The original Datsun 240Z kicked off the great Japanese Sports Car Era in 1971. Yes, there was the Datsun 1600/2000 roadster, but its numbers were tiny compared to the overwhelming success of the Z car, which unleashed a raft of competitors, including from Mitsubishi. Here’s a couple of survivors from that era, which ended some time ago. Hopefully the parts its owners might be wanting are still available.
The 280ZX was of course the successor to the first generation Z car. It was a rather bloated one at that, bigger, heavier and softer, and not uncommonly referred to as a Japanese Camaro (or such). Yes, it was clearly targeted at the American buyers who wanted a stylish but mellow cruiser, very much not like the sharp-edged original 240Z. The extended body 2+2 only enhanced that look, image and reputation. Tom Klockau wrote a CC on the 280ZX and titled it “The Cutlass Supreme Brougham Z?“. Yes.
Not surprisingly, it won Motor Trend’s Import Car Of The Year 1984.
These have become rare on the streets, hereabouts. Doesn’t seem like they have much of a following, although I’m sure there are a few pristine ones stashed away in some garages for those wanting to relive the early eighties.
This one seems to have lost its water tightness, not a good thing in Eugene’s wet winters.
A pleasant surprise: it’s a stick shift! Under the long hood was of course Nissan’s long-running L-series SOHC inline six, making 145 hp, if I have my numbers right. There was a Turbo version, which admittedly was a pretty quick car for the times, but they weren’t all that common.
The Mitsubishi 3000GT, known as the GTO in Japan, and also sold as the Dodge Stealth, replaced the Starion (and Dodge Conquest). It was based on the FWD Sigma/Diamante platform, and retained its transverse 3 liter V6. Of course turbo and AWD versions were also part of the program, but that’s not what we have here.
And this one has an automatic too.
The good old days, when big spoilers ruled the land. The 3000GT badging is a bit duplicative, eh?
I know; there’s still Japanese sports cars to be had, but it’s back to what it was like in the sixties, when Datsun was selling its roadster here: you have to really want one; and even then, you’d better hurry because before long they may all be gone. Is it possible to imagine a world without a Miata?
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1983 Datsun 280ZX – The Cutlass Supreme Brougham Z?
Curbside Classics: 1991-99 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 1991-96 Dodge Stealth – The King of Diamonds
CC Capsule: 1991 Mitsubishi GTO (Z16A) – Peak Mitsubishi
Curbside Classic: 1971 Datsun 240Z – Revolutions Don’t Come Often
I can’t say why, but the shape of that ZX 2+2 is far more appealing to me today than it ever was when they were new. Back then I thought it was just ungainly, but I guess after years of looking at CUVs day in and day out, its proportions have become “normalized” to my eyes.
Excellent finds! Perhaps unknown to the owners, but both cars generally convey some imagery and pop culture icon connection, to their respective eras. Affecting how they, and their car choice, might be perceived. Different images for sure. lol
The photo of the guy to the right remind me of the 280ZX Black Gold commercial.
Definitely, a look associated with the late ’70s. The guy on the right is of course, famous music producer Giorgio Moroder. Strongly associated with electronic and disco music production.
That commercial works in just about every disco-era cliche imaginable, save perhaps the coke spoon.
I had an older colleague who drove a VW T2 van in the early ‘80’s. Maybe it was even a T1. An avid hiker and backpacker, he used it to access remote mountain trailheads. But at some point he decided he wanted a 4wd and bought one of the last new FJ60 Land Cruisers, far fancier than the VW but still extremely spartan. About ten years later he surprised me by getting one the twin turbo AWD 3000GTs. An interesting progression.
I never realized the 3000GT was FWD. After this car, I think the market moved to things like the Lancer Evolution.
Nice to see these still on the road where they belong .
My son used to push me hard about getting a 240Z, I didn’t see it and so foolishly passed on a $500 1971 (? vertical rear window heater strips) in VGC with good factory yellow paint and nice upholstery .
Then and now the 280Z’s look too bloated /porky to me, I’m sure my fat old self would prefer one to the earlier version now .
-Nate
I experienced a “pre cog” CC effect a couple of days ago. I saw a Mitsubishi 3000 traveling down the freeway alongside me. It was very clean, and the young man that was driving it appeared to be very happy. This is the car that replaced the more compact Starion. If you get to inspect one in person, note how thick the doors are. No wonder the cabin is so tight inside.
I bought a 280ZX Turbo back in the day. I got it running but it was pretty rusty. The interior was very gimmicky and the materials were not as durable as the earlier Zs. Which isn’t saying much! It was a 5 speed with T Tops. I ended up parting it out, and kept the wheels for my own ’77 280Z 2+2.
There have been several times locally in the past few years, where low mileage, well-preserved Dodge Stealth-versions have come on the market. As appealing as they were, their technical complexity, and rarity, were major reasons to avoid, otherwise desirable cars of my early 20s.
The way I look at it, all the significant sports cars of my adult life were Japanese:
The original Datsun 240Z. It’s before my time, but besides looking cool, I remember reading in Forbes in the late 70s that the 240Z “offered the roar of a Jaguar for the price of a Chevrolet”. Enough said.
The 240Z of MY lifetime was the original RX-7 in 1979. $6,995 for a 5-speed. I couldn’t drive, but I wanted one.
And then we have the original Mazda Miata! A fun car that was more than the sum of its parts. A better driver than any 4-cylinder drop top, with Toyota-like quality and durability.
We have the origina TOYOTA MR2–basically half the cylinders of a Ferrari 308GTB, a 7500rpm redline (the 308 had 200 more rpm, OK), for a fraction of the price, 10x as reliable, and a blast to drive.
The original Toyota Supra, and the replacements.
The 4th gen Z-car, the 300ZX. The Mitsu VR3000/Dodge Stealth.
The (Mazda) Ford Probe. The (Mistu) Eclipse/Eagle Talon/Plymouth Laser
Yes, I hate to say admit it, but the Japanese smoked the Americans and the Germans. We couldn’t all afford 911s or 944s in the 80ss, or Boxsters/Caymen in the 90s and 00s.
The CC Effect kicked in and I saw a 3000GT in St Helen’s Oregon today. It was a typical older Oregon car, mostly rust-free but definitely patina-ed.