Z

Make
Nissan
Segment
Coupe

A collection of pristine, entirely original Datsun/Nissan Z cars is expected to cause a stir on Bring a Trailer, where the owner has listed their low-mileage beauties for sale. This superb sextet of Japanese sports cars carefully curated over the years, all boast low mileage and have been treated with the utmost care.

Let's begin with the oldest model, the 1970 Datsun 240 Series I. Acquired in 2011, this model was treated to a refurbishment that was started in 2013 by Pierre Z Car Center and concluded this year by Whitehead Performance.

The Harvest Gold paintwork presents beautifully, and the black vinyl interior appears untouched. That's no surprise considering the sweet-sounding 2.4-liter inline-six (paired with a four-speed manual) has only covered 230 miles since the current owner purchased it. The total mileage is unknown, but the five-digit odometer reflects 38,099 miles.

At the time of writing, the current bid for this '70 Series I sits at $58,500. With five days remaining, we wouldn't be surprised if this example sells for twice the money. It won't be the first time a classic Z car sold for an astonishing amount.

The Olive Green example, purchased in 2003, holds a particularly special place in the seller's heart. He and his wife, nine months pregnant then, set out to view the car. However, she soon started experiencing contractions as they got closer to the vehicle.

"I contacted the customs broker, who explained to me that it was not possible to import the car without my presence in person. The delivery driver couldn't wait for us on the US side of the border, but after many frantic back-and-forth calls to the customs broker and discussions with customs officials, they finally agreed to make an exception," said the owner.

Thankfully, the baby was born, and he could collect his vehicle, a car that's been cherished ever since and driven sparingly. This model boasts a decidedly '70s brown vinyl interior but will delight enthusiasts with its barely run-in 2.4-liter engine (it's traveled 14,000 miles) and four-speed manual gearbox.

Below is another '73 240Z, painted in a more extroverted Lime Green. While it, too, is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-six, this model boasts a five-speed manual transmission and has received several updates. An aftermarket exhaust header, SU carburetors, and an electronic ignition module are some changes made to this model. Interestingly, the current owner acquired it on Bring a Trailer in 2019.

The silver-painted 1974 model is the only 260Z in the collection. Powered by a 2.6-liter inline-six, this manual-equipped variant has just 5,648 miles under its belt.

As you'd expect, the car presents beautifully. Purchased new in '74, the original owner kept the car for 43 years before selling it to its current keeper in 2018.

The vehicle has been driven sparingly since; the new owner has added just 200 miles to its odometer during his tenure. With six days to go, we anticipate the highest bid ($20,000 at the time of writing) will quickly rise to a figure worthy of this Datsun's condition and collectibility.

Two 280Z models round out the collection. The 1977 model, with 14,000 recorded miles, was bought new in Michigan and is believed to have remained with its original owner until 2014. The seller acquired the Light Blue Metallic example in 2019, and it is a dead-ringer for the model that sparked the seller's Z car obsession.

"This 280Z happens to be identical to the one I noticed on the curb way back in 1978 that started this whole love affair with the marque. You could say I am a Z fanatic, but I just love the lines. The shape is very similar to the Ferrari 275GTB or Daytona of the '60s and early '70s," he added.

The seller recalls walking with friends one day and noticing the 280Z at an intersection. "I had never noticed a car to that point in my young life that stirred so many emotions in me ... I just had to have one, so, I began saving my pennies and at the age of 16 I started to look at buying one."

Undoubtedly the crown jewel in the collection, this Ice Blue '76 280Z 2+2 has just 2,517 miles on the clock. It's got quite an interesting backstory. Having been purchased new in Connecticut, the original owner drove the car for just one year before parking it in storage, where it remained until 2016.

The recovery was featured on television's Chasing Classic Cars, and now the low-mileage specimen is offered for sale. Six days remain on the auction, with the highest bid currently at $18,000. Again, we have no doubt this will increase in the coming days.

It must be tough to let go of such a phenomenal collection, but hopefully, these stellar examples will be sold to good homes. As for the owner, he's kept just one model - an early-production 1969 240Z that's currently being restored.

It's one of the loveliest collections of Japanese cars we've seen in some time and just about rivals the fabulous '90s JDM vehicles that recently went up for sale.