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Upstate Z Club
Connecting Z Enthusiasts of the South Carolina Upstate
Home1st Gen - 240z thru 280z

1st Generation - 240Z, 260Z and 280Z


The first generation Z was known as Nissan’s Fairlady Z in Japan, but was introduced to the US markets in the fall of 1969 as the Datsun 240Z. This vehicle, designated by its Nissan code name, the S30 featured a 2.4 liter engine that produced 150hp with a 4 speed manual transmission.

The 1st Gen Z would come to encompass the 240Z, 260Z and 280Z.
Names and actual manufacturing dates for these cars varied by country but we will focus on the US market.

Here is a nice article on How Stuff Works...

The 240Z was introduced in 1969 and was manufactured thru 1973.

240Z Production Numbers

1969  -  3
1970  -  17,005
1971  -  40,219
1972  -  60,025
1973  -  51,332


In 1974, the engine was enlarged with a longer stroke to 2.6 L resulting in the 260Z.

53,451 260Zs were manufactured in the only year that the 260Z would produced.
1974 also so the introduction of the 2+2 model.

In 1975, the engine was once again enlarged but this time by increasing the bore and therefore the cubic inches of the 2.6 L engine to 2.8 L resulting in the 280Z.

280Z Production Numbers

1975  -  54,907
1976  -  63,690
1977  -  56,072
1978  -  62,699

Wikipedia also has some good information...

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