The latest issue of Classic Motorsports magazine (#112, Jan 2005) contains their readers chioce poll of the top fifty classic sports cars, "Best Sports Cars of All Time", "The Fabulous 50", a readers survey conducted some months ago. The top ten include;

1. MGB

2. Jaguar E-type

3. Porsche 911

4. AC/Shelby Cobra

5. Chevy Corvette Stingray

6. Datsun 240Z

7. Jaguar XK120

8. Triumph TR2, TR3

9. Austin Healy Sprite / MG Midget

10. Austin Morris Mini

The Datsun Roadster finished 16th. The Datsun 510 finished 36th.

Other articles include an auction report; "We believe the Datsun 240Z is on the brink of true classic status, so buy one now and enjoy the fact that it's a fun, reliable sports car to boot". There is coverage of the ZCCA national convention and a nice photo of the Zclub line-up at the Walter Mitty.

"Datsun showed everyone in 1969 that the Japanese could build cars as well as anyone. The 240Z was superior to any other low-priced sports car on the market, and could embarrass some that cost thousands more. Plus, it was reliable, comfortable and well made. For the first time, buyers flocked to Datsun showrooms. If the Z wasn't Japanese, it would have been widely recognized as a classic from day one. Because it is Japanese, far too many have been left to rot away due to rust and neglect".

Stop rust! Maby someday ppl will wake up and realize what their throughing away.

Nice find Chris

Some day --I'LL-- figure out a way to reverse rust on body panels so the floorpans, wings, etc. won't rust away. Maybe even wiring. It's one of the two things Datsun didn't address:

better wiring & connectors

metal coatings to preventrust

How much do you worry about rusting body panels today?

thx

Somehow I don't think they were thinking about the condition of the cars 30 years down the track. It's amazing that you can still (albiet rarely) find first gens with decent original paint etc.

The 240z is rubbing shoulders with some pretty esteemed company in that list!

Luke

How can the but the MGB infront of the 240z anyway?

Some day --I'LL-- figure out a way to reverse rust on body panels .........

By "reverse", do you mean that you'll change rust back into solid steel?

If you can do that, you'll be a billionaire.

There are already several ways to "stop" rust.

How can the but the MGB infront of the 240z anyway?

I was wondering the same thing.

How can the but the MGB infront of the 240z anyway?

Wasn't it because the MGB was the first small, affordable sports car in america?

I think the MG-TC was the first post war afforable import sports car.

I think the MG-TC was the first post war afforable import sports car.

This car was the first model that I ever assembled. Well, actually, my Dad did most of the real assembly. I mostly watched and learned & played with the glue.

Thanks for mentioning the MG-TC. Brought back some good memories.

I switched subscriptions last year from "Grassroots Motorsports" to Classic Motorsports" and I like Classic better as it is more atuned to the car game I am now playing. Even though it is oriented to the English sports car, I find a lot of similarities to my Z interests. When they discussed the Datsun roadster in it's various models, thye mentioned that the Datsun roadster came to market before the MGB. I was surprised to see the BMW 2002 get higher ratings than the 510.

Carl,

"& played with the glue", now it all makes sense:):)