Nissan will display its proud motorsports heritage as well as its current sports car offerings with a six car display at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion – a part of the week-long Pebble Beach festivities.

Historic racers include the Brock Racing Datsun 240Z, the Bob Sharp Racing Datsun 240Z, the Bob Sharp Racing Datsun 240Z IMSA GTU car and the iconic Nissan Motorsports 300ZX, which competed from 1989 to 1995. In 1992 and 1994 Steve Millen won the Driver’s Championship and Nissan also won the Manufacturer’s Championship with this car. In 1994, it also finished 1st at both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

On display alongside these icons will be two new models, the 40th Anniversary 370Z and the 370Z BRE (Brock Racing Enterprises) Tribute Concept, that’s based on the NISMO 370Z but with plenty of racing bits tossed on. Built to SCCA T2 regs, Nissan says it will compete next year.

Get more info on all six cars after the jump:

PRESS RELEASE

Nissan Displays Six-Pack of Significant Z® Cars at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

– Nissan Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Original Datsun 240Z and Long Racing History –

Nissan North America, Inc. today announced that it will continue its year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of the icon Nissan Z® with a display of historic Z® racers at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 12 – 15 at Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, Calif.

Four of the six Z®s appearing at the event, formerly known as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, have significant racing histories – including SCCA National Championships, IMSA Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Championship and victories at LeMans, Daytona and Sebring. Among the well-known drivers who have piloted these vehicles are John Morton, Bob Sharp, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Sam Posey, Paul Newman and Steve Millen. The other two vehicles are a production 40th Anniversary Nissan 370Z and a specially prepared Brock Racing Enterprises 370Z tribute car.

In addition to the display vehicles, a number of vintage Nissan race cars have been entered in competition. John Morton will drive the #46 1970 Datsun 510 in the “1966 – 1972 Trans Am under 2 Liter Cars” class and a pair of 1985 Nissan GTPs (#83 and #84) owned by Toluca Lake Classic Motorsports will compete in the “1981 – 1989 FIA Mfg Championship & IMSA GTP” class.

Following are brief descriptions and histories of the Nissan display vehicles:

Brock Racing Enterprises Datsun 240Z
In 1970, when the Datsun 240Z arrived in the U.S, Peter Brock’s Southern California-based Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) racing team helped to change the motorsports world by claiming the first SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) C Production National Championship for the Z over long-established champions from Germany and England.

Datsun 240Zs swept the top 3 spots with Bob Sharp in second and John McComb in third, in another BRE car, to firmly establish the Z® as a force in SCCA C Production racing. Datsun Z®s went on to win 10 straight SCCA C Production National Championships.

The 1970 and 1971 championship car, chassis #492, carried the now famous red, white and blue BRE livery penned by Peter Brock. Unfortunately chassis #492 was destroyed in a racing accident in the 1970s. This vehicle is a faithful replica of that car created by Ron Carter. It carries the BRE front and rear spoilers as well as the aerodynamic headlight covers. Under the hood is a BRE-built 2.4-liter inline-6 cylinder engine with the original triple Solex/Mikuni carburetors and the Nissan Competition intake manifold. Even the wheels are the original American LeMans magnesium pieces, so it is very close to the BRE 240Z that John Morton and the BRE team used to rock the racing world in 1970.

Bob Sharp Racing Datsun 240Z Chassis #00006
This car is the first Datsun 240Z imported into the U.S. It was the original display vehicle at the 1969 New York Auto Show. It later went to the Toronto Auto Show and was damaged when a spokesmodel sat on the roof for a photographer. The car was quickly pulled from the publicity tour and became the first race winning 240Z under the Bob Sharp Racing banner. This car appeared at every SCCA Runoffs from 1970 to 1978. Bob Sharp and the Z® won the SCCA C Production National Championship in 1972, 1973 and 1975. This car was raced as a 240Z, 260Z and 280Z. After its days at Bob Sharp Racing, it was owned and raced for many years by Jim Fitzgerald who had also raced it for Bob Sharp Racing.

When the car was a show car it was originally dark green and a patch of dark green paint was found during the restoration and has been maintained on the car to confirm its beginnings as the infamous “spokesmodel” car. It is owned by Dr. Allan Robbins and was restored by SharpSight Motorsports.

