1972 Datsun 240Z — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $20,000–$50,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
The car that proved Japan could build a desirable sports car, and now a genuine blue-chip classic. The L24 straight-six is robust and tunable. The catch is rust — 240Zs dissolve, and rust repair on one is expensive, specialized work that decides the entire purchase.
Known Issues for the 1972 Datsun 240Z
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The 240Z is legendary for rust: floors, frame rails, rockers, the doglegs, the battery tray, and the rear hatch area all rot, often hidden. Structural rust repair is expensive and rust-free cars command huge premiums.
Repair cost range: $4,000-$20,000
The engine is durable but the SU carburetors need knowledgeable tuning and many cars have been swapped or modified.
Repair cost range: $500-$3,000
Correct interior, trim, and bumper parts for early cars are scarce and expensive.
Repair cost range: Varies
Fresh undercoating on a Z should be treated as a red flag hiding rot, not as protection.
Repair cost range: Varies
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Fresh undercoating hiding the floors and rails
- ✗Any rust in the doglegs and battery tray
- ✗Bubbling paint along the rockers and rear arches
- ✗A modified engine sold as original
Good Signs
- ✓A genuinely rust-free western or dry-climate car
- ✓Solid, inspectable floors and frame rails
- ✓Correctly tuned SU carbs or a documented swap
- ✓Honest, original trim
Found a specific Datsun 240Z?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 1972 Datsun 240Z in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.