1974 Datsun 260Z

‘RUN 878N’ is a 1974 Datsun 260Z with a difference because it’s been fitted with an £9,000 Jenvey fuel injection conversion that includes an Emerald ECU. Mind you, that was money well spent as it now develops 185bhp and 173lb.ft of torque along with rock-solid starting and far better drivability, which the seller, who used it as his only car, appreciated every single time he started it.

Having previously ticked the Triumph Stag and Reliant Scimitar off his Bucket List, he turned his attention to the Datsun 260Z. He wasn’t in any hurry, so took his time to find the right one, eventually discovering this one in the north of England.

Having prudently joined the Z Club, he asked their advice and it turned out that they knew the car well as a well known member had restored it. He’d then kept it for a long while before selling it to the chap our seller bought it from.

Presented in a good and very usable condition, this Datsun 260Z is an unusually attractive proposition for the enthusiast who wants classic sportscar looks with modern-day drivability and reliability.

The Datsun left the factory painted silver but had a change of colour in, we think, the mid-nineties during what looks like a bare metal respray as part of its restoration. (Please see the photo album of the restoration for details.)

The work, which the invoices on file suggest included many new panels, was clearly done to a very good standard as the Datsun still sports excellent shutlines and great panel alignment.

The flanks are also free of ripples, and the rubber inserts on the (straight and shiny replacement chrome bumpers) are unscuffed; that this is the case, along with alloy wheels that are free of kerbing marks, points to careful curation and fastidious parking.

Speaking of the wheels, a full set of 195/70R14 Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun tyres were fitted in January 2023. It hasn’t travelled far since, so all four still have good tread.

There’s a good shine to the green paintwork too, especially to the front end, which the seller has had resprayed. As his everyday car, he didn’t want it off the road for weeks while a full respray was carried out, so he tackled the front first but didn’t get round to painting the rear.

Which brings us neatly to flaws. There are some marks on the tailgate and the offside rear wing next to the taillamp, and rust is also starting to develop on the leading edge of the nearside door and the offside rear wheelarch.

The overall condition of the car’s panels and paintwork is supported by good lamp lenses and badges, however you may want to consider replacing the chrome trim and rubber windscreen seal.

NB: A tailored car cover, which is shown in the photos, is included.

Hawk Classics retrimmed large parts of the interior only recently, fitting new covers to the seats and a Retrosound headunit plus four extra speakers in the boot. The work, which was carried out in 2023, added another few thousand pounds to the final bill.

However, cost be damned because the result is fabulous, as you can see.

The recovered half-leather seats are only very gently rumpled – and we do mean ‘very gently’ – and look wonderful. High-backed for safety, their manual adjustment means they’ll still be DIY-fixable in another half-century

The quilted black vinyl trim throughout the cabin, which extends to the very nicely presented boot, is all very good too. Very of-the-period, it sets the tone for what is a delightfully understated interior; sure, the usual elements like a small, leather-trimmed steering wheel and comprehensive instrumentation (which Hawk Classics spent four and a half hours fettling in November 2024) are present but the overall design is well-ordered and discreet.

At least part of this is because the seller decided to have the fake wood trim removed from the dashboard when he had the Retrosound headunit and extra speakers installed.

The black carpets are largely free of wear and tear too, and lifting them up shows only solid, green metalwork.

There are a couple of nicely carpeted storage compartments in the rear and the full-size spare wheel sits in the boot below floor level underneath a good plywood panel. As was the case in the cabin, the metal floor is in an excellent condition.

A fire extinguisher has been installed behind the passenger seat, and a new gearknob has been fitted above a very good leather gaiter.

The door cards are a little scruffy, and we can see the next owner might want to sort them out given how good the rest of the interior is. The rear tray that sits over the transmission tunnel is also showing its age and the vulnerable dashboard top has some cracks in it.

The seller has had the following servicing work carried out since buying the 260Z in 2022:

• 11.11.2024 – service by Hawk Classics including new lower ball joint boots and the steering rack gaiter.
• 10.10.2023 – service by Hawk Classics.
• 24.11.2022 – service by Hawk Classics including fresh coolant, a change of gearbox and differential oils, and new ignition parts. An inspection report was also completed and is available online for you to read. This includes the engine compression test results , which were 165psi on five cylinders, with #1 cylinder showing 160psi.

He also asked Hawk Classics to fit the 2.6-litre engine with a Jenvey L28 fuel injection system and Emerald ECU. The work, which was completed at the beginning of 2024, set him back more than £9,000 but it looks terrific and suits the classic car’s engineering aesthetic very well.

More importantly as you can see, it starts very well and idles as it should with good oil pressure shown on the dashboard.

A ‘Street Sport’ manifold and street/track silencer system were imported from the ‘States in 2017, and this, in conjunction with the inlet rasp from the six inlet trumpets, make for a fine sounding engine when it is revved.

It’s got some nice bits under there too including an alloy radiator, Bosch battery, Powerspark HT leads, and an AccuSpark coil. The Emerald ECU is very tunable too; the chap who set it up stopped at 185bhp as he didn’t know the engine but more is probably there depending on where you sit on the reliability versus power continuum. Mind you, that’s a useful 23bhp more than the standard car, and we’d also expect in-gear flexibility to be a bit better.

Purists will be pleased to hear that the original carburettors have been retained and there are plenty of invoices on file for minor mechanical and cosmetic work between 2022 and 2024.

The engine bay itself is nicely presented without being overly fussy; it’s the sweet spot between being clean enough that you aren’t afraid to lift the bonnet to show it off but not so much so that you’re afraid to use it.

A section of the nearside inner sill was replaced in November 2024 by Hawk Classics and the underside was Waxoyl’d and undersealed when it was restored. The latter has held up well there are a few spots that would benefit from being wire-brushed and then retreated.

The Datsun’s MoT certificate, which is valid until November 2025, was issued with no advisories, further proof of the seller’s diligence with regard to its condition.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for a change of colour in 1995, and the history file contains a photographic record of its restoration in the mid-nineties, along with lots of invoices and bills and a couple of workshop manuals.

Classic cars tend to fall into one of three categories: the first is the concours, low-mileage car, which is a delight to look at but invariably the most expensive option – and proving that throwing money at a problem isn’t always the best strategy, buying a low-mileage, barely-used classic is almost certainly not the best choice if you want to actually drive the bloomin’ thing.

The second category includes barn finds and fixer-uppers, which are usually the cheapest to buy but often end up costing you the most in the long-term.

And then there are cars like this, which are solid, look great and run well – and if you’re lucky also benefit from someone else having invested the right money with the right people to get the right jobs done.

This is, for many of us, the sweet spot and there are few better examples out there right now than this delightful Datsun 260Z.

Running beautifully and with a very good history file, there are enough small jobs to keep the price lower than it might otherwise be.

Because we estimate the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £28,000 and £33,000, which feels like great value given the amount of fun you’re going to have.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.