Datsun 240Z Series 1
A long-nosed, two-seat Japanese coupe designed around American roads, budgets and sports-car tastes.
January 1970 Datsun 240Z Series 1 · Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 4.0
$38,750
Based on a completed sale at Bring a Trailer on May 28, 2026, an estimated value for this vehicle is $38,750.
Why this sale: Exact 1970 U.S.-market left-hand-drive Series 1 HLS30 two-seat coupe with original 2.4-litre L24 inline-six and four-speed manual transmission. The 60k-mile car had a Safari Gold repaint and Shelby Cal 500 wheels. Rust bubbles, paint checking, minor electrical faults, a sealed fuel-return crack and a gearbox that was stiff when cold were disclosed; brake, cooling, fuel and clutch work was also documented.
Winning bid/hammer; Bring a Trailer’s 5% buyer service fee, taxes, title, transport and later work are excluded. One auction result is a reference, not an appraisal; condition, history, options, location and market timing can change value. Accepted as an identity-matched completed sale. Repaint, non-original wheels and age-related faults are material differences from another example.
More than a set of wheels.
The S30 Fairlady Z appeared in Japan in November 1969, while its 2.4-litre export sister was created chiefly for North America and sold there as the Datsun 240Z for the 1970 model year. Nissan combined European-style fastback proportions with a smooth six-cylinder engine, independent suspension and a price around $3,600. The early Series 1 label is retrospective: it distinguishes launch cars with hatch vents and early badging from revised cars built from early 1971.
Look a little closer.
The exact cover car, HLS30-00672, was built in January 1970 and still shows early details such as rubber floor mats and rear-fender Z badges.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Model year 1970 began in 1969
American model years can start before the calendar turns. Nissan introduced the Z in late 1969 as a 1970 model, so an autumn-1969-built HLS30 can still be a 1970 U.S. car. Japan initially received 2.0-litre Fairlady Z versions; the 2.4-litre 240Z began as the North American export model.
Source: Nissan USA · Nissan Z: 50 years of excitement ↗Series 1 is an identification tool, not original badging
Enthusiasts use Series 1 for the earliest cars built from October 1969 through January 1971. Their flow-through ventilation exits through two openings in the hatch below the glass. Nissan's running changes in early 1971 moved the outlets and changed trim, so year alone cannot identify every 1971 car.
Source: ZHome · 240-Z design and manufacturing changes ↗Where these facts come from
- Nissan USA · 1971 Datsun 240Z HLS30 heritage record
- Nissan USA · Nissan Z: 50 years of excitement
- ZHome · 1970 U.S. HLS30 specifications
- ZHome · 240-Z production changes
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-03.