Back in the 1950s, there was a Japanese automobile manufacturer named Datsun. He tried to create a new set of inexpensive sports cars to be released in the Western market.
After experiencing a few trials and failures, he finally came up with the Nissan Z generation releasing its initial exhibit called Datsun 240Z which was then overpowered with the 280Z.
Now, if you want to know more about 240Z vs 280Z, this article will fuel up your knowledge and identify which among them is better.
What is 240Z?
The 240z was released in the market by Nissan back in the 1970s. The 240 is a derivative of an engine displacement with a capacity of 2.4 L inline-six.
It is a front-engine and rear-wheel two-seater auto which makes it unique from the US sports car with a rear axle.
The 240Z is also equipped with a four-speed manual transmission that attains 0-60 for only eight seconds and a 151hp, four-wheel independent suspension.
The 240Z was one of the Series 1 auto collections and is generally a humdrum Nissan four-cylinder of the period with an additional pair of cylinders lobbed at the end.
What is 280Z?
The 280Z was released in 1975 only a few years after the 240Z. It was featured with a larger engine displacement with a capacity reaching 2.8L.
The engine of this model is considered advanced in 1977-19978, for it was composed of a five-speed manual transmission.
Plus, aside from the L28 engine, it is equipped with a modern technology fuel injection system called Bosch L-JETRONIC.
Although the 280Z is 400lbs heavier due to additional upgrades, its engine is still capable of running as fast as 240Z. And this model is more in demand than 240Z.
External Features
Both 240Z and 280Z are physically the same. They only vary on some minimal details such as blinkers, colors, bumpers, etc.
Talking about the bumpers, the 240Z is much more admired than the 280Z. It is because the 280Z has a huge and more exposed bumper design which makes other people uncomfortable.
An advantage of 280Z is their thicker bumper, installed side beam protector, recessed tail lights, and a turn signal for safety regulations.
Since the 280Z is much more upgraded than 240Z, it is quieter, tamed, and comfier to drive. Thus, making it more luxurious than other sports cars.
Moreover, the 280Z in other countries has a 2+2 option. Thus, making it look unique, unlike the original two-seater coupe.
Overall, both of them have identically good external features.
Engine Capacity
As discussed earlier, the 240Z refers to a 2.4L inline-six engine. And the 280Z refers to the 2.8L engine. Their engines are identical, with only additional perks installed.
The 240Z has an open road record of 0-60mph for only 8 seconds. And in 15.5 seconds, it can already reach a quarter-mile within 86.5mph up to 125mph. It is engineered with 150hp at 6,000rpm. Plus a 148ft/lb at 4,400rpm.
As the customers’ demand arose, Datsun upgraded the engine capacity on the new 280Z. The 280Zs features 170hp at 5,600rpm, which is higher than 240.
And with extra torque of 163ft/lb at 4,400. This model may be heavier, but it is equally able and more tamed when on the road.
In terms of fuel systems, the 240Z has a carburetor which is less expensive than the Bosch fuel injection system of the 280Z.
However, people started complaining about the emissions and restrictions of the carburetor which makes the 280Z superior.
The engine capacity of 240Z and 280Z is quite outstanding, however, those statistics are only impressive back in the 1970s since we are in the new generation with a more advanced sports car.
Suspension System
In general, they have almost the same suspension setups. The 240Z and 280Z are both equipped with a fully independent MacPherson strut setup. The only difference observed is the thickness of metal, tubing, springs attached, and other insignificant parts.
Cost
The retail price of these sports cars is remarkable until today. The 240Z has a market price of $3,500 while the 280Z costs $7,968.
As these 240Z units have been released in the US, there has been a demand for more than 50,000 models per year. On the other hand, there were about 228,000 sold units of 280Z in the 1970s to 1978.
After a successful sales of the Z models in 1979, Datsun pursued to create a second-generation Z-cars which made another great profit in the industry.
The company refined its latest designs and made the S30 chassis to be more satisfying for their customers.
Conclusion
To sum up, 240Z and 280Z are pretty much the same with only minor dissimilarities. Although not 100% identical, the final decision depends on which sports car you stand.
Purchasing one of them will be of great investment because the classic Nissan Z generation cars’ value increases over time.
