The 55th Anniversary of the First 240Z is Celebrated with Z Heritage Edition

It was 1969. Richard Nixon took the oath for the presidency, Niel Armstrong proclaimed: ''One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” an outdoor music festival in upstate New York had a rather high attendance level, increasing campus war protests resulting in an initial small withdrawal from Vietnam, bubble wrap was invented, and the first Nissan 240Z made tread prints in the U.S. Dick Smith Nissan of Columbia is proud to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of the sportiest Nissan. 

Ground-braking model

It is hard to estimate the impact of those first 240Z cars. Up to that point, Datsun, as Nissan would be known for another 14 years in the states, and all other Japanese car manufacturers were known for very small, boxy 2-and 4-door sedans and oddly small pickup trucks, if they were known at all.

Then came the 240Z with its somewhat Jaguar XKE proportions and headlight treatment, 150 horsepower 2.4-liter overhead cam straight-6 engine up front connected to a 4-speed manual in the middle and drive wheels in the rear, plus a slick cockpit featuring a dash with three molded bulges in the center for ancillary gauges. Muscle car fans who scoffed at anything with less than a V8 paid little attention, but sports car enthusiasts took immediate notice. Sales were brisk, and the American impression of Japanese vehicles started changing. 

Remembering with the Z Heritage Edition

Nissan is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the first 240Z with a Z Heritage Edition. 

With several references to that first Z-car already in its design, the Z Heritage Edition pays further homage with additional design elements from the original car. Most noticeable is the revised front end with a horizontal body-color divide of the front intake, which creates a grille reminiscent of the first model. The distinctive orange color pays tribute to the iconic orange body available on the original model, as does the flat black section on the hood that recalls black-painted hoods (ostensibly to avoid reflection in the driver’s eyes) that were common on the original model. Fender flares also recall the distinctive lip flares on the fenders of the original model. 

A Bit More Powerful than the Original

Notably, the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 does not reflect the original. It is rated at 400 horsepower, which is 2.6 times the power of the original model. The Heritage Edition is based on the current Z Performance trim, which features 19-inch alloy wheels, a mechanical limited-slip differential, 4-piston front brakes with red calipers, leather seating surfaces, and an eight-speaker Bose Premium audio system. 

The Nissan Z Heritage Edition goes on sale this summer with a starting MSRP of $59,135. If they are not in the Dick Smith Nissan Inventory by the time you read this, contact one of the Dick Smith Sales Professionals and ask them to inform you when the first Heritage Edition model arrives.