Datsun 140Z.... Yes 140Z

[zorro]

A mate of mine has a Datsun 1200 Coupe.... who would have thought a 120Y could look that good?????

[Alfadog]

Just received email from Eddie (the webmaster at ratdat.com) concerning the Datsun 140Z/160Z. Thought some of you might appreciate it!

The 140Z is a South Africa only model. It is based on the KPB210 which is sold in Japan as the Nissan Sunny Excellent. The difference between this and the normal KB210 (or Datsun 120Y as it's known in most export markets) is the engine. The Excellent was available with the L series overhead cam engine in 1.4 or 1.6 wheras the normal model only came with an A series overhead valve engine. The Excellent features revised front suspension and has a slightly longer nose to accomodate this engine. The 140Z is almost the same as the Japanese Sunny Excellent with the exception of the carburation. The 140Z features dual webers rather than a single Hitachi or Su's like the japanese model.

The 140Z| (and 160Z) were both locally produced in South Africa, possibly at Rosslyn and I would think will have some other differences from Japanese models in order to comply with local content rules. Other SA built Datsuns I have seen have things like Girling brakes or Borg-Warner rear axles.

[datto_240z]

sorry, this got posted twice! (ive shortened this one) :stupid:

[datto_240z]

When I first saw it i thought... "thats a 120Y coupe!" coz I recon thats what it is. The 120Y could have been "discontinued" in S.Africa so Nissan had to make a new model with the problems fixed, and as a popularity thing they called it a Z. Or it could of all been a populaarity thing... I donno.

The web site even says "Also known as 120Y or B210" so...

And the guy's e-mail is South African

And to all Americans... Not every car in the world was brung out in America!

and Mike Novak,

120Y's arn't rare in Aust. Their everywhere!

Cheers

Chris Beattie

[sblake01]

And to all Americans... Not every car in the world was brung out in America!

Based on your age, when these cars were 'brung out', you weren't even born. So your knowledge of them would be based on what you've read and what you've heard. This is not a 120Y but rather a 140Z. It's kind of like a 180B/200B vs an 810. (Read Alfadog's post). I was in SA in 1977 and actually saw a few of these cars, both 140Z and 160Z. There were cars in America that weren't sold in other parts of the world. There were cars in other parts of the world that weren't sold in America. So . . . . . . . ?

[Zedrally]

Originally posted by datto_240z

and Mike Novak,

120Y's arn't rare in Aust. Their everywhere!

Where have I said they where rare? I hate being mis-quoted.

You might see a lot of them in Perth, not many left over here due to rusting.

[Alfadog]

Stephen,

I think all Chris was saying was that a lot of people discarded this car as just a backyard mockup by a lonely 120Y owner who really wanted a Z! I think he was just saying that just because you havent seen it, doesn't mean it doesnt exist.

'Tis all! Would have loved to be back in the day where Datsun brung out some real rippers!

[sblake01]

I'm sorry, Chris. I guess that came off a lot stronger that I meant for it to.

[Mr Camouflage]

The South Africans seemed to have a habit of bringing out Africam market variants. Such as the Ford Piranha.

[hls30.com]

I emailed the owner for the Vin#, if he responds we will know if it is real soon enough. The only doubts I have come from all of the records that indicate all z cars manufactured between 1969 and 1978 were made with the S30 body, and that there are no shared styling cues, between it and a 240, all of the changes to the 240 that we know about (260Z, 280Z, share distinct styling cues, (front, rear, side, and post badges, Headlight buckets, Side marker light shape) other than the rear trim that looks mysteriously like a sillplate that has been lengthened and had a plate worked into it, there are none. Only the Vin knows for sure!) Still, it is an interesting car...

[Bambikiller240]

I think we all realize that this car is not an S30/HS30/HLS30, etc

140Z is just a badge, used as a marketing ploy to capitalize on the "Z" name.

Quoting from a prior post:

The 140Z is a South Africa only model. It is based on the KPB210 which is sold in Japan as the Nissan Sunny Excellent. The difference between this and the normal KB210 (or Datsun 120Y as it's known in most export markets) is the engine. The Excellent was available with the L series overhead cam engine in 1.4 or 1.6 wheras the normal model only came with an A series overhead valve engine. The Excellent features revised front suspension and has a slightly longer nose to accomodate this engine. The 140Z is almost the same as the Japanese Sunny Excellent with the exception of the carburation. The 140Z features dual webers rather than a single Hitachi or Su's like the japanese model.

The 140Z| (and 160Z) were both locally produced in South Africa, possibly at Rosslyn and I would think will have some other differences from Japanese models in order to comply with local content rules. Other SA built Datsuns I have seen have things like Girling brakes or Borg-Warner rear axles.

[hls30.com]

Good Shot! I thought so. Modified (like the Scarab) by an aftermarket company!

Still haven't heard from the owner with his VIN...