50 Years & 7 Generations Of the Nissan Z Compared - Here’s Why One Model Stands Above All The Rest! 

What an absolutely great video. Where are all these cars?

I can't call that list complete without mentioning the 260 Z. THAT was the first one I saw and the first one that I got a chance to drive. Same basic dimensions, a 2.6L powerplant and a 5-speed trany, as well as introducing the 2+2 version which I drove. That 2+2 is the Z that sticks in my head . . . one of the cars I tried to find in the 90's to buy as a 'fun' driving 2nd car . . . couldn't afford a nice one, ended up with a very clean '76 Celica liftback which, between me and my nephew, lasted well into the 21st century.

"So I'm having this dream, I'm in a Turbo Z...." If you know, you know. I've owned 20 Z32's over the last 30 years. They are amazing cars and I'm glad to see they are getting their day now.

The 260Z and the 280Z were skipped my grand father had a 260z and back in the day when he drove it crossing the country no one know what it was. A true. It was such a attention getter that it drew crowds asking what it was Reliable as hell and fun to drive

That 97 is freakin awesome! My two faves when I was a kid: #1. Bandit Trans Am #2. The 300 Z from the 90s.

I owned and drove a 1987 300ZX for a couple of years back in 2007. Probably the favourite car I've ever owned; sadly tho I couldn't afford to keep it on the road once things like the head gasket blew! Fond memories tho... 👍❤️

4:37 "Whenever I walk away from the S30, I will always look back at it because I can't still believe I own this car." Except, I do own this generation of Z, and that is the perfect way to sum up the ownership experience.

I have been owning a 2008 Nismo 350z for over 12 years now and I still have the same feeling as you Roman. When I turn around and look at the car it makes me feel like the car is special! Planning to keep the car and pass it along to my son! Keep up the good work!

Really enjoyed this video - thanks Roman!

At 4:56, that's a 1980 280ZX. There were no T Tops in 1979 model year.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Let me explain. My grandparents lived next to a paint and body shop. In the early 80s, there was a 240Z at the shop getting some work done on it. I would walk over there and just stare at that 240. I even sat in it a few times and rowed the stick shift through the gears! Anyhow, maybe just me, but I thought the 370Z, with the ✔ headlights was a beautiful car. OK, its performance was not anything to brag about, but I always found the lines of the car very attractive. The new Z...wow, what a gorgeous car.

I'm old so I remember the entire 240Z trunk panel would flex when the release button was pressed down. The 240Z would rust just sitting the rain. Great lightweight design but such thin metal.

Cool review of these Z cars. I learned to drive a manual in 1986 in a rented 1986 300ZX on the isle of Maui. Comfortable GT cruiser and what a blast driving it around Hawaii! Had Maroon exterior and interior. My uncle had a 71 or 72 240Z orange w black interior w 4 speed manual. I was either 7 or 8 years old and used to sit in it in the driveway in Brooklyn NY and imagine what it would feel like to drive it ! My love and passion for sports cars starting then !

Nice review

I had a 1975 orange one with the same rims, I bought it in 1990 from the original owner. Who was a engineer in Boulder, it had 175,000 miles on it perfect interior, no rust for 1500.00.

@9:40 You forgot to mention the knobs on the steering wheel and the Bodysonic amplifier. 😁 But enjoyed you enthusiasm.

Great video! My dad had the N/A 2nd Gen 300 ZX for a few years (I was in college at the time and only got to drive it a couple times). But I loved that car and ended up getting a 2003 350Z when they first came out. Owned that car for 15 years and 200,000 miles before selling it to a friend. I'd see him driving it around town and would always be thinking "there's my Z". Loving my current GT350, but really excited about this new Z. I miss my 350 and would love to get this new one in red with the red interior.

My first 240Z was a 1973 model with blue exterior and a white interior. What a car... that is until a girl rear-ended me into a pickup truck and it compressed like an accordion. No seat belt on and I came out with only a bump on the top of my head. Fortunately, a long-time neighbor decided to sell his exceptionally maintained 1972 240Z at the same time and I transitioned into an orange with black interior look. Met my wife in Atlanta where you drove like NASCAR in the 1980's and she survived my driving. However, marriage takes a toll on sports cars and the Z was eventually traded in for a new car. I will always remember those great cars during some of the best years of my life!

Thanks Roman great job

Awesome video

My 1st dream car was a 280ZX Turbo. My best friend in high school fully restored a 260Z that you forgot to mention. And I currently own a 350Z Convertible with 240K miles and runs like new. Only thing ever done to it was I changed the valve covers, coils and plugs in 2020.

The amount of performance you get for around 40k is amazing. Dealer markups are a different story. It’s gna be impossible to obtain this car for its sticker price

A friend in Colorado saw the first 240Z to be delivered to a Datsun dealer in the town of Sterling in 1971, nudged his girlfriend and said, "That's my car." He's still got the car and the same girl, his wife 52 years later.