Bob Sharp Racing Datsun 240Z IMSA GTU
This car started its long racing career as a 1970 240Z prepped by Bob Sharp Racing (BSR) in Wilton, Connecticut. It was the second 240Z BSR used to compete in C Production in the SCCA after chassis #006. Bob Sharp won the SCCA C Production National Championship in 1972, 1973 and 1975. Bob Sharp also won the IMSA GTU Championship in 1975.

This car became a backup C Production car for Bob Sharp Racing when new race cars were created for the 1976 season. The new IMSA GTU car was destroyed in Sharp’s crash at Road Atlanta in April 1976. This car was pulled from backup C Production duty and quickly converted to IMSA GTU specs so Sharp could make the next race at Laguna Seca. He finished 2nd at Laguna Seca and won the next week at Ontario. Unfortunately, Sharp crashed again three weeks later at Lime Rock Park, ending his illustrious driving career.

A variety of drivers drove this car after Sharp’s retirement including Elliott Forbes Robinson, Sam Posey and Paul Newman. In 1978 this car held the all-time IMSA GTU lap records at Brainerd, Daytona, Hallett, Lime Rock, Mid America, Mid Ohio, Pocono, Sears Point, Road Atlanta and Talladega. The car is owned by Dr. Allan Robbins and was restored by SharpSight Motorsports.

Nissan Motorsports 300ZX
Nissan competed with the 300ZX in IMSA GTO and then GTS from 1989 to 1995, winning 19 races during that time. Steve Millen won the Driver’s Championship with the 300ZX in 1992 and 1994. Nissan also won the Manufacturer’s Championship in 1992 and 1994. In 1994 the Nissan Motorsports 300ZX took the overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring as well as 1st in class and 5th overall at the 24 Hours of LeMans. This car, Chassis #7 (the Sebring and LeMans winner), is owned by Millen.

After dominating the competition in 1994, IMSA banned the 300ZX’s twin turbo V6 engine. The 300ZXs raced in 1995 with a V8 engine, but they were never quite the same. Millen suffered career-ending injuries in a crash at Road Atlanta and the cars were retired at the end of the season.

Nissan 370Z BRE Tribute Coupe
In recognition of BRE’s multiple championships and the Z®’s first championship, Nissan North America teamed with Brock Racing Enterprises’ Peter Brock to create an updated rendition of the famous BRE livery, a specially modified 2010 Nissan NISMO 370Z Coupe. The new BRE 370Z is not just a show car, however, it’s built for the track as well. As is appropriate to commemorate the championship car, it was built to current SCCA T2 racecar regulations and will see track duty in 2010.

2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition
To celebrate four decades of Z®, Nissan created a special, limited production version of the 2010 Nissan 370Z Coupe, the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition. Limited to 1,000 units, the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition starts out as a 370Z Touring model equipped with manual transmission and Sport Package (including SynchroRev Match™, front chin spoiler, rear spoiler, Nissan Sport Brakes, 19-inch Rays forged aluminum-alloy wheels and viscous limited-slip differential) and adds a premium “40th Graphite” exterior color and red leather-appointed interior.

Additional exclusive equipment includes a high-luster smoke wheel finish, red brake calipers and 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front shock tower brace. Inside, along with the red leather-appointed seats, are red door panel inserts, 40th Anniversary seatback with debossed logo, floormat logo embroidery, red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and kneepads, smooth leather steering wheel with red stitching and interior 40th commemorative plaque. Every 40th Anniversary Z® also comes with a commemorative premium satin car cover.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan displayed, for the first time, its new 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition. Celebrating 40 years since the 240Z landed in the U.S., the 40th Anniversary Edition model starts out as a well-equipped manual-transmission Touring model equipped with the Sport Package which includes the SynchroRev Match transmission, a front lip spoiler and rear spoiler, Nissan’s impressive sport brakes, a limited slip differential and 19-inch Rays forged wheels.

Added to this is a special “40th Quartz” paint job and a red leather interior. Other highlights include red brake calipers; a high luster smoked wheel finish; 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front strut tower brace; red painted door trim; red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and steering wheel; 40th Anniversary stitching on the seatbacks and floormats; a plaque of authenticity and a special car cover.

