The first-generation Nissan Z, sold in North America as the Datsun 240Z, 260Z, and 280Z, was a revelation when it debuted in 1969. It combined a sleek, long-hood design reminiscent of European sports cars with a reliable and powerful inline-6 engine. The S30 platform provided a true sports car experience at a price that undercut competitors from Jaguar, Porsche, and BMW, making it a massive commercial success.
Collectors are primarily drawn to the early 240Z models, especially the Series 1 cars built before mid-1971, for their purer design and lighter weight. The later 260Z and 280Z models offered larger engines and added fuel injection (on the 280Z), but also gained less attractive federally-mandated safety bumpers and more weight. Despite this, all S30s offer a rewarding analog driving experience that's increasingly rare.
The market for the S30 Z is very wide, with 919 sales showing an average price around $28,000. This reflects a healthy supply of driver-quality cars, but the top of the market is strong. Pristine, low-mileage, or expertly restored 240Zs can easily fetch over $100,000, while exceptional examples have sold for more than $300,000.
Buying Tips
- Rust is the number one issue. Check the floor pans, frame rails, doglegs behind the front wheels, and the area under the battery tray.
- The earliest Series 1 240Zs (pre-1971.5) are the most collectible and valuable. They're identified by vents on the rear hatch and '240Z' emblems on the C-pillars.
- The L-series inline-6 is a durable engine, but check for signs of overheating and listen for timing chain noise on startup. Original carburetors can be finicky if not maintained.
- Interior plastics, especially the dashboard, are very prone to cracking from sun exposure. Original, uncracked dashboards are rare and expensive to source.
- Verify the originality of the engine and chassis numbers on investment-grade cars, as many have had engine swaps over the decades.
Prices range from as little as $325 for parts cars to over $310,000 for rare and perfectly restored examples.
3,107 Nissan Fairlady Z 1st Gen vehicles have been tracked across auctions and listings on Hypercars, with 661 currently live.
Data sourced from Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids, eBay Motors, PCarMarket, and Collecting Cars. Updated daily.
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