel is actually real wood
Funny that no one has yet recognized that the white car is a 1977 Fairlady Z-T Model S31. So not a "first Fairlady" and also not a car with L24.
Nissan blew that one. Didnt even bother. A shame Nissan doesn't see fit to return the Z to its heritage vs the big heavy tech mobile they have now.
I must agree. Something about this design.. it's lively, full of indomitable spirit and of course sultry.
Thank you, Jay Leno, for that, and also for showcasing your set worker's customized Datsun 510..!
I like my 350 but, I miss my 240 as a sports car.
Thanks. That helps.
+TheMkarr ok
The maroon car is a ZG. The extended nose, headlight covers, and wheelwell arches are all part of the package. Japanese home-market cars had the fender/wing mounted mirrors as standard fare, and they work quite well - you don't have to take your eyes as far off center to check them as you do door mounted units.
The fenders wernt added later! They came off the asemably line woth them
Time to get your computer repaired; spell check seems to be broken.
...I want to build a 240Zg replica... I totally dig the plexiglass covers over the headlights , and the fender mounted bullit style mirrors , and the fender flairs....totally awesome car.
ROTSUN!!!!!! ROADKILL!!!!
someone likes roadkill
+Noah helll yeahhhh
Now say that in a Christopher watkins voice lol
Yeah, that is more like a Z car usually is, rust rust and more rust.
With a smokey L series 6 cyl.
I believe the Rotsun now has a V8 in it.
But a great look, drive quite well and when the engines are good have a lovely exhaust note as well.
Jay - I hope you visited with Mr. K while you were there. I think you pretty much nailed it. Beautiful Classic Styling {Coke Bottle lines}, Practical Utility {hatch back with large cargo area}. I would have added Light Weight {2500 lbs or less}. Drive train and chassis competitive in SCCA classes today! The Datsun 240Z's are still winning on the track some 40 years after they were introduced. Think BRE and Peter Brock.
Bought my first 240Z in March of 70 - and I'm still driving them today.
The z32 tt was the best one what the heck is he talking about!
it was too heavy and big in my opinion. less of a sports car and more of a GT car.
i like the old 240 a lot personally.
No it wasn't a gt car it literally was the first Japanese sports car to EARN the title of a supercar
ichris12 supercar? for the z32? hardly.
ichris12 yes..the Z32 born beautiful orginal by its nature..ahead of its time..
The 300ZX was proof that Nissan had really lost it's way.
What a great car
.I had a 1974 Datsun 240Z in dark blue,5spd manual.
Owned it for 5 years or so and it was fast and reliable.
It would slide around so predictably on dirt,gravel,sand or in the wet.
Perfect for handbrake turns and was even pretty economical.
Hope they bring out a new one :)
I just bought a 2019 370Z sport coupe 6M all-black and love it. I've always loved the Zs, since the debut of the 240Z and even its predecessor the Datsun 1600 & 2000 roadsters. I believe my Z still represents the best combination of power, handling ability, style and affordability one can get in a pure sports car today. The only thing I would have changed in my car is to have the weight knocked down a few hundred pounds to about 3,000 lbs.
this was my first episode i watched of you Jay Leno and it was a great one, will check out rest. I always enjoyed your walkshow, have a good day.
Oh man I love the 240z design and if they did something new based on that It'd be so amazing.
One of my all time favorite cars...they came out my sophomore year in high school and I wanted on soooooo bad.
a guy who lives near me has a 1980's? 240Z. He even parks it at the parking lot of a train station like a regular car. The moment I saw it I loved it, even though I never even heard of Datsun at the time.
Jay, love ya' man..Thank you for showing the rest of the world that we Americans still love cars and car design!!!
I saw the brief 280z bit on Jay Leno's garage and became obsessed enough to find myself here a week later while I googled the hell out of it. Funny because I hated this car as a kid...Now I am in love.
Nissan should bring back that classic! It never gets old! It's just a timeless classic
My dad had one of these and LOVED it!!
My dad had a silver 280Z 2+2. Gorgeous car. I miss it.
First saw a Fairlady parked on the street in Eugene, Oregon in the early 80's. Real rare sight.
+Bainanaz So no Datsun AUSTIN 7,S maybe it,s the same as bmw guy,s
don,t mention your 1st mass production made under licence hit in the
auto market
I had a 1972 Datsun 240 Z. I loved it. I particularly liked the innovative little touchs that made it feel like a jet fighter. I am 6'6" so the leg room was fantastic, the seats very supportive, the view from the low driving position very relaxed. The vents and the center console dials were clever, as were the little doors to give you access to the battery and the washer fluid. I liked that the hood hinged forward, so as to work with the slipsteam, should it come loose. It came with bias tires, so I immediately put Michelin radials on for handling. It wasn't a fast car off the line and certainly not a drag car, but I think I got it up to 135 mph on a long straight. Hell I would buy another, but I would probably have to settle for the Toyota FRS. I thing it was Toyota who first designed this car and called it the "Fairlady", it appearing in a "Bond" film. Beautiful.
You could not have done 135 mph with the stock 4 speed
Japanese sports cars were underrated back then.
I have owned several old Zs and loved them. If Nissan faithfully remakes the 240, I will be one of the first in line!