Set to go on sale this Spring, the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition is priced from $38,860.

See our gallery of photos from the car’s debut below:

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

See after the jump for a brief history of the Z car:

A Brief History: Six Generations of Z
The journey from the original 240Z to the current 370Z, of course, made a number of interesting stops along the past 40 years.  Interestingly, the 240Z might not have made the journey to America in the first place, if not for the efforts of one man.

Though many, many people were responsible for the design and engineering of the first generation 240Z, its success in North America can be attributed to Yutaka Katayama, who was president of Nissan’s U.S. operations at the time.  Known affectionately as “Mr. K,” he was convinced that the company’s new sports car design would be a hit in the U.S.  There was just one problem – the vehicle’s name: the Fairlady Z (which is still used in the Japanese market today).

With a name change for this market to “240Z” and some aggressive marketing, including early motorsports success, the Z® became an instant hit – bringing attention and buyers not just to Z, but also to the entire brand.

After overseeing Nissan’s growth in the U.S. in the ‘70s, Katayama returned to Japan and remains, to this day, linked to the Z®’s success here and around the world.  On September 15th, 2009, Mr. K celebrated his 100th birthday and received cards and birthday greetings from Z lovers everywhere.

In 1974, as the engine displacement climbed to 2.6 liters the name changed to 260Z.  The 2+2 model with an extended roofline and tiny back seat also appeared.  In 1975, engine size increased again to 2.8 liters and the name changed to 280Z.  Z cars continued to dominate on the racetrack, with Pete Brock, John Morton, Bob Sharp and P.L. (Paul) Newman among the many talented drivers.

Z sales continued to climb with the introduction in 1979 of the new second generation 280ZX.  Now priced at just under $10,000, the 280ZX was named Motor Trend “Import Car of the Year” and sales passed 86,000 units.  T-tops and a turbocharged engine followed in the early ‘80s.

In 1984, Z engine displacement increased again, with a 3.0-liter V6 replacing the classic Z inline-6, and the 300ZX was born.  Also, a specially equipped model celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary and priced at $25,999 was introduced.  The 1984 Z was the best selling sports car in America.

The next breakthrough in Z history came in 1990 with the arrival of the totally redesigned, fourth generation 300ZX.  Offered in two-seat and four-seat 2+2 models, it offered an unheard of 222 horsepower and a top speed of 150 mph.  A few months later, the 300ZX Turbo followed – with 300 horsepower, a 160-mph top speed and a $33,000 price tag.

The 1990 300ZX captured the Z’s second Motor Trend “Import Car of the Year” award, along with a spot on Car and Driver and Road & Track “10 Best” lists.  The 300ZX also captured Automobile’s “Design of the Year” and the first of four “All-Stars” awards.

By the mid-‘90s, however, sports car sales in general were slowing and the Z® had lost its “affordable” sports car positioning.  With Z sales declining sharply and the core “value” positioning no longer part of the “Z DNA,” sales of the Z in the U.S. slumped and sales were stopped following the 1996 model year.  The last 300ZX imported into the U.S. was inducted into the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

The next chapter of the Z history came just before the end of the century.  In 1999, Nissan and Renault formed what has become the highly successful Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Mr. Carlos Ghosn was assigned by Renault to head the new management team.  Among his first tasks was not just to look at the business aspects, but to find the “soul” of the company.  In interview after interview, people inside and outside the company brought up one model to him, one letter: Z.

Development of the new Z began later that year, with the return to the values of the original 240Z – a car that sports car enthusiasts would look forward to driving everyday; quick, inspiring and affordable.

In summer 2002, the Z was reborn with the introduction of the 2003 350Z.  It was delivered, as promised, with an MSRP of under $30,000.

Following the 350Z’s unprecedented success, the sixth generation Z, the 2009 370Z was launched last December.  Now the little sports car that could comes full circle with the announcement of the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition.

“It’s almost inconceivable that it has been 40 years since the original 240Z changed the course of Nissan and the concept of affordable, everyday sports cars,” said Castignetti.  “In a year, 1969, marked by the first man to walk on the moon, the 240Z made a remarkable first step of its own.  Happy anniversary, Z.”

