Does anyone remember their first time seeing a Z and thinking WOW!

[andy19422]

When I was sixteen, once a month I used to get a bus into town and buy a handfull of aircraft and car magazines. I was reading through Custom car and there was a story about a 240 with a V8 transplant. I remember at the time thinking that was a stunning car and one day I would have to get one. Years past, many years LOL and the car was forgotten. Early this year I was doing some ebay surfing and looking at the classic car section. Then I saw it, a 240z and instantly remembered the magazine article from thirty nine years ago. I then started seriously looking at them and reading as much as I can and joined this great forum. I did take a chunk from my pension so I could do some decorating and buy myself a z. Sadly the decorating has turned into building work, new windows and doors, kitchen and flooring. I have kept some cash back so hopefully I can still get one next year.
I tracked down the mag that had the story and bought one from ebay. It's the June issue from 1984. I hope the car is still around.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

That car in the magazine was built by Mike Feeney, a HUGE character and one of the founders of this club. Mike built the car to use on drag strips. It has a V8 engine and 'trick' rear suspension.

Mike is sadly missed. I'll perhaps expand my reply when I have a bit more time.

I first saw a Z on the 1970 RAC Rally - it blew my mind. I never thought I'd ever get to own one let alone 4!

1970 RAC Rally Datsun# - Google Search

 

[candy red]

Great that you first love for Zs was the one Mike owned he was a legend in the Z world and is greatly missed by many but his memory will always live on

 

[moggy240]

I was driving past a MOT station and I saw a silver 240Z and I thought " what is that !!!!!! It looks amazing" I pulled in and asked them what it was. I think that was about 30 years ago and now on my 5th Zed.

 

[toopy]

I saw one while on a driving lesson in 88 ...... was hooked there and then! finally got one in 96 and still have it.

 

[andy19422]

Sorry to hear of Mike's passing, is the car still on the road?

 

[Mark N]

I came across this photo on gtr.co.uk around 2006 and thought "I have to have one of those".



Bought the first one (260Z) a few months after that.
Now, seventeen years later, I've ended up with four S30s in varying states.

 

[Pondo]

I remember seeing a Samuri years ago on the motorway. I had no memory of what the car was but always remembered the livery.

Fast forward 20 years and I had thought I’d get an old 911 but googled the paint colours one night and remembered why it had stuck in my mind!

 

[uk66fastback]

I can’t honestly remember what I thought when I first saw one - it was 50+ years ago. I’m sure I probably thought that’s one of them their Jap cars … which my dad might have said if I’d have asked him what it was, yes that’s what probably happened back then. However, in 2015, I saw this pic online and I thought - “I’ve gotta have one of those …”

 

[Robotsan]

My story is a bit weirder First off, I had a purple 240z Matchbox car that I loved when I was a kid in the 80s, which my older brother repainted blue for me.

Then I kind of forgot about them for 30 years. I had some older cars like E30s when I was in my 20s, but more out of budget restrictions than because I wanted to drive a classic, and as I earned more I steadily bought more modern cars, but thought a classic car was a luxury out of my reach.

Then in lockdown my girlfriend was watching Ru Paul's Drag Race as she likes to do (side note, for anyone who doesn't know, it isn't about drag racing ), and she says "what's that car?". I look up and see a 7ft drag queen get out of a tiny lime green 70s sports car and said "I think that's a Datsun.." and immediately started googling (Datsuns, to clarify!). I saw the Petrolicious video and heard the noise they make, and a minute later was on classifieds looking at prices! And here we are

 

[sam rich@sjr]

I never really had a wow factor as growing up in and around Z'S they just seemed the normal to me .
But going back to the early 90'S ,on the odd occasion dad would come and pick me up from school in one of the 2 J Taylor cars .
He would be parked in the lay-by right outside the school gates with a lot of the older lads just staring at the car saying how cool it looked . I all of a sudden had a lot more lads wanting to talk to me.
happy memories View attachment 60637

 

[Jason McIvor]

My story is a bit weirder First off, I had a purple 240z Matchbox car that I loved when I was a kid in the 80s, which my older brother repainted blue for me.

Then I kind of forgot about them for 30 years. I had some older cars like E30s when I was in my 20s, but more out of budget restrictions than because I wanted to drive a classic, and as I earned more I steadily bought more modern cars, but thought a classic car was a luxury out of my reach.

