S30 Nissan 240Z, 260Z & 280Z

fliplover

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Apr 29, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
640
Reaction score
1,596
Location
Georgia
Car(s)
2012 Impala LTZ; '21 Nissan Rogue
Occupation
Engineer
Beautiful car! I have my fingers crossed to win the lottery!!!

Does anyone know what the handle to the left of the brake is for? I didn't have that in my 280.
 

Lin626

Well-Known Member
First Name
Linda
Joined
Jul 10, 2021
Threads
25
Messages
947
Reaction score
2,177
Location
LA
Car(s)
MB
StorieZ: A 50-year love affair with Z

https://usa.nissanstories.com/en-US/releases/storiez-a-50-year-love-affair-with-z

8ed4fba7262b2867a64847926c22c95b26fca633.jpg


Longtime Nissan 240Z owner and super fan, Jim Arnett, helped Nissan celebrate the future of Z when the Z Proto passed through his hometown of Dallas, Texas recently as part of a media event.

Coincidentally, just ahead of the planned event, Arnett saw Nissan's new TV ad featuring a Safari Gold Z – the exact trim he purchased 50 years ago. The proud Z owner reached out to Nissan through the company's Facebook page just to share photos of his restoration. To his surprise, he received a response and an invitation.

“Nissan mentioned to me that the new Z Proto was actually in Dallas and asked me if I'd like to see it in person. It didn't take long for me to say yes,” he said. Within a day, Arnett found himself driving his 1971 Safari Gold 240Z to meet the Z proto. We got a chance to visit with the longtime super fan and ask him some questions about his 50-year love affair with his beloved Z.

What inspired you to buy the 240Z in 1971?

I was a member of a car club that participated in autocross events. Z had come out at that time and I fell in love with it. The problem was, so did everyone else and you had to get on a waiting list and pay a deposit to get one. Also, when your name came up, you had to take whatever Z they gave you, no matter the color or how it was equipped. I almost decided to buy a different sports car when a friend told me one was available at Trophy Datsun and to go immediately to the dealership. I did and it was love at first sight. On March 29, 1971, we became a couple.

01cb2de3ab07d0930ceea14eefdac5222e92c79b.jpg


It must have been a head turner back in 1971 on the streets of Dallas.

People would stare at this car, stop me -- if they could -- and ask me endless questions about it. Everybody wanted to know how much it cost and how fast it would go. I would tell them ‘it can go fast enough'. As far as the cost, I did pay list price but there wasn't a lot of dealer mark up. The real deal was when you showed up to the car club with one of these, there was envy everywhere.

What are some of your fondest memories?

It was so much fun to go through the autocross. One of the things I remember was immediately dethroning the reigning autocross champion, who happened to be driving a Porsche.

Tell us about the restoration.

In 1983, the car had 92,000 miles on it and was burning oil. It needed attention that I could not give because we were building a house. So I put it away until 1999 when I decided to restore it. I took the car completely apart and bagged and tagged every part myself. About 10 years later I was able to start back to work on it. Over two and a half years, I got the body repainted, the engine rebuilt, a new interior and I put everything back together. I have only put 6,000 miles on it since it was restored.

What would you take for it?

I won't take offers because there is no price I will take for this car.

What do you think of the Z Proto?

It's a car I would definitely own. The lines on the car are amazing. It is so smooth and sleek; just very elegantly done. There are cars on the market today that are overwrought with styling cues. They have false vents, creases in the sheet metal, and excessive curves. This car is sleek, just like its forbearer. The styling cues it picked up from the 240Z and the Z32 are a beautiful tribute. Everything on this car is exceptionally well done.
 

IMPUL

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Mar 23, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
45
Reaction score
66
Location
Mississauga
Car(s)
2007 Infiniti g35x, 2015 Nissan Micra
Occupation
Liuna Local 183
Sound up! Totally stock L28 on Sunday morning cruise.
Now that’s what a car is supposed to sound like. I almost forgot these cars still had a choke. I love it. You don’t find that much today.
 

IMPUL

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Mar 23, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
45
Reaction score
66
Location
Mississauga
Car(s)
2007 Infiniti g35x, 2015 Nissan Micra
Occupation
Liuna Local 183
What would you take for it?

I won't take offers because there is no price I will take for this car.


Figures. And I don’t blame him.

if I bought a car like that for $3500 back then and then I also paid to fully restore it over 10 years.

that’s like building your own house with your bare hands.

you give that down generationally you don’t sell it ever.
 

orclean1

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 9, 2021
Threads
12
Messages
362
Reaction score
622
Location
NY
Car(s)
civic
great post , the240 looks so much bigger then the Proto , does anyone have the specs for both cars for a size comparison ?
 

jdm-rhd

Well-Known Member
First Name
rob
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Threads
69
Messages
2,740
Reaction score
6,199
Location
orbiting caprica
Car(s)
95 hardtop supra, 93 widebody rx7, 93 stockish rx7
Occupation
videogame tester/skater
"behemoth" may be a bit of a stretch but a great build none-the-less....
 

Zupra88

Well-Known Member
First Name
Cody
Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Threads
2
Messages
97
Reaction score
249
Location
Burleson, TX
Car(s)
2023 Nissan Z, 2022 F-150 Lariat
Occupation
Nursing Home Administrator
Nice Q&A write up. Hopefully I’ll see this owner and car at a local meet sometime.
 

Houston.RZ34

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2021
Threads
8
Messages
926
Reaction score
2,522
Location
Texas, USA
Car(s)
15 Q50 S (3.7) 23 Stingray HTC
Occupation
CIO
I've met Jim before - he's good friends with Frank Castleman (owner of the 1st Z in Texas, same color)

It's cool to hear the old guard talk cars, you can see the years melt away when they speak.
 
 





Top