Datsun Z-cars of the 1970s were known for delivering high-end sports car credentials at a value-oriented price. They also helped change perceptions of Japanese cars from being strictly utilitarian to becoming desirable performance vehicles. Featured on AutoHunter is a 1972 Datsun 240Z Coupe that played a role in the movement. It is listed for sale by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon.
The Orange (code 918) exterior received a respray in 2025. Features include chrome bumpers, antenna, driver side mirror, rear hatch, and 14-inch wheels wrapped in Vredestein tires.
The intimate, two-seat cockpit features black vinyl upholstery, bucket seats, center console with T-handle automatic shifter, AM/FM stereo, and two-spoke steering wheel. The carpeting has been replaced.
Datsun emphasized the Z’s desirability in a magazine advertisement that included the simple headline, “Wanted.” It went on to say, “Everybody who’s interested in sporty GT cars seems to be turned on by our Datsun 240Z with its 2.4-liter, overhead-cam engine, safety front disc brakes, and full independent suspension. Everybody is surprised, too, at the low suggested price. Especially when you consider what’s included — tinted glass, radial tires, reclining bucket seats, and AM/FM radio, for instance.”
Under the long hood is a 2.4-liter OHC inline-six (rated at 151 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque when new) mated to a rebuilt X0700 three-speed automatic transmission. The odometer reads 63,908 miles, though the title reads mileage-exempt.
The 240Z brings to the table a blend of 1970s styling, analog driving dynamics, and reliable engineering. It’s no wonder cars like this 1972 Datsun 240Z Coupe are starting to claim center stage at events like the Japanese Classic Car Show. As Datsun said, “When you’re talking about a car that’s sexy, powerful, economical, agile, and impressive as our Z-car, there’s only one way to describe it: Wanted.”
The auction for this 1972 Datsun 240Z Coupe ends Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
