With this month's cover car, we take yet another look at the latest iteration of history's best selling sports car, Nissan's Z. The 350Z's potent six-cylinder FR drivetrain aerodynamically styled two-seat coupe or roadster unibody and purpose-built foot works allow the car to outshine it's competitors in stock form and elevate its performance to supercar status when modified. While the Z33 shares much with its Z32 300ZX predecessor, Nissan designers actually looked to the original Z-the '69-'73 S30 Datsun 240Z-for inspiration with their latest designs.
Eager to forge a new identity with his company in the global market, former Nissan president Yutaka Katayama (Mr. K) knew a strong-selling sports car would be the ticket.
In the mid '60s, he and a team of engineers redesigned Datsun's halo car, the Fairlady, from a niche roadster to a more practical, Gtstyled sports car that everyone could afford-and one that could beat competitors like the Porsche 911 in the process. In 1969, the new car was released in Japan as a continuation of the successful Fairlady lineage, but in the States as the all-new Datsun 240Z, after its stout 151hp 2.4L N/A "L24" inline-six. The 240 retained an FR driveline, independent suspension and two-door, two-seat characteristic of a GT car, and was priced well below competing cars of the day. The Z's attributes made it an instant hit-over 30,000 were sold their first year in the U.S., and the numbers nearly doubled over the next two. Its popularity among stateside racing teams and enthusiasts of the early '80s was such that the car is widely credited with having kick-started the aftermarket automotive industry which we all enjoy today.
Fast forward nearly 40 years and the mechanisms for the original Z's success can be found in the current model. For a moderate price, the 350Z allows us mere mortals a taste of the supercar life-and something far better if we dare to invest a little more! www.nissanusa.com
5,608,312By The NumbersThe amountoftorque , in lb - ft ,the world's largest reciprocating engine produces.
| 1968'S HEAVY HITTERS |
| Car | Datsun 240Z | Porsche 911T | Jaguar XJ-6 |
| Body | Coupe | Coupe or Targa | Sedan |
| Drivetrain Front/Rear | Rear/Rear | | Front/Rear |
| Engine | 2.4L I-6 | 2.0L flat 6 | 2.8L I-6 |
| Gearbox | 4sp manual (US) | 5sp manual | 4sp manual |
| Power | 151 hp | 110 hp | 140 hp |
| Redline | 7,000 rpm | 6,800 rpm | 5,800 rpm |
| Weight | 2,355 lbs | 2,248 lbs | 3,388 lbs |
| 0-60mph | 8 seconds | 10.3 seconds | 10+ seconds |