Set to make its debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week, Nissan has just announced the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition will be priced from $38,860. And because we already knew this, to get our attention they included a large selection of new photos of the car.

Starting out as a well-equipped manual-transmission Touring model, this limited edition vehicle also gets the Sport Package, which includes the SynchroRev Match transmission, a front lip spoiler and rear spoiler, Nissan’s impressive sort brakes, a limited slip differential and 19-inch Rays forged wheels.

Added to this is a special “40th Quartz” paint job and a red leather interior. Other highlights include red brake calipers; a high luster smoked wheel finish; 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front strut tower brace; red painted door trim; red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and steering wheel; 40th Anniversary stitching on the seatbacks and floormats; a plaque of authenticity and a special car cover.

The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition is set to go on sale this Spring.

Check out our full gallery of photos below and see our complete 2010 Chicago Auto Show coverage here.

GALLERY: 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

Official release after the jump:

About the Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition
The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition starts out as a 370Z Coupe Touring model equipped with manual transmission and Sport Package (including SynchroRev Match, front chin spoiler, rear spoiler, Nissan Sport Brakes, 19-inch Rays forged aluminum-alloy wheels and viscous limited-slip differential) and adds a premium ?40th Graphite? exterior color and red leather-appointed interior.

Additional exclusive equipment includes a high-luster smoke wheel finish, red brake calipers and 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front shock tower brace. Inside, along with the red leather-appointed seats are red door panel inserts, 40th Anniversary seatbacks with debossed logo, floormat logo embroidery, red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and kneepads, smooth leather steering wheel with red stitching and interior 40th commemorative plaque. Every 40th Anniversary Z® also comes with a commemorative premium satin car cover.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (M.S.R.P.) for the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition is $38,860 USD.

Just last week we thought we’d have to wait for the New York Auto Show in late March before we’d get to see the 40th Anniversary Edition 370Z, but Nissan has just announced it has decided to display at the Chicago Auto Show, starting later this week. Nissan has been noticeably absent from the auto show circuit over the past year, even missing the LA and Detroit shows, but it will be in Chicago, displaying alongside its luxury arm Infiniti.

The big Nissan debut will be the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition, celebrating 40 years since the original 240Z landed in North American. Starting out as a well-equipped manual-transmission Touring model, this limited edition vehicle also gets the Sport Package, which includes the SynchroRev Match transmission, a front lip spoiler and rear spoiler, Nissan’s impressive sort brakes, a limited slip differential and 19-inch Rays forged wheels.

Added to this is a special “40th Quartz” paint job and a red leather interior. Other highlights include red brake calipers; a high luster smoked wheel finish; 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front strut tower brace; red painted door trim; red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and steering wheel; 40th Anniversary stitching on the seatbacks and floormats; a plaque of authenticity and a special car cover.

The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition is set to go on sale this Spring, priced from $38,860.

For complete 2010 Chicago Auto Show coverage click here

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

With the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition set to debut at the Chicago Auto Show in just a few days, Nissan has announced a special European version of the sports car, debuting at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Called the 370Z Black Edition, it gets the same 19-inch Rays wheels, red-painted brake calipers, 40th anniversary badge and red leather interior as the North American-spec version. In fact, all that sets this model apart from its American cousin is the fact that Nissan will also offer the black edition in “quarts” grey (the same color offered in the U.S.) over in Europe.

Standard equipment includes a 332-hp 3.7-liter V6 engine, push button ignition with Intelligent Key and Nissan’s Hard Disk Drive navigation system. Both a six-speed manual and seven-speed automatic are available, with pricing set at £33,645 ( roughly $53,000).

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z Black Edition

Official release after the jump:

PRESS RELEASE

370Z: BACK TO BLACK

Just over 40 years ago a motoring icon was born. As the sixties moved into the 1970s, the Datsun 240Z was launched on the US market. American drivers instantly fell in love with the car and sales in that one market alone regularly topped 50,000 units annually. The Z legend had begun.

Now four decades, six generations and well over a million cars later, Nissan is introducing a special celebratory version of the newest two-seater to wear the famous Z badge – the 370Z.

