The Z Proto story, new in “Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance”
Nissan Z live reveal to the world will be on Aug. 17
A year ago, when I reviewed Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance by Pete Evanow (see AutoMatters & More #653: automatters.net/review-nissan-z-50-years-of-exhilarating-performance/), something hugely important was missing. There was a new Z on the horizon, but that story was not quite ready to be told.
Questions were raised amidst heightened speculation: “What are … those in-the-know saying about the Z’s next 50 years? Enthusiasts and industry experts have commented on, predicted, and prayed for a future Z. Many have weighed in on a possible electric Z, a new engine upgrade that will earn the car a 400Z identity or another possible designation, including a mid-engine version. Given the mad rush to all things CUV- and SUV-based, at the expense of sedans in particular, could an extension of the Z brand develop into a sporty people- and package-hauler?”
“Will Nissan upgrade both the car’s name and performance level for its next model? What will the powerplant choices become? Whatever the answer, it must follow the parameters of the heritage bestowed to the 370Z and its predecessors.”
In September, 2020 the Z Proto launched, in a live reveal from Japan. It is gorgeous.
Accordingly, new material about the Z Proto was added to the revised and updated Second Edition of the “best-selling” Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance by Pete Evanow, “perfectly timed to coincide with the August 17 launch of the new Nissan Z.” The book’s press release goes on to say that “this is the Nissan-official chronicle of Z history, from Datsun's planning for the new model in the late 1960s through the latest 50th anniversary Nissan 370Z and, now, the all-new Z-car.”
Through words and behind-the-scenes photos, we are introduced to the Z Proto. We learn that “it incorporates features and design cues from previous Zs, including the 240Z and the 300ZX, from which the Z Proto derives its rear appearance.”
Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance—pages 160-161: Z Proto
Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance—pages 162-163: Z Proto
Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President, Nissan Global Design, tells us: “Nissan’s technology is all about being lightweight and performance-driven. This started with the 240Z."
Jan autocrossing one of his 240Zs in Canada
"Our predecessors in design recognized that the E-Type and 911 were very expensive, and so along came the Z that bore some similarities and offered very credible performance, and suddenly, it belonged to this group, but even better, it was accessible and affordable to so many other buyers. If you make things that people don’t think they can own, and then realize they can, that transforms them. And the Z made a lot of drivers our customers.” That includes me!
Jan and his 1971 Mandarin Orange Datsun 240Z
He went on to say: “More than a million and a half Zs are still on the road. The car has touched so many people—it is not purely about the progress of the Z but about the car’s relationship with people. Designing the Z Proto is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Jan on vacation with his 1971 Datsun 240Z
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, in his introduction of the Z Proto, said that “the Z is in everything we do. It combines aerodynamics and rigidity and that adds up to the look, feel, and power that is the essence of the Z—agile, poised, ready for action.”
Z Proto
“In addition to a complete history of the Z, this handsomely illustrated book examines the car's significant racing history with successes in IMSA and SCCA sports car racing, including extensive racing by Paul Newman for Bob Sharp and John Morton with Brock Racing Enterprises. Special attention is devoted to the cult of Z-fans around the world who have supported Nissan's sports car through thick and thin and the early car’s emergence as a rapidly appreciating collector car.”
The Second Edition of Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance does not replace the First. Rather, my side-by-side comparison revealed that Chapter 10 has been substantially rewritten with new material. Since the total number of pages remains the same, interesting content from the First Edition appears to have been removed.
The Second Edition of Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance is available now, from your favorite booksellers. Look for “INCLUDES NEW Z PROTO STORY” in the upper right-hand corner of the book’s dust jacket.
The all-new Z will be presented to the world in a live reveal on Aug. 17, 2021 at 8pm EDT.
To see the most photos and the latest text, and to explore a wide variety of content dating back to 2002, visit AutoMatters & More at AutoMatters.net. On the Home Page, search by title or topic, or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes.
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Comments (20)
The new Z is one of the best looking 'little' modern sportscar,i love how they have put classic design elements from the early Zs in it.The usage of the old chasis however has been not so well recieved, understandably.
It is a beautiful sportscar that has design elements that remind me of my Datsun 240Zs, which I miss.
I predict that if it is priced right, Nissan will do well with it.
Jan
It’s strange that with such a beautiful design, Nissan didn’t improve the most recent chassis. Why would this be?
I came close to buying a 260Z back in 1987. Seeing the new one makes regret not buying it but in other ways I know made a right choice at the time.
Robert,
One of the best-handling, fun-to-drive cars that I ever owned was the blue 1970 Datsun 240Z that I'd bought very used—and had modified for autocross use—but the reality of that car is that it was a 'rust bucket.' For example, large...
Read moreI bought a modded 1968 VW Squareback with Porsche 356 wheels, instead. I called it my 'Speedster Wagon'. I think I made the wiser choice. It had dual carbs, high-performance short-shift gearbox, aftermarket racing steering wheel, gas...
Read moreJan, I really enjoy your columns, especially when you write about the Z-Car. It was your landmark article about a year ago on print advertising of early Z-Cars that attracted me to DT in the first place.
We both owned 1970 240Zs, mine possibly being the first in Montreal, and I experienced the rusting you described. It wasn’t in the floorboards but rather in the body behind the wheel wells. In spite of this, my 240Z remains one of my favorite cars.
To be perfectly honest, when I first saw early “leaks” if the new Z Concept, I wasn’t too excited. It seemed extremely stark looking, and very bland compared to the original design masterpiece.
Then, for reasons I can’t quite explain, the Concept started to grow on me. While stark compared to the 240Z, the Concept is totally different from the current generation of Supercars and Hypercars. These cars are the opposite to stark…loaded with bell and whistles like wings and real and fake ducts, excessively complex bodywork with questionable aerodynamic benefits, and on and on.
The Concept’s beauty is in its starkness, as if designed by a minimalist architect. I’m feeling quite poetic, so I’ll quit while I’m ahead.
I really like this new Z.