THE Z-CAR A TO Z
Die Cast X|Holiday 2020
50 Years of Nissan’s Quintessential Sports Car
MATT BOYD
THE Z-CAR A TO Z

Today Japanese sports cars are an established and respected part of the automotive landscape. Icons like the Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, and Acura NSX sit door-handle to door-handle with the Porsche 911 and Chevy’s Corvette as approachable exotics offering world-class performance. But 50 years ago that was far from the case! Here in America, the Japanese brands were known then almost exclusively for cheap economy cars that emphasized efficiency, reliability, and value rather than performance—if they were known at all. And then came the Datsun 240Z. With this one car, Nissan changed not only its own brand’s reputation but the entire trajectory of the Japanese import car in the United States. The Z proved that a Japanese brand could take the virtues it was known for—reliability and value—and instill them in a new class of affordable sports car that also delivered style and performance that was as good or better than anything in the class offered by the rest of the world. In doing so it created a niche that Toyota, Mazda, Honda, and others have since excelled in—but they all owe a debt to the trailblazing Z. On this, its 50th anniversary, we thought we’d look back on the Z, see how it came to be, and mark its evolution into the sophisticated sports car it is today.

PRE-Z: THE FAIRLADY ROADSTER

Bu hikaye Die Cast X dergisinin Holiday 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Die Cast X dergisinin Holiday 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

DIE CAST X DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
RALLY CAR REVOLUTION
Die Cast X

RALLY CAR REVOLUTION

30 YEARS THAT REINVENTED THE SPORT OF RALLYING

time-read
10 dak  |
Winter 2021
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF CORVETTE: EVERY MODEL SINCE 1953
Die Cast X

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF CORVETTE: EVERY MODEL SINCE 1953

The Corvette is known the world over as “America’s Sports Car.” With eight generations spanning seven decades, the Vette has a lot of history behind it and there is much to learn— and much to celebrate—about this iconic machine. As the title of the book by Mike Mueller makes plain, The Complete Book of Corvette: Every Model Since 1953 is here to help readers do both. Newly revised and updated to include the 2020 C8 Corvette, this volume provides excellent context on how the Vette has evolved into the world-class supercar that it is today.

time-read
2 dak  |
Winter 2021
Maisto - 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Die Cast X

Maisto - 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

A mid-engine makeover makes the C8 great

time-read
7 dak  |
Winter 2021
JOHNNY LIGHTNING DOES REAL MUSCLE IN MINIATURE
Die Cast X

JOHNNY LIGHTNING DOES REAL MUSCLE IN MINIATURE

I had plans well underway for the big “Bargain Muscle Cars” feature story in this issue (p18) when I saw this lineup for the new Muscle Cars USA 2020 Release 3 from JL. I already knew I would be talking about the Dodge Dart GTS and AMC Rebel Machine, so I figured I’d just plunder those two cars from this set for that story and be all set. But then my conscience kicked in. Both because the other four cars in the set deserve their moment in the sun, and because they are all based on actual cars from the 2019 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show it just makes sense to talk about them together.

time-read
4 dak  |
Winter 2021
HOT WHEELS LIFE SIZE
Die Cast X

HOT WHEELS LIFE SIZE

Hot Wheels has been having full-size versions of its iconic 1:64 diecast cars made since 1998, and lots of fans have gotten to see them at various car shows and events like the Hot Wheels Legends Tours. But most of those appearances were static displays. About a year ago Hot Wheels decided to give fans a chance to see what it was like to drive the cars in its Garage of Legends by teaming up with MotorTrend’s streaming network to produce a series of episodes highlighting six of the most popular—and outrageous—creations.

time-read
1 min  |
Winter 2021
BARGAIN MUSCLE CARS
Die Cast X

BARGAIN MUSCLE CARS

The evolution of affordable performance

time-read
10+ dak  |
Winter 2021
Die Cast X

GT Spirit - LB Works vs Roush Stage 3 Mustangs

Form vs function for Ford’s muscle car icon

time-read
8 dak  |
Winter 2021
AUTOART - 2018 TOYOTA CENTURY
Die Cast X

AUTOART - 2018 TOYOTA CENTURY

1:18 | $230 | no. 78762

time-read
3 dak  |
Winter 2021
THE Z-CAR A TO Z
Die Cast X

THE Z-CAR A TO Z

50 Years of Nissan’s Quintessential Sports Car

time-read
10+ dak  |
Holiday 2020
Die Cast X

The '55 Chevy Gasser is not slowing down

It seems the old adage “The more things change, the more they stay the same” still rings true, especially for the Hot Wheels `55 Chevy Gasser! The Gasser has been in the spotlight continuously from the moment it was released, and it shows no sign of slowing down. First released in 2013, this high-riding 1955 Chevy Bel Air was designed by Brendon Vetuskey.

time-read
2 dak  |
Holiday 2020