Mike,
While you are correct that the hard core Jaguar E type owners would not buy
one, there was a big market for the Z cars - more than just TR6 and GT6
buyers. Triumph continued to sell plenty of their roadsters - someone that
wanted a ragtop would not have bought a Z. The GT6 did not exactly set the
world on fire with it's sales figures, so it was not the major donor of
buyers. The Z may have been a rice burner, but at the height of the sales
frenzy, there was a crazy waiting list, and people were paying double the
sticker price. ( I heard of one that sold for $5000 over sticker) because
folks wanted the latest toy. The Z was the adult version of the Tickle Me
Elmo back in 1970.
Datsun/Nissan was not looking to eclipse the E type, but rather their goal
was to get the buyer that wanted E type performance, and updated E type
styling at an affordable price. At the time that the Z was introduced, the
E had already established itself as a snob car, and was climing in price
like a chimpanzee going for coconuts. Datsun/Nissan did what the Japanese
have become famous for - they saw an unfilled market niche and they were
"the firstest with the mostest" to fill that niche. America countered with
the Vega and the Pinto.
Sid
>From: "datsunmike" <datsunmike@nyc.rr.com>
>To: "sidney raper" <spl310@hotmail.com>, <Pre_Z@msn.com>,
><datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: Design Study
>Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 17:18:49 -0500
>
>"The design was hailed as wonderful as it was an affordable alternative to
>the E type coupe."
>
>Sid,
>
>I don't think Datsooon was aiming at E buyers but buyers of TR6s and GT6
>Spits. A person interested in buying an E would buy a MB SL, Pantera,
>Porsche, BMW etc. and their noses would be up in the air catching flies at
>the mention of them buying a Z - a friggin' rice burner!!
>
>Remember that Jap cars were not highly regarded by many in the late 60s or
>70s. People often referred to my cars as the aformentioned "rice burner"
>
>Mike
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