For many Z purists the Fairlady brand lost its way somewhere between the 280ZX and the Z32 300ZX, evolving from what was once a lightweight, chuckable sports coupe into a big, lumbering boulevard cruiser.

In fact, even though Nissan started to bring the Z back to its origins with the Z32 and the Z33, many Nis-fans believed that another car from the automaker’s stable embodied the spirit of the original Z better than its own descendents. I am, of course, talking about the RPS13 180SX.

With the 180SX you had a lightweight coupe body with a relatively unsophisticated and revvy engine driving the rear wheels (which were independently sprung, natch), while the sticker price was nice n’ low - just like the 240Z. Hell, in the USA the RPS13 was even fitted with a 2.4-litre engine - the same displacement as the 240Z’s mill. So, 180SX = modern day 240Z? In a lot of ways, yes.

Okay, I can already hear you late-model Z freaks banging down my e-door and making all sorts of negative comments about my manhood, but before you email me that death threat, take a look at this custom creation:

Not bad, hey? The 240Z nose works a treat with the 180SX body, and it’s a perfect visual metaphor for what I was saying before: Lightweight, low-cost sportscars are the bomb, and even though the S30 240Z and the 180SX both have a markedly different fanbase and history, there are fundamental links between the two cars that make them both embody the same successful formula.

By the way, the 240Z/180SX is up for sale if anyone’s interested. At ¥520,000 (plus shipping, taxes and fees) it’s quite the bargain, especially considering the interior is mint and there’s a set of classic Work Equip’s bolted to the hubs. Check out J-Spec for more info.

[Source: J-Spec]
[Images: J-Spec]