Like clockwork, Collins sets about with the automotive treasure before him.
While the car isn’t perfect, originality is what sparks his interest – a look under the hood reveals a numbers-matching 2.4-liter engine, factory rated for 150 horsepower (a respectable number in the day).
We also learn that except for a thorough respray, rear window louvers, and a replacement clock and radio, this Datsun 240Z Japanese-made sports car is stock.
Air conditioning got installed later, but the addition was via a factory-authorized dealer, 38,000 miles on the odometer adds to the appeal of this sports car, too.
Collins also lucks into a pair of classic Kawasaki motorcycles, including one with 967 miles.
The Significance Of The Datsun 240Z Sports Car
Collins emphasizes how rare it is to find a first-generation Z-car in good condition, calling out his latest acquisition as an example – this breakthrough model helped establish a benchmark for Japanese sports cars in the U.S.; a market dominated by European and American automakers.
Arguably reaching their peak in the 1990s, Japanese sports cars live on in the seventh-generation Nissan Z, which debuts for the 2023 model year.
While Toyota started selling the Supra again for 2020, it’s perhaps more of a hardtop version of the BMW Z4.
Other notable examples, like the Mazda RX-7 rotary-powered JDM car, left the market years ago
