I like this concept from 2008:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/design-study-nissan-240-fairlady-z-successor/

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.

You might try a new Mazda MX5 on for size. Virtually a match the 240Z for wheelbase, height, width, OAL. just shy of 2600 lbs with a retractable hardtop and 100 lbs less with a soft top. 6 speed, 167 HP, fabulous handling and good fuel economy. Starting at $23,000 which, by the way is equivalent to $4,000 in 1970, it's the modern day Z.

Steve

BMW has a car that looks about right and has a Z emblem.

You might try a new Mazda MX5 on for size. Virtually a match the 240Z for wheelbase, height, width, OAL. just shy of 2600 lbs with a retractable hardtop and 100 lbs less with a soft top. 6 speed, 167 HP, fabulous handling and good fuel economy. Starting at $23,000 which, by the way is equivalent to $4,000 in 1970, it's the modern day Z.

Steve

Oh, neat car. It's the continuation of the Miata. My sister-in-law has a first generation Miata and some of the guys at the track drive Miatas (first gen). Fun cars and they get around the track very well. In fact, I'm surprised that they go as fast as they do down the back straight considering they got a sewing machine motor. One of them (good driver) can keep up with the front runners consisting of BMWs and other "big motor" cars. They're so popular there's even a Spec Miata class.

Back in 1970 when the 240Z came out it was generally not considered a sports car by any of the car magazines. It was termed a Grand Touring car along the same lines as the Porsche 911 and Jaguar XKE Coupe. Back then sports cars were convertibles. Over the years, that opinion has changed. Given today's safety requirements and customer's content expectations its probably impossible to make a car like the original 240Z that weighs less then 2700 lbs. And whether we want it or not is irrelevant. We so small a market that we are basically non-existent.

Back in 1970 when the 240Z came out it was generally not considered a sports car by any of the car magazines. It was termed a Grand Touring car along the same lines as the Porsche 911 and Jaguar XKE Coupe. Back then sports cars were convertibles. Over the years, that opinion has changed. Given today's safety requirements and customer's content expectations its probably impossible to make a car like the original 240Z that weighs less then 2700 lbs. And whether we want it or not is irrelevant. We so small a market that we are basically non-existent.

Why wouldn't you consider a Miata MX5 as similar to a 240Z? From a dimensional standpoint it's the pretty much the same sized car. From a wheel base and track perspective it's a larger car. In net HP numbers about 40-45 more. At 2500 lbs for a base model it seems that if Mazda had made it a 2 seat coupe instead of a soft top they could easily stay under 2700 lb. Price wise it's still in the ballpark adjusted for inflation.

Steve

I walked out of a tackle shop last weekend to find a couple of blokes inspecting my "Precious". (That's my wife's nick name for the Zed). We goty to talking about Zeds (of course), and one bloke said he was in the process of rebuilding a 240 that he had bought cheap. (No engine, gearbox or diff), and his intention was to use as many 350Z parts as possible. I gave him the contact details of the car club I'm in and can hardly wait to see the final result. Won't be for a while but I'll try to remember to take lots of pics.

Rick.

I like this concept from 2008:

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http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/design-study-nissan-240-fairlady-z-successor/

I would have to have one of those!

Why wouldn't you consider a Miata MX5 as similar to a 240Z?

Where did I say that? Yes, the Miata is very similar to the 240Z. But if you think a MX5 is a 2,500 lb. car you haven't put one on a set of scales. I scaled a MX5 MSM a few months ago and it came in at 2,710.

Where did I say that? Yes, the Miata is very similar to the 240Z. But if you think a MX5 is a 2,500 lb. car you haven't put one on a set of scales. I scaled a MX5 MSM a few months ago and it came in at 2,710.

Just using the manufacturers numbers for a BASE model. MSM is far from that. You said..."Given today's safety requirements and customer's content expectations its probably impossible to make a car like the original 240Z that weighs less then 2700 lbs". I gave an example of car produced today that illustrates my point. Subaru BRZ Is claimed to weigh in just over 2700 lbs. But it's a bigger car than a 240Z. Impossible?

Steve

Delayed reaction?

Lotus. Their whole existence has been based on the "light is might" motto. Their exige is basically a street legal go cart: http://www.lotuscars.com/gb/our-cars/current-range/exige-s

Ive seen used lotus Elise models for around 30k