The Datsun Z Quietly Became A Porsche 911 Alternative While Buyers Weren’t Looking
In the world of classic sports cars, the Porsche 911 is the biggest name there. That’s not just in terms of its performance and driving enjoyment – it’s also because it’s an incredibly good investment buy. Values of classic 911s consistently stay high, and more modern models reach the same kind of heights once they hit modern classic territory. But under the radar, the Datsun Z has become a great alternative in more recent years for people who want an investable classic sports car.
The S30 Datsun Z Is A Legendary Japanese Sports Car Lineage That Could Compete With Europe’s Best
When you ask someone to think of a classic Japanese sports car, they’ll likely think of the S30 Datsun Z. It’s potentially one of the most influential Sports Cars of all time, in the sense of how much it raised the reputation of Japanese automakers. That reputation carried on past the S30’s lifespan, bolstered by generation after generation of brilliant Japanese sporting models. Even now in the present day, the Japanese automakers are considered among the best in the world at making sports cars.
These Cars Were Once Affordable Classics – Now, Everything’s Changed
There was a time when S30 Datsun Zs were affordable classic sports cars. Even though these cars have always been desirable, they were nowhere near the same level as a classic Porsche 911. Now, though, it’s an entirely different story. The inevitable passage of time, combined with growing collector interest in classic Japanese cars, has driven the values of S30 Zs sharply higher. How valuable have they become now? Well, if you look at each generation of the S30 Z, you can see a pretty clear trend starting from the very first version.
The 240Z Is One Of The Most Valuable Japanese Sports Cars Around
It’s hard to think of a more legendary Japanese sports car than the Datsun 240Z. This is the car that really changed everything for how Japanese sports cars were perceived in Europe and North America. It was a compact giant-killer, powered by a 2.4-liter inline-6 based on a design Nissan licensed from Mercedes. It produced 151 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque, enough to make this small, light sports car genuinely fun to drive.
As you’d expect from such a desirable car, it’s now gone well past the point of being affordable. It’s now a proper investment purchase, with values that make it a real alternative to a classic Porsche 911 in that category. The average used value of these is now around $35,457. That doesn’t seem too bad, even for a desirable classic sports car. But, certain individual examples have sold for eye-watering amounts. One 1971 240Z that was in pristine condition with just 21,750 miles on the clock sold for $310,000. That’s more than even a lot of classic Porsche 911s sell for.
The 260Z Is Also Now A Proper Collector’s Piece
The Datsun 260Z was the 240Z’s successor, and you’d be forgiven for not realizing that it’s a different car at first glance. It looks almost entirely the same as the 240Z. The biggest differences between the 240Z and the 260Z are under the skin. The engine went up in size from 2.4 to 2.6 liters (hence the name change), and it now produced up to 163 hp in certain markets. US-market 260Zs only produced 139 hp, due to emissions regulations.
The 260Z isn’t as desirable as its 240Z predecessor. But, it is still a properly valuable collector’s piece. The average used value of the 260Z is around $24,174 right now. A 1974 example with less than 6,000 miles on the clock also sold for $52,260 in 2022. While nowhere near as valuable at the top end of the market as the 240Z, there’s definitely room for these cars to become proper investment alternatives to a classic Porsche 911.
Even The 280Z Isn’t A Cheap Classic Anymore
The final version of the S30 Z, the Datsun 280Z, also barely looks any different from the 240Z and 260Z that came before it. It’s yet another example of the biggest changes being under the skin. The inline-6 grew to 2.8 liters in size, and was given Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection. This gave the 280Z an output of up to 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful S30 Z of them all.
When you look at the trend in values between the 240Z and the 260Z, you might think that the 280Z would still be affordable for the average enthusiast. While it is the most affordable of the S30 Zs, it’s still one for buyers with more money than the average enthusiast. The average used value of the 280Z is now around $22,400. One of the most pristine examples of a 280Z ended up selling for $75,000 in 2022. So, while some examples of the 280Z are potentially affordable for an average buyer, you’re still going to need plenty of cash to get a great one.
Its Rise In Value Mirrors Other Japanese Classics
The S30 Datsun Z is far from the only Japanese classic sports car that’s had a stratospheric rise in value due to desirability. There are plenty of others that came after it that have experienced exactly the same thing. Not only that, they have become as valuable (and investable) as those classic Datsun Zs. Perhaps one of the most famous examples is the A80 Toyota Supra. The twin-turbo models have become incredibly valuable, with an average used value of around $99,239. The R34 Nissan GT-R has also become incredibly valuable, with its average used value sitting at around $216,106 now. If the values of these cars are any indication, the same could very well happen for the S30 Zs in a decade or more.
Nissan Itself Is Treating The S30 Z Like A Premium Collector’s Piece
As well as enthusiasts now treating the S30 Z like a proper collector’s piece that rivals a classic Porsche 911 in terms of investment value, Nissan is seeing it too. It has jumped on the restomod trend that has emerged around these cars, and is now offering its own DOHC engine conversion for them. This conversion kit was designed by Nismo, and works for every version of the S30 Z. It not only changes the engine from an SOHC to a DOHC unit, but it also doubles the amount of valves. The conversion kit can even accommodate a larger engine. Nismo itself built a version based on the 280Z’s engine bored out to 3 liters.
This DOHC conversion doesn’t come cheap, though. Nissan asks for the equivalent of $25,000 for it, making it more expensive than some of the cheaper examples of the 280Z. Furthermore, it is exclusively for the Japanese Domestic Market. This has angered some enthusiasts based elsewhere, including one particular American enthusiast (allegedly also a Nissan shareholder) who complained very vocally about being refused the part for his own car.
Sources: Bring a Trailer, Classic.com, Nissan
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