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• 1966 - Nissan Motors identifies a market for a new kind of sports car. Its product planners envision an agile, compact GT, whose performance and comfort would outrun its price. Nissan engineers begin work on a prototype, which would become the 240-Z.
• 1969 - The 240-Z goes on sale in the U.S. on October 22, 1969. It features a 2400cc six-cylinder, 150 horsepower engine, and delivers a 0-60 time of under nine seconds -- all for a price tag of only $3,526.
• 1970 - Less than a year after its debut, demand for the 240-Z is so high that the Kelly Blue Book rates the value of a used Z at $4,000! Bob Sharp and Pete Brock take the Datsun 240-Z to the race track in SCCA competition -- driver John Morton wins the C-Production national championship for Brock Racing Enterprises.
• 1971 - John Morton wins his second straight C-Production national title.
• 1972 - Bob Sharp drives a 240-Z to the first of his two consecutive C-Production national championships.
• 1973 - At the close of the 240-Z’s fourth and final model year, all-time sales reach 116,712 units.
• 1974 - The engine displacement of the 1974 model is increased to 2.6 liters, and the car is renamed the 260-Z. Due to stricter emissions requirements, horsepower is down to 139. 1974 also brings the introduction of the “2+2” body style, which accommodates fold-down rear seats. In its only year of existence, the 260-Z sets a single-year Z-car sales record at the time, with 63,963 units sold. Walt Moss extends Datsun’s Z-car dominance by claiming the C-Production national championship.
• 1975 - Needing increasingly complex technology to meet even tougher emissions regulations, Nissan boosts the Z-car’s displacement to 2.8 liters and adds a version of Bosch’s L-Jetronic fuel injection, creating the 1975 280-Z. Horsepower rating is increased to 149. Sharp moves up to the IMSA GTU racing circuit, winning eight races and capturing the championship. He also wins his third SCCA C-Production title.
• 1977 - A five-speed overdrive transmission is added to the 280-Z and horsepower climbs to 170. 1977 is also the Z’s highest sales year to date (at the time), with 67,331 units sold.
• 1979 - An all-new, second-generation Z-car is developed, debuting as the 280-ZX. The 280-ZX offers a higher level of luxury to meet the growing demands of the sports car customer. Named Motor Trend’s “Import Car of the Year” for 1979, the 280-ZX sets the all-time sales record for the Z line with 86,007 units sold. The Z-car captures its 10th consecutive SCCA C-Production national championship. Don Devendorf wins another IMSA GTU title for Datsun.
• 1980 - A new T-bar roof option is introduced. Cumulative American Z-car sales reach 500,000 units.
• 1981 - A turbocharged engine is offered for the first time on the 1981 280-ZX. Sales remained brisk through the 1983 model year.
• 1982 - Devendorf and his Electromotive racing team win Datsun’s first ever IMSA GTO championship.
• 1984 - The third-generation Z, the all-new 300-ZX, makes its debut. The 300-ZX offers sleek new styling and a powerful new 3.0 liter V6 engine, elevating the sports car’s performance image to even greater heights. The normally-aspirated 300-ZX produces 160 horsepower, while the turbocharged version offers 200 horsepower. The 1984 model becomes the second-best selling Z ever, with 73,652 units sold.
• 1985 - Paul Newman, splitting time between the SCCA’s professional Trans-Am series and the amateur ranks, sets 10 track records in his 280-ZX Turbo and leads the national championship race wire-to-wire to win his third title.
• 1986 - Newman wins his second straight SCCA GT-1 national crown.
• 1988 - Scott Sharp, son of the legendary Datsun racer Bob, wins his second straight SCCA GT-1 national championship, and his third title overall.
• Late ’80s - Toward the end of the 1980s, the overall sports car market faces a downturn due to a significant increase in consumer demand for multi-purpose vehicles such as minivans and sport utilities. Back-to-basics is the name of the game when it comes to sports cars, and for Nissan, it means a return to more of a performance orientation during the development of the next generation Z-car.
• 1990 - In response, the fourth-generation Z -- the dramatic 1990 300-ZX -- takes on tighter proportions and a much more aggressive stance. The all-new DOHC 3.0 liter engine offers increased output of 222 horsepower for the normally-aspirated model, and an incredible 300 horsepower for the 300-ZX Turbo. The 1990 300-ZX Turbo is named Motor Trend’s “Import Car of the Year”. Motor Trend also names it, “One of the Top Ten Performance Cars”. Automobile Magazine honors the 300-ZX/300-ZX Turbo as its “Design of the Year”, and names the 300-ZX Turbo to its “All Stars” list. Road & Track names the 300-ZX Turbo “One of the Ten Best Cars in the World”. Car and Driver names the 300-ZX Turbo “One of the Ten Best Cars”. American Z-car sales reach the one million sales mark in the 1990 model year, making it the all-time best selling sports car.
• 1991 - The 300-ZX Turbo is named to Car and Driver’s “Ten Best” list, and is once again one of Automobile Magazine’s “All-Stars”.
• 1992 - For the third straight year, Car and Driver names the 300-ZX Turbo one of its “Ten Best”, and Automobile Magazine names it to its “All-Stars” list.
• 1993 - For the fourth straight year, the 300-ZX Turbo is named a Car and Driver “Ten Best”, and one of Automobile Magazine’s “All-Stars”.
• 1994 - A race-modified Z wins both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours at Sebring. It goes on to win the GTS Class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, making it the only car ever to accomplish such a record within the same year. And for the fifth straight year, the 300-ZX Turbo is named to the “Ten Best” and “All Stars” lists by Car and Driver and Automobile Magazine, respectively.
• 1995 - 1995 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Z. It also brings another award from Car and Driver, as the publication names the 300-ZX Turbo to its “Ten Best” list for the sixth straight year. Nissan, working with Steve Millen Sports Cars, produces a limited edition 25th Anniversary 300-ZX Twin Turbo, the SMZ. According to Nissan, in recent years, the 300-ZX/300-ZX Twin Turbo has outsold the Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra, and Acura NSX combined.
• 1996 - Regrettably, 1996 signifies the final production year of the Z-Car. Nissan will sell the the 300-ZX in 1996, despite 1994 sales of just over 6,000 units, and 1995 sales reported to be even fewer. In 1998, especially with the opening of the Nissan “Z-Stores”, rumors abound about a “next generation” Z-Car.
• 2001 - January 8, 2001 marks the much-anticipated official announcement of the newest generation Nissan Z® Concept! Thankfully, the Z-Car heritage and tradition live on.
• 2002 - August brings the long-awaited introduction of the 2003 Nissan 350-Z. Yet another exciting new Z era begins!
• 2003 - The fledgling 350-Z is named one of Car and Driver’s “Ten Best” for 2003!
• 2004 - The “New Z” for 2004. A 350-Z® Roadster convertible model is in the offing, featuring a power-operated cloth top, with a glass rear window. It debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April 2003, and is now available.
• 2005 - The Z‘s rebellious spirit continues stronger than ever in 2005 with the arrival of the 350Z 35th Anniversary model. The commemorative model is highlighted by a higher performance version of the Z’s standard 3.5-liter V6.
The new 2006 Z® features a revised front end appearance, enhanced interior, LED taillights, a new vehicle speed-sensitive power steering system, refined optional navigation system and available RAYS® super lightweight 18-inch front/19-inch rear 5-spoke forged alloy wheels
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