Car Model History

First generation · S30 (240Z / 260Z / 280Z) · 1970–1978

1971Nissan Z

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.

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

1971 Datsun 240Z (S30) — front three-quarter view

Photo: “1971 Datsun 240Z bsj25” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

The 1971 model year

Overview

Preserved Datsun/Nissan U.S. factory literature documents 2 1971 Z configuration rows across 1 body and powertrain combinations. This S30 roster keeps two-seat, 2+2, naturally aspirated, turbo, and transmission applicability within their exact model-year boundaries.

Specifications

Engines
  • 2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six
Transmissions
4-speed manual, 3-speed automatic
Body styles
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Year over year

What changed

  • The 1971 record includes only the body, engine, and transmission pairings supported by that model year's factory evidence; adjacent-year combinations and appearance packages are not inferred.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The documented lineup exposes 2 source-backed configurations without turning standalone options into separate Z models.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Verify chassis code, engine, transmission, emissions equipment, and production date before ordering parts. Inspect rust and prior structural repair, cooling and fuel systems, timing-drive history where applicable, turbocharger condition on forced-induction cars, and modification quality.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1971 Z on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1971 Nissan Z. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
6
Scheduled topics
6
Applicability stated
6
Exact references
2

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oilView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · 2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six · United States · The Nissan factory engine manual explicitly identifies the HLS30-U Datsun 240Z and L24 (SU-carburetor) engine but is undated; this is an engine-and-model-scoped factory table, not a claim that every chassis/body duty is shown.

    Published interval: 3,000 mi / 4,800 km · Factory engine maintenance table.

    Source: Nissan Motor Co. — Datsun 240Z HLS30-U L24 factory engine maintenance table · Engine General p. EG-7 — change engine oil every 3,000 miles · checked

  • Engine oil filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    Applies to: 1971 · 2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six · United States · The Nissan factory engine manual explicitly identifies the HLS30-U Datsun 240Z and L24 (SU-carburetor) engine but is undated; this is an engine-and-model-scoped factory table, not a claim that every chassis/body duty is shown.

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 10,000 km · Factory engine maintenance table.

    Source: Nissan Motor Co. — Datsun 240Z HLS30-U L24 factory engine maintenance table · Engine General p. EG-7 and Engine Tune-up p. ET-5 — replace oil filter every 6,000 miles · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Engine coolantView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · 2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six · United States · The Nissan factory engine manual explicitly identifies the HLS30-U Datsun 240Z and L24 (SU-carburetor) engine but is undated; this is an engine-and-model-scoped factory table, not a claim that every chassis/body duty is shown.

    Published interval: 24,000 mi / 38,000 km · Factory engine maintenance table.

    Source: Nissan Motor Co. — Datsun 240Z HLS30-U L24 factory engine maintenance table · Engine General p. EG-7 — change cooling water at 24,000 miles · checked

  • Viscous-type air-cleaner elementView intervals, applicability and sources

    Viscous-type air-cleaner element

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · 2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six · United States · The Nissan factory engine manual explicitly identifies the HLS30-U Datsun 240Z and L24 (SU-carburetor) engine but is undated; this is an engine-and-model-scoped factory table, not a claim that every chassis/body duty is shown.

    Published interval: 24,000 mi / 38,000 km · Factory engine maintenance table.

    Source: Nissan Motor Co. — Datsun 240Z HLS30-U L24 factory engine maintenance table · Engine General p. EG-7 — change air-cleaner element at 24,000 miles · checked

  • Cartridge-type fuel strainerView intervals, applicability and sources

    Cartridge-type fuel strainer

    Exact reference available

    Applies to: 1971 · 2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six · United States · The Nissan factory engine manual explicitly identifies the HLS30-U Datsun 240Z and L24 (SU-carburetor) engine but is undated; this is an engine-and-model-scoped factory table, not a claim that every chassis/body duty is shown.

    Published interval: 24,000 mi / 38,000 km · Factory engine maintenance table.

    Source: Nissan Motor Co. — Datsun 240Z HLS30-U L24 factory engine maintenance table · Engine General p. EG-7 — change cartridge-type fuel strainer at 24,000 miles · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Spark plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1971 · 2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six · United States · The Nissan factory engine manual explicitly identifies the HLS30-U Datsun 240Z and L24 (SU-carburetor) engine but is undated; this is an engine-and-model-scoped factory table, not a claim that every chassis/body duty is shown.

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 19,000 km · Factory engine maintenance table.

    Source: Nissan Motor Co. — Datsun 240Z HLS30-U L24 factory engine maintenance table · Engine General p. EG-7 — check at 6,000 miles and change at 12,000 miles · checked

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. — 1971 Datsun 240-Z sales brochure
  2. Nissan S30 U.S. transmission applicability record

Other First generation years

Explore the S30 (240Z / 260Z / 280Z) generation →All First generation · S30 (240Z / 260Z / 280Z) years →

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1971 Z

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

2factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

2versions shown
Browse 2 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 240Z Manual

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe

Datsun 240Z Automatic

Body
Two-seat rear-wheel-drive fastback coupe
Engine
2.4-liter L24 carbureted inline-six
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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