The 370Z Black Edition marks the 40th anniversary in style. Available from April as a coupé only, and in a limited edition run of just 370 units in Europe, it comes in two distinctive metallic shades: black and quartz. Both paints use Nissan’s pioneering Scratch Shield technology, ‘healing’ the finish in the case of stone chip damage.

Inside the 370Z Black edition there are:

• Unique red leather & suede appointed interior (seats & door trim) with embossed 40th Anniversary logo seats
• Smooth leather wrapped steering wheel with red stitching
• Red stitching on the centre cluster, centre console and knee pads
• Nissan’s Connect Premium state-of-the-art combined touch-screen satellite navigation and audio system with USB connectivity

The exterior of the 370Z Black can be identified thanks to:

• Dark grey 19″ aluminium forged RAYS wheels
• Eye-catching red brake callipers
• 40th Anniversary emblem on the back door

Standard specification means it already has a bespoke BOSE premium audio system, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, Stop/Start button with Nissan’s Intelligent Key and a sporting six speed manual transmission with unique Synchro Rev Control technology. The electronically controlled rev matching system ensures perfect ‘heel and toe’ gear changes every time. A seven-speed automatic version with column-mounted paddle shifts is available as an option.

The Black Edition comes as standard with Nissan’s next generation combined audio and navigation system, offering improved ease-of-operation, new and updated features.

At its heart is a high performance Hard Disk Drive (HDD) navigation system that offers customer audio storage capacity of 9.3GB.

Among the many benefits are vastly extended mapping which now includes Turkey, Eastern Europe and Russia, as well as a new easy to follow 3D navigation guidance with improved graphics and a more realistic depiction of the road and landmarks ahead for many of Europe’s principle cities. The resolution of the new 7 inch screen is up to four times better than the previous generation system.

Real time traffic information is supplied via RDS-TMC, but quicker operation allows the system to offer re-routing in a fraction of the time.

The new generation system uses a touch-screen interface, maximising both ease of use and safety not only for the navigation, but also for other functions such as Bluetooth phone connectivity and entertainment. It is also possible to operate the system using voice recognition.

On-screen instructions can be displayed in eight different languages including English, French, German, Spanish and Italian – while voice recognition is supported in seven – English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.

The new generation navigation system also allows USB connectivity for portable audio devices. Furthermore, DVDs can be played on the centrally mounted navigation screen (when the car is stationary), while external audio and video devices can be connected via the VTR connections that are found in the central storage box.

In terms of its mechanical specification, the Black Edition matches the standard 370Z. That means a 3.7-litre 24-valve twin cam V6 developing 328PS and a limited top speed of 155mph and a 0-62 mph time of 5.3 seconds (5.6 seconds for the automatic version). The 2010 model year update means the 370Z is now fully compliant with forthcoming Euro 5 emission legislation.

Exemplary levels of handling and grip are assured by the focused rear-wheel drive chassis which features fully independent suspension, powerful upgraded brakes and precise speed sensitive power steering.

Since its launch in June 2009, more than 1,050 examples of the 370Z have been sold across Europe, an exceptional achievement for a niche product in extremely challenging market conditions. The car’s largest market to date has been the UK, followed by France and Germany.

“The ‘story of Z’ is full of positives, with success not just in the sales charts all over the world but on racetracks and at award ceremonies, too. The 370Z Black Edition is a fitting tribute to a great car,” said Vincent Wijnen, Nissan’s European Vice President for Marketing.

Customers can order the 370Z Black Edition from all Nissan High Performance Centres and throughout the dealer network with deliveries starting in April.

Prices start from – £33,645 for the manual and £35,045 for the automatic transmission (prices include £750 showroom tax which comes into effect on 1 April 2010).

To celebrate 40 years since the original 240Z landed in North American, Nissan has announced a limited edition 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition model. Starting out as a well-equipped manual-transmission Touring model, this limited edition vehicle also gets the Sport Package, which includes the SynchroRev Match transmission, a front lip spoiler and rear spoiler, Nissan’s impressive sort brakes, a limited slip differential and 19-inch Rays forged wheels.

Added to this is a special “40th Quartz” paint job and a red leather interior. Other highlights include red brake calipers; a high luster smoked wheel finish; 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front strut tower brace; red painted door trim; red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and steering wheel; 40th Anniversary stitching on the seatbacks and floormats; a plaque of authenticity and a special car cover.

