If I were designing a modern 240Z......

[bpilati]

.....this is where I'd be headed.

And this is what Nissan SHOULD have done.

Edited October 7, 2011 by bpilati

[jmortensen]

So if you were designing a "modern" 240, you would have cloned a 47 year old Shelby Daytona from 1964. I love those Superformance coupes, but your idea don't make no sense.

[Racer_Z_]

Interesting topic. But I've got mixed feelings on this one.

The original 240z was a "purist's" sports car. It didn't have anything it didn't need. It was stripped down by design. Even the seats were lighter than most other sports cars of it's day. And it was a true coupe.

To defend Datsun (Nissan) and their design concept, they built an "economy" car because they didn't expect it to do well in the American market. Not only did the 240z put them on the map, but it's economy and purist features are what helped to make it so popular.

The modern day sports car is a heavy weight by design. Not that the car designer want's it to be, but because of mandated safety regulations (USA, if not all the world). The modern continuation of the Z-car, the 370z is almost 4,000 pounds and has every creature comfort known to man. You can strip it down and it will still be over 3,000 pounds. And most modern sports cars are in the sedan class being a 2+2.

I don't think it would be possible to design and build a "modern" purist coupe sports car that weighs in at 2,500 pounds and is street legal.

What would "I" do if "I" could?

I would stay with the same basic 240z lines and round out the corners a bit. (No, I would not do the ugly G-Nose.) The power plant would be no less than 300 HP and the car would weigh no more than 2,500 pounds. Probably a V-12 aluminum block naturally aspirated with modern computerized fuel injection. This would include computer controlled valve timing. Headers and quad pipes running straight back. Clearly this concept car has fully independent suspension, four wheel disk brakes and rear wheel drive. Let's not forget the clutch type limited slip.

The interior would be that of a race car, including a roll bar. Gauges that work and are easy to read. Nothing that is not essential, except a radio, one that you can brag about.

What is it really? A street legal race car, ever so slightly de-tuned so that it is drive-able on the street and goes like a banshee on the track. The price? Who cares.

Yes I missed a few things, like the flat belly-pan for better aerodynamics and the 7-speed manual transmission. Yes, 7-speeds, fifth is 1:1, that gives five close ratio shifts and two over-drives. Ah, what the heck, let's make it a paddle shift, after all, we're in a dream world.

[robftw]

I forgot who drew this picture, so sorry for not posting your name and giving you credit.

But this is everything i would expect form a modern day s30

[LeonV]

There already is a modern-day 240Z, and it's called the Honda S2000.

Just my 2 cents...

[jmortensen]

I thought it was the BMW M coupe.

[LeonV]

I thought it was the BMW M coupe.

That too! Coincidentally, both are on my list for the next daily-driver.

[doradox]

My modern 240Z would be a lot like the original. Small and light. I'd add a little more power but how the engine sounds, responds, and feels are more important to me. How Mazda has continued to upgrade the Miata without destroying it's original character is the model I would look to. My 240Z is to 370Z what the Miata is to RX7.

Steve

[gogriz91]

It would have a 99.9% parts commonality with my '73 with a DOHC head and triples, modern ABS with Willwoods and modern paint and rust prevention!

[psdenno]

I think I'd certainly want a sleek and curvy design, convertible hardtop for open air driving, great exhaust note, all of the modern creature comforts, adequate HP.........

Oh, wait a minute, I just described my Infiniti G37 convertible. To me, it's what the Z 2+2 could have become.

Dennis

[240260280z]

I would think something like the GR1 would be the way to go:

errr something identical but with 240z cues rather than cobra GT cues is all that is needed.

Edited October 10, 2011 by Blue

[240260280z]

Here is a modern Marcos that is similar: