240Z And 260Z Production Numbers

[600Z]

Hi Guys,

 

Just doing some digging on numbers of cars that came to Australia and have found the following.

 

240Z's : 2358

260Z's : 1123

 

These are 2 seater versions of the 260Z's.

 

Quick question out of curiosity can anyone tell me why it seams that the 240's bring a higher price even though there looks to have been over twice as many brought into Australia.

[PZG302]

Because they are the first model, therefore most desirable.

 

Also there isn't many left after a lot have been abused by owners, because they were jap junkers, or turned into rally cars and speared into trees, or race cars and punted into fences and walls.

 

Also 240's preferred over 260's due to a few reasons like 240 lighter shell, didn't have the pollution carbs, and lack of knowledge of the differences between 240 and 260's

 

Same as Valiant Chargers, bugger all left, but the ones that command huge money are the R/T six pack cars, followed by the 2 and 4 barrel R/T's and then the normal spec cars with the first model, VH commanding more dollars than an equivalent VJ, VK, CL and finally CM models, or pretty much any other car from the 70's that has a following of more than a dozen people.

 

As the demand increases for these old cars, the values go up. Look at the 240K as an example, a very unloved car in its day and through the years up to about 5 years ago and now as they are basically rarer than rocking horse poo the values have shot up unbelieveably.

[gilltech]

As per the comment at top of the 240Z chart, the quota in the last few months of 1973 must have actually been 260Zs. My early '74 260 2-seat was sold new in NZ in Feb '74, so clearly must have been built a few months prior to that.

[chris240]

Disagree , the VJ was much nicer !

[600Z]

Very true guys, pretty much what I was thinking as well.

 

Just seams a little strange still as there can't be that many 260's left either you would tend to think.

 

I think also guys who have the 240's are not selling them either, I know of a guy about ten minutes from me who has three 240's and I use to see another one from time to time that I guess you would class as a survivor car that he as owned since new and was or still is his daily.

 

Gilltech, I think your right I read somewhere that the very early 260's were actually more like a 240 as they used a lot of left over parts but who knows it's all pretty hard to find out.

[gav240z]

I met Charles on the weekend at WTAC 2016 with the white 260z with RB26 in it. He was telling me about all his family members who own S30Z's. We both agreed that people don't tend to sell these cars, in that if you own 1 you have it for a long time. I know many owners who have had their cars for years. I'm 1 of them. I've had my 72 240z since 2001. Restoring these cars takes many years and quite a bit of money (more these days). But when done they are so much fun it's hard to find anything to replace them with.

 

I've thought many times about what else appeals to me and the list is very short.

 

For me the early cars were the best, I prefer the rear tail lamps, the dashboard design, the simple engine bay without emissions gear or A/C etc.. The early colours also appealed to me more. I suspect others are the same. Not to say that 260z 2 seaters or 2+2's aren't cool, but the 240z's have always been the most desired as far as I can remember.

[gav240z]

Besides I'm not sure how accurate those numbers from Carl Beck are, having said that the more data I collect on these cars myself, the more I'm inclined to believe them as being pretty close.

[gilltech]

 

 

I know many owners who have had their cars for years.

I've owned mine for 32 yrs, since 1984, but IIRC that's not the club forum record.

It comes down to personal taste. Personally I prefer the 260 dashboard & interior to the 240 which I find a bit too bland, like the '60s car it is. Especially the door trim panels, couldn't get much plainer, maybe it's the racing heritage? But IMO the 260 dash integrates better with the console.

Am not fussed on either of the 240 or 260 taillight designs though, too bulky, I can see why some people fit those Corvette or Ferrari looking taillight kits.

The early 260s didn't have the emissions gear either, unless you're referring to the flattop carbs same as the last of the 240s.

The 260 body shell is generally a bit stronger than the 240, better around the rear wheel arches & the rear hatch which has two gas struts not one. I think the 260 addressed a number of short comings of the 240.

