The origins of the Fairlady Z date back to the Datsun Sports sold in 1959. This was a car made for the U.S. market, featuring a revolutionary FRP body. However, the interior of this car was that of a standard Datsun sedan, and it wasn’t until the Fairlady 1500 in 1962 that it took on the appearance of a true sports car. The name was taken from the musical "My Fair Lady," and the car became famous with this model. The 1500, also known as the SP310, didn’t have any spectacular features to boast about, but because it adhered to a very traditional sports car design, it immediately captured the hearts of car enthusiasts in the U.S. With its high-level performance, the race-spec 1500 defeated strong contenders such as MG and Triumph in the first Japanese Grand Prix.

Greatly improving upon the 1500, the Fairlady 2000 appeared in 1967. The 4-cylinder engine enlarged to 2L became a full OHC model, producing 143 BHP. Combined with a strong 5-speed MT with Porsche synchro, its top speed was over 124 mph, boasting an unprecedented level of performance for its time. Further updates in 1968 delivered the 2000 with 167 BHP.

The Fairlady 2000, designated SR311, had its windshield…