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Pristine 1971 Datsun 240Z sells for a mind-blowing $310,000

The Datsun 240Z was a surprise from a manufacturer that specialised in small, fuel-efficient cars for the small and cramped roads of Japan and its cities. But to break into the American market the company needed something more premium, more sporty, and seriously good looking.

Yutaka Katayama, also known as “Mr. K”, headed the market research for this project, and in 1969, the 240Z hit America with force. With British good looks, Japanese reliability, and a low price compared to its competitors, it slowly became one of the most successful sports cars in history.

This perfect 1971 240Z (shown in the images) made a debut on Bring a Trailer, where it sold for a mighty $310,000. And this isn’t a surprise due to its immaculate condition and low mileage. It was first sold to Indiana then-Datsun dealership owner James Munson who gifted it to his son. He passed away last May with the car’s odometer reading only 21,750 miles and its original 2.4-litre straight-six sat under the long bonnet looking polished and crisp. With so few miles, I expect plenty of the original 151 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque remains in the powerplant ready to be pushed through its four-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels.

What really sets this example apart, though, is the colour scheme. The gorgeous racing green exterior on brown interior is incredibly sought after – not a surprise when you see how immensely opulent it looks in the photos.

The seller acquired the car last December and had the car detailed and given a full service which included changing the oil, adjusting the carburettors, replacing the fuel filter, and gapping the spark plugs. Most importantly, he swapped out the old rubber for some 175-series Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres. After the detail, paint readings were taken identifying a paint thickness of 2-5mm. Plus, it’s worth noting that this detail didn’t include any sanding or heavy polishing.

This could be the perfect 240Z, setting the bar that every other classic JDM sports car will be compared against. But $300,000? That seems a tad excessive. But hey, it’s worth whatever someone pays for it, right?

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

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