Which company produced the Datsun 240Z?

Nissan produced the Datsun 240Z, selling it under the Datsun name in export markets.

The car was Nissan’s S30-generation sports coupe, introduced in Japan as the Nissan Fairlady Z and marketed abroad—especially in North America—as the Datsun 240Z. Nissan developed the model to offer a stylish, reliable sports car with European-inspired handling at a price more attainable than many European rivals.

The 240Z used a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and a 2.4-liter inline-six engine. Its combination of long hood, fastback styling, independent suspension, and relatively affordable pricing helped establish the Z-car as one of Japan’s most influential performance-car lines.

The Datsun badge can cause confusion because it sounds like a separate manufacturer. Datsun was a Nissan brand used extensively for exports during this period; Nissan Motor Company was the parent manufacturer. The car was therefore a Datsun by name, but a Nissan-produced automobile. In Japan, the same basic model was called the Fairlady Z.