Nissan Z History

Sports car · 1970–present

Nissan's iconic sports-car lineage — from the 1970 Datsun 240Z through the 300ZX, 350Z, and 370Z to today's Z.

Photo: “1972 Datsun 240-Z, front right (2022 Ellwood City Fall Fest & Car Cruise)” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

History

Launched in the US in late 1969 as the 1970 Datsun 240Z, the Z made affordable, well-built Japanese performance cars credible in America almost overnight.

Across seven chassis generations (S30, S130, Z31, Z32, Z33, Z34, RZ34) — and a late-1990s US hiatus — the Z has remained Nissan's halo sports car, returning for 2023 simply as the 'Nissan Z'.

Generations

First generation · S30 (240Z / 260Z / 280Z)
1970–1978
The original Z — sold in the US as the Datsun 240Z (1970–1973, 2.4L L24 six), then 260Z (1974, 2.6L, added a 2+2) and 280Z (1975–1978, 2.8L fuel-injected). A long-hood fastback that made affordable performance a mainstream idea.
Second generation · S130 (280ZX)
1979–1983
The Datsun 280ZX moved the Z toward a softer grand-tourer, adding T-tops and, late in the run, a turbocharged engine. The 1980 10th Anniversary edition marked a decade of the Z.
Third generation · Z31 (300ZX)
1984–1989
The first Z fully sold under the Nissan name in the US, with a new V6 (the VG) and available turbocharging — a sharp, digital-dash 1980s GT.
Fourth generation · Z32 (300ZX)
1990–1996
A landmark redesign: a sleek, multi-link chassis with the available twin-turbo VG30DETT V6 rated at 300 hp — one of the definitive Japanese performance cars of the 1990s. US sales ended after 1996.
Fifth generation · Z33 (350Z)
2003–2008
The Z revival — a back-to-basics, front-mid-engine coupe and roadster on the FM platform with the 3.5L VQ35 V6, returning after a six-year US absence.
Sixth generation · Z34 (370Z)
2009–2020
A shorter, stiffer evolution of the 350Z with the 3.7L VQ37 V6 and the segment's first synchronized rev-matching manual (SynchroRev Match). The US coupe ran through 2020.
Seventh generation · RZ34 (Nissan Z)
2023–2026
The nameplate dropped its displacement badge to become simply 'Z'. Built on an updated Z34-derived platform with a twin-turbo 3.0L VR30DDTT V6 and heritage-inspired styling.

Famous Z variants

The nameplates that define the Z — each with its own cross-year history, engines, production, and collectibility.

Browse by generation

Browse by body style

Related models

Collect the nameplate

Find a scale model of the Nissan Z

Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.

← All Nissan models

First generation · S30 (240Z / 260Z / 280Z)

Second generation · S130 (280ZX)

Third generation · Z31 (300ZX)

Fourth generation · Z32 (300ZX)

Fifth generation · Z33 (350Z)

Sixth generation · Z34 (370Z)

Seventh generation · RZ34 (Nissan Z)