1972 Datsun 240Z — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $20,000–$50,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue 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.
What we checked
Checked against public records, 2026-09-25
Federal complaint records thin out badly before about 2000, so there is little here to check against. What follows is our own write-up. Treat a short list as us having less to go on, not as the vehicle having fewer faults.
Known Issues for the 1972 Datsun 240Z
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
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 (estimate): $4,000-$20,000 — around 57% of what this car is typically worth
Source: not yet checked against public records.
The engine is durable but the SU carburetors need knowledgeable tuning and many cars have been swapped or modified.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$3,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Correct interior, trim, and bumper parts for early cars are scarce and expensive.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Fresh undercoating on a Z should be treated as a red flag hiding rot, not as protection.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
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
- ✓Solid, inspectable floors and frame rails
- ✓Correctly tuned SU carbs or a documented swap
- ✓Honest, original trim
Other Datsun 240Z years
Similar sports & performance
2018 Honda Civic Type R (FK8)
$30,000–$42,000
2006 Honda S2000
$22,000–$45,000
2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
$24,000–$42,000
2019 Volkswagen Golf R
$28,000–$38,000
2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII
$20,000–$45,000
2020 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack
$32,000–$44,000
1994 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo (Z32)
$18,000–$45,000
2017 Ford Focus RS
$24,000–$38,000
2008 Honda S2000 (AP2)
$30,000–$48,000
2018 Subaru WRX STI
$26,000–$36,000
1999 Nissan Silvia (S15 Spec-R)
$25,000–$55,000
Found a specific Datsun 240Z?
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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.
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