A GENUINE RIGHT-HAND DRIVE 240Z, PROPERLY SORTED

The Datsun 240Z has become one of the most desirable Japanese classics of its generation. Finding the right car, however, is increasingly about more than simply finding a 240Z.

This example stood out for exactly that reason.

A genuine factory right-hand-drive car, originally delivered to Australia, it combined matching-numbers provenance with a sympathetic specialist restoration completed in 2016 and a number of carefully considered improvements designed to make it genuinely enjoyable to use.

For us, it represented what a good 240Z should be today: authentic where it matters, sympathetically improved and ready to be driven.

KEY DETAILS

• Year: 1971
• Model: Datsun 240Z
• Engine: 2.4-litre L24 straight-six
• Configuration: Genuine factory RHD / Australian delivered
• Matching Numbers: Yes
• Restoration: Datsun specialist restoration completed in 2016
• Transmission: Later Datsun 5-speed manual, with original 4-speed retained
• Ignition: Bluetooth-enabled electronic ignition
• Wheels: 14-inch Wolfrace alloys, with original wheels retained
• Interior: Original-style interior with period woodgrain steering wheel
• History: Comprehensive history and photographic restoration record
• Mileage: 58,500 miles

OUR VIEW

The appeal of the 240Z is easy to understand. Its combination of elegant styling, a straight-six engine and straightforward mechanicals made it one of the defining Japanese sports cars of the 1970s.

But more than 50 years later, the quality and history of individual cars matters enormously.

This example had the fundamentals we look for: genuine right-hand-drive specification, matching numbers and a documented specialist restoration, rather than simply presenting well at first glance.

The later five-speed gearbox and electronic ignition were sensible, reversible changes that made the car easier to enjoy without fundamentally changing its character. Importantly, the original four-speed gearbox and wheels remained with the car.

It wasn't trying to be a concours showpiece or an extensively modified restomod. It was a well-resolved 240Z with strong provenance, attractive presentation and the usability to actually enjoy it.

That's exactly why we handled it.

At DM Historics, we're interested in cars with a clear reason to buy — whether that's provenance, condition, specification or simply the way they drive.

This was one of them.