The new Nissan Z is a fantastic car – compact, powerful, and nimble, perfectly fitting the modern sports car stage. But it wouldn't even exist without the original Fairlady Z – the first sports car from the Z series, launched by the automaker in October 1969. It was the predecessor of everything good that was to ever come wearing the Z badge and it was sold in slightly different versions for the Japanese and American markets.
A pristine condition Fairlady Z recently visited Jay Leno’s Garage and the writer, actor, comedian, and most of all car enthusiast met with the owner of this particular machine, who bought it in 2015 but couldn’t start restoring it until five years later. It was finished last year and is currently comparable to a factory-new vehicle. It is a 1971 model with four-lug wheels and drum rear brakes – a pure Japanese automotive royalty, as Leno describes it.