Hey Jay and producers of these videos: Great job! Production quality has really gone up since a few years ago, however a bit of constructive criticism here.
ometimes Jay would be talking about a part of a car, in this video for example, the gearknob designs and boot of the 240Z. However the time the camera spends on those parts are too short and sometimes we can't get a good look of it without pausing.
Perhaps show us those details Jay point out on screen more? Just Jay's voice-over is good
Leno has a good eye for beautiful car design. It's simple and perfect.
Miss my little 240...:( It actually hauled ass AND handled like a dream!....
I owned 8 Z cars and still own one nice Z with a G-nose (as the extended nose is known). Besides the fact that the car seems to have a pact with the 'rust devil' it's a great car and superfun to drive! Thanks Jay for your attention to this great japanese product of the 70tees,
Pete
personally I'm not a Nissan fan but I am an old school car fan. I love the cars that came out in the 70s, 80s and 90s. and Nissan cars were beautiful back then.
Jay Leno is a legend. I don't think they should remake it though, car design is about moving forward, not backward.
Did Jay Leno finally get a 240 or 280 Z or ZX yet in his garage ??? My first car was a black on black 1978 280z & my 3rd car was a Gold 1979 280 ZX I drove it for over 5 years.
Jay, this is the best channel on UA-cam. Well, it's first equal with HotRod Roadkill. :p
my grandma's neighbor has this car, and i gotta say it is freaking amazing
The 300zx took a classic idea and turned it into a powerful machine. The VG30 is one of the best V6 motors ever built and is the origin of the V6 you see in the new GTR.
If the new team at Nissan can combine the classic styling of the original 240Z with the performance advancements made in the 300zx they will build a wonderful vehicle.
The Datsun trim and styling on the brown fairlady at the beginning of the package was Japanese quirky. It would be interesting to see a book on Japanese car design to get how Japanese car styling evolved over time. Now Japanese style in car design is amongst the most daring and exciting.
I had one of these but the model that follows, 280z and great stay in love with his line I hope to get another
Omg this is one of the coolest videos...How that heck you get inside there! hahah I love the fairladys and you are spot on what makes the Zs sexy! Thanks for such great video! great work!
The 1969 240Z is one of my favorite cars, while I didn't mind the 2002-2009 remakes I always thought they looked a little too bulky (especially the earlier ones) and I thought they should have done a better job designing the sides of the car like the doors and fenders etc. hopefully this new one has some of the side lines of the original and those cool indentation things that the lights sat in!
Miss my little 240....:( The thing actually hauled ass, AND handled like a dream!......
After spending some significant time in Japan, I found myself coveting the Nissans/Datsuns the most. Its a shame how many of their JDM models never make it to the U.S. and other countries in any form when new.
I like the drawing above the one Jay is pointing at - 5:19
The formula for the GT86/FR-S/BR-Z is almost exactly the same as the original 240z. It really does hold that place in the market today. A sub-3000 lb coupe with amazing handling, iconic styling, and a lively engine for not too much money.
I own a pretty heavily tuned 350Z. The outer body/shape is untouched other than it is lower than stock due to the suspension modifications and runs 18in black wheels with a deep (but not overly deep) lip in the rear. I love the shape of the 350 and didn't want to take away from it...only enhance it. I would LOVE to see the Z35 hark back to it's original 240 design in some aspects w/ a modern iteration. Even today, the 240Z looks fantastic and is one of my favorite designs of all-time.
That was awesome guys!
Thanks
As an S30 owner the prospect of a revived 240Z would be awesome! Not sure it'll happen but a big straight 6 would be awesome
Remove the forward mirrors and the fender flairs...immediately!
There's no adding clutter on a 240Z!
New motor with some HP, five speeds, upgraded leather interior with all the up-to-date bells and whistles, alloy racing wheels but keep those magic proportions on the body as close to the same as possible with little departure.
Like 36-24-36...never gets old. I think they call it Fibonacci.
1970s sports cars were practical when you remember the MGB GT, Triumph GT6, E Type Coupe etc
This car has ruined me with envy, fml - Jay describes it so well @ 5:40. My father had a 1969 Datsun 1600, it is my duty as a son to own this car, I did not choose this fate.
Man I would love to own a 2 seat 240Z, they aren't that expensive to buy nowadays.
I can't wait to see the new version.
I had one of those in the 1990's... Awesome looking car...
5:11 did Aston Martin steal that design of the roof separating towards the rear on the new DB11??
Watching this in 2017, still waiting.
My favourite thing about all these old Japanese cars is the way they have their mirrors on the front wings/fenders.
Whatever Nissan comes out with I hope its built solid and reliable for a long time. My early 90's Nissan's were solid and aged very well considering they were 10yrs old. My 2000+ Nissan's sadly were not built to the same standard as they required major engine work when they reached 10yrs old. This is the first time I don't have a Nissan in the garage and to be honest I long for another. Of the Japanese brands I've always had a soft spot for Nissan.
OK, had a '72 240Z. Out of 10 or 15 cars, including a '70 Roadrunner, still my favorite car to drive.
PERIOD!
It was just sweet, in the way it handled. Precise. Nothing overpowered anything else.
Well, my Yamaha RD-400 was close. (Jay, do a test drive of that bike!)
steve
It's so good that I'm not the only one feelin' this way...