As for A/C, was that standard on your Aus-spec 260s? Must have been an option on our NZ-new / world spec 260s as mine doesn't have it.

[GongZ]

...

The early 260s didn't have the emissions gear either, unless you're referring to the flattop carbs same as the last of the 240s.

...

I know that the 1973 US 240Z's had flat tops, but my 240Z is one of the last batch of Australian delivered cars and came with round tops. 

[44014]

As a very early 260 owner and having access to many zeds to compare it to with my friends cars I can say my early 74 is mostly 240..

So lucky me I get the crap parts and its not worth as much. I may be on my own here but i prefer the 260 dash and center console over the 240 but i prefer the 240 tail lights as they look cleaner.

Other then this i cant find any differences with my car over say D3c0yz 72/73 240.

My car even had the skinnier strut tubes and 240 front hubs.

[gav240z]

In fairness I actually think comparing 240/260 cars is kind of a moot point. Instead it makes more sense to look at the home market and see that it was really an evolution of the S30Z platform.

 

Therefore a 74 S30Z is similar to a 73 S30Z, since even an early 260z is quite different to the last 260z's sold in this country.

 

For me though the exciting stuff was happening in the beginning, the Z432 and Z432-R's, the HS30-H, the Rally Car success etc.. They were all based on the earlier S30Z platform. Towards the end Nissan sort of lost focus on any special versions and instead just focused on widgets like fuel injection, AC, and power mirrors and windows etc.. Then we got the 280zx.

 

The reason for the change in dashboard design was for better visibility, and a center heater / AC facia that was more ergonomic in terms of layout and feel.

 

Other reasons for liking the early cars for me are nostalgia (since my first car was a 240z) and other things are a bit more nuanced and hard to define, I guess "je nai se qua" is how I would describe it.

[74zzz]

I think with most things the original is the most desirable....... it wasnt the 260z that changed world views on jap cars it was the 240.....it was the 240z that blitzed race tracks not the 260. production numbers are irrelevant  its usually the ones that caused the most stir that are desirable......there is a reason phase threes were triple xr gts etc etc being teh fastest 4 door in the world, track killers and right place right time........ its the history more so than build numbers..... even though i settled on a  early 260z im still kicking myself for not getting a 240 when prices were under 15 grand for a decent one  

[gilltech]

 

 

My car even had the skinnier strut tubes and 240 front hubs.

Ditto mine, 44014, yes to skinnier strut tubes, 240 front hubs, no rear sway bar.

Notwithstanding the collectability therefore desirability of the earliest S30 & the 'exotic' JDM versions, given my financial resources, limited as they are, I think I actually have the best of both worlds, admittedly more so once I'd swapped in the round tops.

But, to each his own.

I would be a happy & enthusiastic owner of any Zed, early or late, 2 or 2+2. They're just that sort of car.

[gav240z]

I would be a happy & enthusiastic owner of any Zed, early or late, 2 or 2+2. They're just that sort of car.

Agree.

[44014]

Ditto mine, 44014, yes to skinnier strut tubes, 240 front hubs, no rear sway bar.

Notwithstanding the collectability therefore desirability of the earliest S30 & the 'exotic' JDM versions, given my financial resources, limited as they are, I think I actually have the best of both worlds, admittedly more so once I'd swapped in the round tops.

But, to each his own.

I would be a happy & enthusiastic owner of any Zed, early or late, 2 or 2+2. They're just that sort of car.

Thats interesting, Myn has a rear sway bar, Ahh Nissan i think they just made it up as they went along sometimes. unless it was an option?

[PZG302]

Nope, they just made it up as they went along and used what bits were next to the line to be thrown on the cars as they went through.

[gilltech]

Well, the rear sway bar hanger brackets were there, but no bar or any sign like rub marks that one had ever been fitted...so I just got one in from the US & bolted it in.

Maybe another point of difference between NZ & Aus spec cars, or maybe it was an option as you suggest? My car is a pretty basic spec.