GTP Cool Wall: 1969-1978 Nissan/Datsun Z

[Nessy]

I voted Sub Z mainly for the 240 and 260Z, although the 280Z is fairly cool, i could never class it as being Sub zero, maybe a low cool at best, (bumpers and side trim makes it look way less desirable/cool).
Even worse is when someone says 280Z, i can't but help think of the S130.

 

[homeforsummer]

Who said it had anything to do with exterior styling?

I did, to be fair - I said it got fatter and uglier. Which is sort of the case, but I was possibly unfairly lumping the Z and the ZX in together. And the ZX is truly nasty.

Either way, the 240 is still the one I lust after. The others, not so much.

 

[TheCrazySwede]

Of course... you're insiders. You know these things. Just like insiders of the Sentra community understand that, nice as the "Classic" B13 Sentra is, with its independent rear suspension and lightweight body, the B14 is a better car, all around... even on the racetrack, where you'd expect that rear end to be a major handicap.

Still doesn't prevent the B13 Sentra from being ten times cooler than the B14, though.

Of course, both are significantly uncool to anyone but us Sentra lovers...

...which comes to the point... to non Z-lovers, the 240Z is "it"... unfortunately.

(Don't kill me bro, I don't hate your car! )

Haha, very true.
My personal favorite group of "insiders" is the Morris Marina Owners Club...can't think of anyone but them that could love that car, let alone the comedic hate the gang on Top Gear have towards it, haha.

I agree with you, regarding the 240. As I mentioned in my long and probably ignorable (is that a word?) post, the 240 gets most of the fame and spotlight, and respectfully so. It is the original. It is the Alpha, so to speak. No matter how good the rest of the Rocky movies were (or weren't), the first film will always be my favorite...despite the lack of Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren! Same goes for the Z

If I could start over and have an option to go for a 240, in the exact same condition that I picked my 280, then I would probably go for the 240. Not because of any of the reasons I mentioned above, but because I still have to smog mine in California! Dang Commies over here....

 

[Tyger]

The cars are different enough for me to warrant their own nominations, though I would vote Upper Cool, Middle Cool and Lower Cool for the 240, 260 and 280 respectively, so that levels out to a very solid cool anyway

I do still have some love for the 280Z, reminds me of Gen 1 Transformers, there were at least 3 of them I think. I owned Prowl, the police car.

 

[TheCrazySwede]

The cars are different enough for me to warrant their own nominations, though I would vote Upper Cool, Middle Cool and Lower Cool for the 240, 260 and 280 respectively, so that levels out to a very solid cool anyway

I do still have some love for the 280Z, reminds me of Gen 1 Transformers, there were at least 3 of them I think. I owned Prowl, the police car.

I believe Prowl was a 280ZX.
As mentioned, most people think of the ZX when they think of a 280.
As a Z owner, I don't find the ZX attractive at all compared to the first-gens (240/260/280)

I think it's fair to say, no matter how cool the 280 may or may not be, I believe the 280ZX of the 80's has made the name un-cool. Given that this cool wall uses Top Gear logic, if you have to mention to someone "Hey, I have a 280z. Not the ugly one, though, the one from the mid 70's" then it doesn't sound that cool. You can tell someone that you own a 240Z and it's automatically cool. Having been in possession of 240's and 280's, they are both identical to me, except for minor differences like bumpers (which can be replaced) and ride height (which can be lowered), and almost every Z owner I have ever talked to.

That's my un-biased opinion.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Easy sub zero. Classic, lightweight RWD sportscar with cabin back design, long nose and good soundtrack from the tailpipe, and available with manual.