"It soon became apparent during its creation, that the Datsun 240Z represented all the requirements of sports-minded drivers by fulfilling their desires for superb styling, power and safety whilst providing them with the most thrilling and enjoyable ride available in any car at that time. Reporting 151bhp and 146lb/ft of torque at just 4,400rpm, Car & Driver said, ‘a brilliantly conceived car with twice as much thought having gone into it when compared to the Big Healey, MGC, Lotus Elan, Porsches and Corvettes’. Offering a 125mph top-speed and the 0-60mph dash in a shade under eight seconds, the well-spaced five-speed gear ratios made the most of the engine’s torque whilst retaining the ability to achieve in excess of 30mpg, this was to put the ‘Z’ ahead of many of its contemporaries and on a par with Porsche 911’s of the time. Very impressive, by anyone’s standards. Although Datsun didn’t invent the overhead-cam engine, disc brakes or all-round independent suspension, the 240Z incorporated all of these systems into a brilliantly conceived car. It was no surprise therefore that, for many years the Datsun 240Z was heralded as the most successful sports car of all time and was very successful in rallying also.
The original bill of sale included with the cars history file shows that it was bought new from Datsun Palm Beach by a Nancy Vaughn on 29th September 1972 for $4,355, trading in her 1971 Volkswagen in exchange. The car remained in Florida within the family until 2012. Mr. Vaughn, a retired engineer, had spent some years upgrading and developing the car before his death. Mr. Vaughn had removed the original engine and gearbox, (which comes with the car) and swapped it for a 2.8 litre engine uprated with a Garrat T3 turbo with T4 internals through a 45 Weber carburettor, intercooler and uprated ignition, cooling, adjustable suspension and rare 15” Einkiel split rim wheels on Toyo tyres. Supplied with the car are small index cards on which he noted all the work he carried out. The car was stored in a garage at the family home for a few years after his death before the vendor acquired the car and imported it to the UK in 2012. The vendor reports the car to run and drive incredibly well and upon inspection it shows no obvious signs of rust. Since his ownership the car has always remained garaged and he has, over the years, refined and finessed the modifications made by Mr. Vaughn, also fitting larger, more powerful, four-pot brakes on vented and grooved discs.
Supplied with its V5C registration document, original handbook, spare key, history file, original receipt, old MoT test certificates, original engine, carburettors, gearbox and a rare injection inlet manifold, (should the new owner wish to go that route). This remarkably solid and straight car from all its years being garaged and well cared for, offers everything you could hope for from the classic 240Z without the usual corrosion worries. In its present form it is incredibly quick, but all the parts are there to return it to stock form, should one wish to."