Many cars can lay claim to being legendary. The Datsun 240Z is one of them. The 240Z was the first foreign sports car to achieve international success and it changed the sports car world with its affordability, reliability and iconic design. Almost 170,000 of them were produced and, while estimates vary on how many remain on the road, it is believed there are only about 175 left. Powell River resident Dan Wall has one. The 240Z has made a star turn in over 200 movies, TV shows and commercials.
What year is this car?
It’s a 1970 Datsun 240Z. The 240 was one of the first sports cars that came from Datsun, which is now Nissan. They introduced it in late 1969 and they produced a 240Z until 1973.
What kind of shape was it in when you bought it?
I restored it about six years ago. It was in fairly good condition. It’s all original parts. I did everything except for the final body work and paint. The back quarters were rusted and it needed a paint job. Everything else I did myself.
Was this the car you were looking for?
Yes, it was. I rode one when I was younger when it first came out, and then I had one that I drove every day in the early ‘80s. So I decided I wanted to rebuild a car and I wanted it to be a 240Z.