This is a great video! I love the walk down memory lane on the Nissan Z's, truly an iconic car. For my two cents, I agree that the 90's version of the car is the best from a styling and dynamics POV. I really wanted one of these but i was a poor university student at the time and could not afford it.

I had a 240z with a worked motor... They were a blast. They forgot a few Z as already noted by others (including the 260z).

Selling my 1984 slick top z31 was one of the biggest mistakes of my life

This was fun, and I know the typical viewer is probably a car person, but so much info left out like, what did the numbers mean (engine displacement) the 1st gen got progressively larger engines and the 2+2 became available in the 260Z model, that the 280Z (a US market only model) got fuel injection and a 5 speed vs the 4-speed in the 240/260. And even though it has a separate review, when you got to the 2023 Z mentioning that Nissan went to a new 3.0TT like the great 90-96 300ZX rather than the 3.5 and 3.7 liter naturally aspirated engines from the prior 2 generations.

Well Roman you aren't the only one who loves the Z. Great cars, great video. Thanks for rekindling some of my fondest memories. 👍

I got a new '73 240Z before heading off to college. That has always been my favorite car of all. My father like it so much that he bought a new '74 260Z soon after I got mine. I've always thought that they were wy ahead of their time.

" the straight six is the smoothest of all powerplants" Me : Laughs in rotary

Roman, I really enjoyed how you highlighted the importance of how the vehicle makes you feel. Especially what you said about the 300 being the automotive love of your life, and not wanting to spoil your past with one, by buying another, and likely finding fault with it. I agree that if your car is good enough for you to look back at it as you walk away, then that says a lot. My dad had this with his Datsun 240's, and he too realizes that as much as he loves them still, the ones left worth buying are expensive, and he will likely find faults with them that would spoil his memories. I think Nissan absolutely made the right choices with the new Z, in terms of its simplistic design and interior layout, where it's like a classic sports car again, but with some of the modern touring car creature comforts, that have been tastefully incorporated into it. Some people think the new Z is not a far enough leap forward from the 370, but I think, as you said, is the point. They created a baseline vehicle again, where they can evolve and improve it over the next few years, and I think they are waiting to see what the sales are like, and what the aftermarket does with them, before doing much more (at least for now).

My favorite is the 260-Z. But my absolute favorite Datsun is the 510-Wagon.

My favourite looks wise is the second gen 300ZX...the 370Z comes in a very close second.

The original digital dash for the Z car was in the 280ZX.

I almost bought a 240Z in 1972 but opted for a 1972 Monte Carlo, which is still my favorite "regular" car. I still have a 1985 300ZX , my fun car.

Z32 is my dream car

That's crazy. I have that exact same red 240Z in my garage with the same rims.

I just, very reluctantly, let go of my '86 that I bought after a truck executed my '73 240. I drove it forever and put over a quarter million miles on it, and loved every minute of the journey. I looked at the 350, and later, the 370 but the sport was buried under 21st century corporate drek. The experience was claustrophobic and cheap at the same time.

I used to own a "72-240Z!" It was a very memorable car. I had actually drove it to it's top speed of 160 mph on I-75 going to Detroit. At that time in 78 when I bought it,there were very few mechanic's who knew how to work on foreign car's. The Carberator's were Mikuni's!

The new Z looks beautiful like the original did. The body shape is so nice. I can see Roman buying the new one. Or at least borrow one to review for the show. Thanks for the memory lane.

I never thought a new car, especially a Nissan 'Z' series, would get my attention BUT this new 'Z 'Datsun/Nissan reminds me a lot of the original 240Z,..look at that front end! Datsun / Nissan has a strong place in my 'automotive' heart too, for many reasons, not the least of which for me was the local original Dealer,.. R.I.P. Dick! Thanks for this stroll down ( pardon the cliche ) memory lane Roman, I did enjoy this.

I'm one of the few that have enjoyed the Z33 and Z34 Roadsters. A bit heavy for a small two-seater convertible, and the Z34 retractable roof has abysmal reliability. Otherwise, a fun car to own, especially after fine-tuning the suspension. I grew up loving the Z32 TT!

I love T tops and wish they would bring them back or at least a targa top. You forgot to show the most epic part of any Datsun. The turning signal chime

I owned a 1982 280zx turbo. That thing was built like a tank and could outrun most things back in the day. A newer irocz camaro thought he had something until I was a car length ahead going about 120.

what about the 260Z did that come to the USA you missed that version

My dad had one of the rare ones that were made in December of 1969. They were a little different from the 1970 Z's. It was such a fun car! Unfortunately it rusted out.

