Datsun 240z - Meeting the Legend - Everyday Driver Review

The guys have driven many Z cars, but never an original 240z. Long-time viewer James offered up his in-progress 1973, and the guys drove it hard down a favorite LA backroad. Meeting heroes can be precarious, but this was worth it.

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[formulafunction]

This is James, the owner of the car. I just wanted to add some clarification with my ownership so far. Starting with all the small issues that happened with simply getting the car there. The reason the front lip is misaligned is because I actually hit something on the way to the video location, and had to fix it on the spot. The squeaking is from the window glass mech (not fixed yet). The clunking/crashing sound is from the springs binding (common tokico issue), it has been replaced. And one last thing, this car has RUST. I had to cut out many sections and weld on new metal in places like the frame rails, and rockers.

[AdamLeask]

There's nothing quite like driving an older carburetted car with no power steering and no driver assists. It's noisy, fume-y, exciting and yet so rewarding when you get it right. Great review & great choice in car, James!

[GearsandGasoline]

Everything sounds so raw, really great video guys! I think you perfectly captured the essence of that car! amazing!

[MerkinMuffly]

The first sports car that could last a long, long, long time.

[trefod]

Probably one of the most well balanced designs in automotive history.

[mykobe]

my first car.. '73 240z. 34yrs later and it's still the best car i ever owned. true <3
Thank you for that. almost hard to watch, but beautiful.

[devmm]

The road footage in full 1080 Hi-Def is so gorgeous, would you consider releasing an alternate, expanded version of this video, with only the exterior road footage, please? No music, just the engine sounds. Love it. Thanks guys.

[maxtaylor]

Really Beautiful Z James! '77 owner here. Thanks for not cutting into the fenders!!

[canyoneagle]

Thanks for another excellent video. This was a nice nostalgic ride for me. I drove a 1972 240z while in College (in the 80's), and to this day I regret selling it. Hard to find one under $10k any more.

[Jzhu]

4 year update since filming. The L24 used during filming was retired, pending a special rebuild. In goes an L30 race motor I spent a summer building in my last year in college. I found more parts of the frame that needed fixing so the frame has been repaired better. A new suspension setup has been put in. Overall it is still driving on the road today. Thank you everyday driver for the opportunity.
To those who are asking what exhaust set up: thrush muffler 2.5 inch mated to a 3-2 header.
Tire Setup 225/50r15 going to be a R888 slick set up soon.
Springs in that filming are the Tokico Lowering springs but I has a set of custom springs in now.

[TearingRaven]

Nothing will ever out do the sound of an L Series engine for me.

[rjbros]

Great review and the car looks and sounds absolutely amazing! 240Z has been one of my dream cars since I was a teenager. It is such a elegantly designed car, and a true legend.

[pickadilli]

The last 20 seconds or so with the car gurgling is so great, nice work guys. Good luck on Velocity too!

[RyFo]

WHY DON'T YOU GUYS HAVE MORE SUBSCRIBERS?! Been a fan for years and you both deserve at least 700k+++

[jimharrison]

I went with the '73 Porsche 914, 2.0L back then. Both were great cars. I'm driving a '14 Subaru BRZ now. I guess my tastes haven't changed a whole lot.

[ronmoblo]

all observations in this video are exactly as I have experienced. An incredible joy to slam this car hard into a corner and have it hold the curve way beyond common sense g forces. I am an original owner of 1970 green 240 z ( owned car for 48 years now). Put 225/50r15 Bridgestone potenza re71 tires to support the 300+ hp of the 280ZX turbo engine I swapped out ( 5 speed T5 tranny and 2+2 rear differential). A fabulous traction tire for wet or dry roads. Unfortunately Bridgestone does not make that tire any more. Nearly 200, 000 miles of pure driving joy and it still has the original dashboard, door panels, and seat cover backs (some rust around rocker panels and wheel wells). The car costs very little to maintain over the years.

[MusashiGSN]

Wonderful review. Truly expresses and describes the exact same love and passion I feel about my 240Z.

[ChoPi-Eww]

Interesting change of pace, usually you guys don't review older cars. Pretty cool to be able to appreciate them alongside modem ones, such as the Cayman.

[cesargabriel]

Came here because of Gears and Gasoline, and the first video I see is an classic Nissan 😍 instant subscribers, love the cinematic seen combined with the great informative parts in between, love it

[alaskafender]

This is on my short list of project cars. I've loved them since I was a kid, and hearing that throaty engine and listening to you guys wax poetic about it...gotta have one.