Then in lockdown my girlfriend was watching Ru Paul's Drag Race as she likes to do (side note, for anyone who doesn't know, it isn't about drag racing ), and she says "what's that car?". I look up and see a 7ft drag queen get out of a tiny lime green 70s sports car and said "I think that's a Datsun.." and immediately started googling (Datsuns, to clarify!). I saw the Petrolicious video and heard the noise they make, and a minute later was on classifieds looking at prices! And here we are

My story is similar in so far as - I had a matchbox version of the car and it never left me

There were none while I was growing up in Ireland - I didn't see one in real life until I moved to Bristol in '99 and went to the Autosport event in Birmingham in 00 or 01

Somewhere in subconscious it has stuck with me - massive Nissan fan for years including a few years with GTR R35
Got rid of the GTR and jumped into the 280z

 

[Farmer42]

I first saw one in 1984 just after I had passed my test. A mate who was a few years older and was a panel beater bought one that had been front ended to repair. Loved the shape and wanted one but couldn't afford either the car or the insurance at the time so bought a Toyota Celica 1600ST TA22 instead. Family etc and lack of money took over after that. Was looking for another TA22 for my daughters prom in 2014 and saw mine advertised and fell in love with it. Still want a decent TA22 or RA28 though but not for the silly money that is being asked.

 

[richiep]

I've told this story before, but it was only after I'd got my car and had been around other Zs that my first memory of a Z resurfaced. I remembered being in my pushchair, going to the local village shops with my mum, and looking at what must've been a newish 260Z 2+2 in orange parked in the parking area between the pavement and the rank of shops. Obviously made an impression because it looked cool and was a striking colour. The first time I saw an orange 260Z 2+2 at a classic show, the images came back - looking at one from pushchair height, exact setting, etc.

There was also a brown 280zx 2+2 that lived from new parked outside my junior school. It's owner kept it for quite a long time, as I remember seeing it deteriorate in later years!

Didn't get a proper look at one until I went to see and buy my red Z in 2003.

 

[jonbills]

I had a '73 Cherry when I passed my driving test in 81, so I think I must have been aware of them already, but my first memory was seeing a red one on a used car forecourt at Willesden Junction in '84 and it looked so different and exotic. Maybe part of that was the Willesden junction setting . A couple of year later I spent 6 months in LA with a guy who had a modified 240. Red of course. What a sound it made.
And then I forgot all about it until 2002.

 

[AD240Z]

I know ive told this before . I was aware of z's as a general car fan but I dont remember any WOW moment as a kid or a younger adult . I dont have a memory of seeing one ( other than 280zx) in the wild - which is strange .

I must have seen them - but as a younger guy i was into US muscle cars , then VW's and then owned a couple of random old cars .

Years later I bought my dad a rally book - and this pic was in there .



It set me off researching and i couldnt believe i had never ackowledged them . A bit of drunken ebay browsing and a post on here about a car I wa slooking at - brought me to go and see a car i couldnt really afford.

The wow moment came then , when i saw the ebay car in flesh and really looked at the form and make up of the car - pretty much for the first time . I handed over the cash there and then with very little thought and the rest as they say - is history .

 

[Robotsan]

My story is similar in so far as - I had a matchbox version of the car and it never left me

There were none while I was growing up in Ireland - I didn't see one in real life until I moved to Bristol in '99 and went to the Autosport event in Birmingham in 00 or 01

Somewhere in subconscious it has stuck with me - massive Nissan fan for years including a few years with GTR R35
Got rid of the GTR and jumped into the 280z

Wow you sold an R35 to get the Z? Guessing/hoping you A) had some money left over and B) you've got another modern-ish car to get around in?!

 

[Robotsan]

I know ive told this before . I was aware of z's as a general car fan but I dont remember any WOW moment as a kid or a younger adult . I dont have a memory of seeing one ( other than 280zx) in the wild - which is strange .

I must have seen them - but as a younger guy i was into US muscle cars , then VW's and then owned a couple of random old cars .

Years later I bought my dad a rally book - and this pic was in there .

View attachment 60645

It set me off researching and i couldnt believe i had never ackowledged them . A bit of drunken ebay browsing and a post on here about a car I wa slooking at - brought me to go and see a car i couldnt really afford.

The wow moment came then , when i saw the ebay car in flesh and really looked at the form and make up of the car - pretty much for the first time . I handed over the cash there and then with very little thought and the rest as they say - is history .

Was that car one of the 2 you're selling now? If not, how did that one turn out? Was it a good impulse purchase?

 

[Jason McIvor]

Wow you sold an R35 to get the Z? Guessing/hoping you A) had some money left over and B) you've got another modern-ish car to get around in?!

Ha
The GTR murdered my bank account every single year I had it
Litchfield Stage 4 but it was 2009 and everything was slowly falling apart
I had 5yrs with it and loved it but couldn't justify the outlay any longer

Yes, plenty left over from selling the GTR, giving me some cash for Z changes and upgrades

 

[Robotsan]

Ha
The GTR murdered my bank account every single year I had it
Litchfield Stage 4 but it was 2009 and everything was slowly falling apart
I had 5yrs with it and loved it but couldn't justify the outlay any longer

Yes, plenty left over from selling the GTR, giving me some cash for Z changes and upgrades

Nice. I can't believe that shape came out in 2009 and they're still building them today.. can't be too many cars coming out on 15 to 20 year old chassis designs.