The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition will go on sale next spring, with ricing released closer to the release date.

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

Read a short history fo the Z car after the jump:

A Brief History: Six Generations of Z
The journey from the original 240Z to the current 370Z, of course, made a number of interesting stops along the past 40 years.  Interestingly, the 240Z might not have made the journey to America in the first place, if not for the efforts of one man.

Though many, many people were responsible for the design and engineering of the first generation 240Z, its success in North America can be attributed to Yutaka Katayama, who was president of Nissan’s U.S. operations at the time.  Known affectionately as “Mr. K,” he was convinced that the company’s new sports car design would be a hit in the U.S.  There was just one problem – the vehicle’s name: the Fairlady Z (which is still used in the Japanese market today).

With a name change for this market to “240Z” and some aggressive marketing, including early motorsports success, the Z® became an instant hit – bringing attention and buyers not just to Z, but also to the entire brand.

After overseeing Nissan’s growth in the U.S. in the ‘70s, Katayama returned to Japan and remains, to this day, linked to the Z®’s success here and around the world.  On September 15th, 2009, Mr. K celebrated his 100th birthday and received cards and birthday greetings from Z lovers everywhere.

In 1974, as the engine displacement climbed to 2.6 liters the name changed to 260Z.  The 2+2 model with an extended roofline and tiny back seat also appeared.  In 1975, engine size increased again to 2.8 liters and the name changed to 280Z.  Z cars continued to dominate on the racetrack, with Pete Brock, John Morton, Bob Sharp and P.L. (Paul) Newman among the many talented drivers.

Z sales continued to climb with the introduction in 1979 of the new second generation 280ZX.  Now priced at just under $10,000, the 280ZX was named Motor Trend “Import Car of the Year” and sales passed 86,000 units.  T-tops and a turbocharged engine followed in the early ‘80s.

In 1984, Z engine displacement increased again, with a 3.0-liter V6 replacing the classic Z inline-6, and the 300ZX was born.  Also, a specially equipped model celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary and priced at $25,999 was introduced.  The 1984 Z was the best selling sports car in America.

The next breakthrough in Z history came in 1990 with the arrival of the totally redesigned, fourth generation 300ZX.  Offered in two-seat and four-seat 2+2 models, it offered an unheard of 222 horsepower and a top speed of 150 mph.  A few months later, the 300ZX Turbo followed – with 300 horsepower, a 160-mph top speed and a $33,000 price tag.

The 1990 300ZX captured the Z’s second Motor Trend “Import Car of the Year” award, along with a spot on Car and Driver and Road & Track “10 Best” lists.  The 300ZX also captured Automobile’s “Design of the Year” and the first of four “All-Stars” awards.

By the mid-‘90s, however, sports car sales in general were slowing and the Z® had lost its “affordable” sports car positioning.  With Z sales declining sharply and the core “value” positioning no longer part of the “Z DNA,” sales of the Z in the U.S. slumped and sales were stopped following the 1996 model year.  The last 300ZX imported into the U.S. was inducted into the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

The next chapter of the Z history came just before the end of the century.  In 1999, Nissan and Renault formed what has become the highly successful Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Mr. Carlos Ghosn was assigned by Renault to head the new management team.  Among his first tasks was not just to look at the business aspects, but to find the “soul” of the company.  In interview after interview, people inside and outside the company brought up one model to him, one letter: Z.

Development of the new Z began later that year, with the return to the values of the original 240Z – a car that sports car enthusiasts would look forward to driving everyday; quick, inspiring and affordable.

In summer 2002, the Z was reborn with the introduction of the 2003 350Z.  It was delivered, as promised, with an MSRP of under $30,000.

Following the 350Z’s unprecedented success, the sixth generation Z, the 2009 370Z was launched last December.  Now the little sports car that could comes full circle with the announcement of the 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition.

“It’s almost inconceivable that it has been 40 years since the original 240Z changed the course of Nissan and the concept of affordable, everyday sports cars,” said Castignetti.  “In a year, 1969, marked by the first man to walk on the moon, the 240Z made a remarkable first step of its own.  Happy anniversary, Z.”
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