The Classic: Nissan 240 Z Safari Rally
A look back at when a Nissan sports coupe shook up World Rally
Jun 15, 2023
The unmistakable silhouette of the Datsun 240Z tempted contemporary sports car fans as it does today’s collectors. And in factory rally livery, the iconic Japanese performance coupe stunned on both snow and sand.
The first-generation Datsun Fairlady Z S30, also known as the Datsun 240Z or “Z-car”, was rolled out in December 1969 and won a big market not only in Japan but in North America and other countries.
The model’s rakish styling, driving comfort, high performance engine, four-wheel independent suspension, and its affordable price ensured it was a popular option at the time and would go on to become a sought-after classic in the decades since.
The model was manufactured for nine years, achieving global sales was over 520,000 units. According to the Nissan Museum that’s a record number for sport cars of a single model.
The original car was powered by a high-performance ‘Z432’ inline 6-cylinder 4-valve DOHC engine delivering 116kW peak power. This engine is the same as that of the third generation Skyline 2000GT-R. The nomenclature ‘432’ is derived from the engine configuration; 4 valves, 3 carburettors, and 2 camshafts. Designed from the outset as a halo model for Datsun, standard equipment included a limited slip differential and magnesium wheels.
The Datsun 240Z, as it was commonly known outside of the domestic Japanese market, challenged world rallies to prove its performance, even beyond the tarmac.
A 240Z, wearing the iconic black, red, and white livery, won the 19th East-African Safari Rally in 1971, and brought Nissan’s second win in a row following victory in the previous year by a Datsun Bluebird. The engine mounted in the competition car was an uprated 2393cc inline 6-cylinder OHC which generated 154kW.
The Datsun 240Z also participated in the famous Rallye Monte-Carlo, mainly on snowy, icy roads, and finished third in the 41st Rallye Monte-Carlo. Initially it was expected the car’s rear wheel drive system would prove disadvantageous on snow and ice, but the result betrayed the prediction. As a result, more and more drivers began driving Z-cars at domestic rallies.
The 5 car pictured finished third at the 41st Rallye Monte-Carlo in 1972 by Rauno Aaltonen and Jean Todt.
