Nissan Z History
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.
Every model year (1970–2026)
Browse the Nissan Z year by year. Each generation is listed with its model years below.
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.
First generation · S30 (240Z / 260Z / 280Z)
Photo: “1980 Nissan Fairlady Z (33924727570)” by Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation · S130 (280ZX)
Photo: “1986 Nissan 300ZX 3.0L white, front NYIAS 2019” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Third generation · Z31 (300ZX)
Photo: “1990 Nissan 300ZX 3.0L silver, front NYIAS 2019” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Fourth generation · Z32 (300ZX)
Photo: “2003 Nissan Fairlady Z” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Fifth generation · Z33 (350Z)
Photo: “2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster 3.5 Front” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Sixth generation · Z34 (370Z)
Photo: “2023 Nissan Z RZ34 in Granite Black, front left, 05-05-2024” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Seventh generation · RZ34 (Nissan Z)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
- First-generation Z (S30 "240Z / 260Z / 280Z", 1970–1978)
- Second-generation Z (S130 "280ZX", 1979–1983)
- Third-generation Z (Z31 300ZX, 1984–1989)
- Fourth-generation Z (Z32 300ZX, 1990–1996)
- Fifth-generation Z (Z33 350Z, 2003–2008)
- Sixth-generation Z (Z34 370Z, 2009–2020)
- Seventh-generation Z (RZ34 Nissan Z, 2023–present)
Browse by body style
Related models