A pair of Japanese classics in the British countryside.
Datsun 240Zs aren’t exactly a common sight in the UK, and to spot two is even rarer. But these two classics are owned by the same family. Dad Mel Streek and his son Ollie are avid fans of one of Japan’s most venerated sports cars, and they proudly own on each.
What might surprise you, however, is who owns which one. The rough-and-ready ‘Ratsun’ belongs to Mel, while the fully-restored, concours-quality 1973 car belongs to young Ollie. And he’s not selling it.
For the uninitiated, the Datsun 240Z was a variant of the Nissan S30, a sports car created in the mould of the classic British sports cars like the MG C and the Triumph GT6. Sold as the Nissan Fairlady Z in its native Japan, it was introduced as the 240Z under the Datsun brand in the US in 1970 and sold until 1973.
Under the bonnet it sported a 2.4-litre straight-six engine with around 150bhp, while independent suspension on each corner gave it agile handling. That, combined with styling that still holds up today and a more-than-reasonable price, meant it was the first sports car from Japan to really crack America. More than 40 years later, it’s still attracting attention all over the world.
Source: Petrolicious