We had a neighbor that bought his kids a 71 240 to zip around the back roads of central texas we had a blast in that z !!!

Had a 72 Datsun 240Z, most fun car I ever owned.

The only thing's I didn't like about my 72 Z were that the electrical system wouldn't allow any extra accessories like fog light's to be used. It would cause the wires in my steering column to heat up forcing me to uninstall the fog light's. The other problem was the prolific rusting of the frame. Mine had an electrical fire and had to be junked!

The 240 Z is the best lookingZ.Everytime I walk into my garage I have to take a double take.I own a 71 Z.

Skipped the 260? It was a one year only model but my best friend’s mom had it. It was a beautiful blue.

The 510 four banger was a reverse Mercedes blue print design, the 240,s and 260,s, had the same valve train, only reversed, The so called Toyota 2000 was based on a Alfa Twin cam engine

Was called the poor man's XKE. Independent rear suspension, inline ohc 6, SU style carburetors

I owned a 260Z which you forgot to mention. That was the best Z in my opinion.

S30 is definitely best looking Z, but I agree that the Z32 is very underrated and will become popular again.

Love your authenticity, Roman. . . it's most definitely what keeps me tuned into TFL! Viewers can very easily feel your passion for the Z cars. Thank you for the excellent content!

My favorite was the 1983 280zx, I owned the 1985, and 1988 300zx. My lady I own now that's getting totally mechanically rebuild is my black,on black 1991 Z32, 2+2. Will be @ 400hp when completed!

The one that started it all would have been the 70, not the 71. Referred to as the Series 1, with vertical hatch defrost, rear hatch vents and some other minor differences.

Owned a 72. Remember when they first came out . The Porsche 914 was the same price, but half the performance

Me too!!!! Thanks

I'm wondering How Responsive is that 9Speed Auto Trans?? Considering how the Weak & Slow Transmission is in the Q-Line Cars. How Strong?? I guess We'll find out in a year or 2..

For the 300zx..."added 20 more numbers and a turbo"...the 280zx was turbo

Saw a beautiful black 350Z with caramel leather interior at a dealer about ten years ago. Went for a test drive and... what a dog (for a "sports car", at least).

“NOT the favorite Z I’ve ever owned, but the favorite car I’ve ever known

My Favorite is 1991 2+2 Z300.

I feel like every single generation kind of has a timeless design to it, to varying extents. The 240 and later 300 definitely the most.

This video was awesome Roman, I wish RU-vidrs would make more content like this, where you compare all generations of an iconic vehicle.

Comment for the algorithm 👍 love the Z's!

300ZX TT is the best looking and highest quality; a timeless design.

Cant wait for the Z!

I saw the new z go down the highway a few weeks ago

The 300 was and still is one of my favorite Japanese cars

Roman, did you wear leather driving gloves when driving your 300ZX?

The Nissan 240Z is one of the best looking JDM cars out there

Loved these cars, except for that introduced hunched backs, and turbocharged engines.

'86 300ZX turbo for me

I don't know if I'm the only one still prefer the front end of the previous model to the newer model? I know they did that to bring it back to the original one but I do prefer the first generation front end more than the newer one .. I feel it still missing something maybe fog lights or anything else but when I look at it. I do remember when you have a friend for his entire life has big fluffy mustache then one day he removed it imagine his face after that that what I feel for the newer model 😂

Very nice car stil new 👍👍👍👍👍

Missed 280z 2+2

Datsun fair lady was a mg convertible clone. My dad had one he also had a 1600 which was rally bred. I owned the 280z. Nissan in recent years has lost its way. Hopefully the new Z brings it back.

What about the 260z and the 280z?!

You miss the 260Z

As opposed to your less favorite significant other.

Man that first generation tho....

at the 4:50 mark you say " I can't believe I own this car" and then you backtrack and said "I don't actually own it". What are we supposed to believe?

you mean 4 seater. i like 300z

Andthe 280Z

Yeah My73 Fiat 1600 sport coupe would eat em all

The 1970 240z started it all

The redline is 7000

Roman is I love ❤ with his old gfs. Her name is fairlady.

Start a new channel! TFLZ

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa happened to the 260Z????

Back in High School auto mechanics for school and then gas jockey oil changes brakes and battery’s after school any way 1984 This hot woman has a 280z and would get gas and she then traded it in and for a 300z I didn’t like the new car she got but she was still hot Her father’s commercial laundry place is still around gas station is long gone Always stretch my neck if I’m in that part of town to see what she might be driving

This video is an abortion without The Midnight "days of thunder" playing in the background

If it’s not your favorite z ever how can it be your favorite car ever?

Ahh .... 260Z ???? 🤷🏽‍♂️

This Z car will sell well in Russia

Skipped the best looking one by far. RESPECT lost TFL

The new Z looks like 💩 the 05 or so looks 🔥