The Z car enters middle age

If you’ve been a sports car enthusiast for any period of time, this article may well make you feel old. The Z car has turned 40, middle aged for a human, but positively geriatric in automotive terms. The Datsun 240Z arrived in North America on October 22, 1969. Sports cars had previously been usually English, could be relied upon to break down regularly enough to become an integral part of your lifestyle and if you could afford to keep one, (accounting for the inflated price and an upkeep cost akin to a heroin habit), wealthy. The 240z sold at a ridiculously proletarian US$3,626, ran as hard as a Porsche and refused to break down, even when used as daily transport. It was a landmark car and did much to democratize sports car ownership. Nissan has created a limited (1000 units only) production 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition, available later this month at US$38,860.

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