Top 10 Things To Know About The Nissan Fairlady Z(1969-1973) Before Buying

The first-generation Nissan Fairlady Z, also known as the Nissan S30, was launched in 1969. It remained in production till 1973 until the arrival of the second generation model. The car is still popular among enthusiasts and JDM car lovers out there while the S30’s design makes a statement for itself. The S30 was built to be driven and keeping them idle for several months would lead to something or the other going haywire.

10. Rust is a big problem

Rust has been and is still a huge problem for Japanese cars from the 70s and the 80s. While the S30 was quite well put together, the rust-proofing methods applied to them were mediocre at best. And the S30’s affinity to trap water in several places makes it quite prone to rust. Check the tailgate base, door sills, and window sills around the windshield for rust. If the rust is more, stay away from that example.

9. The unibody and the mechanicals are robust

The complete unibody structure and the related mechanicals of the S30 feature a robust build. While the structure of vehicles from the S30’s time has a bad name for getting rust on their structures, the S30 still stands out.

8. Be careful about the “tinny” doors

The long doors of the S30 are known for their not-so-strong build and tinny sound. While closing them, they do make a weak sound, and the best way to get rid of that is to apply sound-deadening materials. Also, apply a good quality anti-rust non-hardening spray that can both take care of the doors as well as filter out its sound.

7. The 240Z is highly tunable

This is among the prime reasons to get an S30 Fairlady Z. Given it's simple mechanics and iconic design, the car allows practically endless modification options. Moreover, the car easily supports engine swaps too.

6. The steering wheel and the dash can crack

On the inside, the S30 has a wooden steering wheel and the OEM dashboard isn’t of robust quality. Over time, both the steering and the dashboard have an affinity to develop cracks. Do check for them thoroughly. Also, look out if any cracks were covered with touch-up paints or tapes.

5. Stay away from heavily modified Zs

We mentioned earlier that the extremely tune-friendly nature of the S30 still lures in buyers. And that results in the car going to the hands of individuals not have a clear idea about what they are doing. The result would be a heavily and improperly modified S30. And you should stay away from such examples.

4. Check the engine oil and coolant

The stock motor of the S30 has an affinity towards frequent oil changes along with coolant changes. The coolant reservoir needs a perfect 50/50 mixture of coolant and anti-freeze so that the alloy engine headers and the cast iron engine block don’t overheat and corrode. Check both the coolant and the engine conditions while inspecting the motor.

3. Check if the wheels are oversized

While customizing the Fairlady, modders often tend to plonk oversized wheels on the S30. As with that, the wheel arches should’ve been made wider with unnecessary cutting. Also, the suspensions aren’t upgraded to accommodate the aftermarket wheels.

2. Check the suspension 

In its stock form, the steering of the S30 Z had some play while fully centered. However, some grinding or cracking noises while turning the wheels at low speeds indicate a bad suspension as well as a bad steering system. It might be a result of poorly done suspension alterations as well as bad bushings.

1. Avoid cars with accidental histories

This might be a common factor now but needs to be kept in mind on a serious note while going for the S30 Z. Examples with an accidental history tend to have poor repair jobs done to them. Moreover, the subtle body lines of the S30 are worth every penny and are almost impossible to match after a crash.