An Exact Scale of 1/64th Miniature World of Fairladys/Z-Cars! – By David Houston

I am glad that we’re living in a time where many miniature manufacturers are producing accurate exact scale 1/64ths of these legendary vehicles. It really feels good to pull them out or put them on display and share the generations with those who might have some fun memories of these Nissans or Datsun Sports GTs and those who might have never even seen older generations of these vehicles!

Many companies are doing the new era 2023 Z34 Z-Car (Also nicked named 400Z) in 1/64th scale, the previous model 370Z/FairladyZ has only really been done as Greenlight or Japanese “Capsule Toy” plastic replicas in 1/64th scale. The 350Z/FairladyZ miniatures were done in 1/64th scale as coupes/cabriolets and NISMO versions by Kyosho/AUTOart, Racing Champions/Johnny Lightning and many more. The 350Z was one of the most popular Z car castings. The Z32 is finally getting traction via companies like Inno64 and formerly companies like Konami plus a slew of 3-inch toy versions. Luckily, Tomica Limited Vintage Neo has done Nissan FairladyZs from the 70s through the early 80s.

So, I’ll start with the Fairlady Roadsters, before there was ever a “Z-Car” there was a 1960s Nissan Fairlady Roadster in the image of the then popular British motoring cabriolets. Nissan created a nimble little convertible and named it “Fairlady” after one of Nissan’s executives had seen the play “My Fairlady” whilst visiting the United States. Tomica Limited Vintage has captured those lovely roasters in true 1/64th scale brimming with little details including both a cabriolet boot cover (for when the top is down) as well as a lift off hardtop for whichever way you desire to display your Fairlady Roadster.

Moving on to the 1969 for the 1970 model year, Nissan/Datsun revealed their first ever Nissan FairladyZ/Datsun 240Z. This was an enclosed 2-seater sports coupe GT. This first ever “Z-Car” was a true stunner, with Jaguar E-Type/Ferrari Daytona Coupe/Toyota 2000GT proportions! It was a dramatic little car to behold during its debut. It was also a very capable sports car with the performance to take on the greats like Porsche and BMW around racecourses and even on roads if one would dare. To top it off, it was reliable and very affordable at the time. Causing this model to be a sales success for Nissan/Datsun the world over in sports cars. Here, I have both Tomica Limited Vintage Neo OEM/TV-Series versions as well as the Special Japan only G-Nose Edition and Inno64 Tuned Versions include the iconic “Devil Z” interpretation of “Wangan Midnight” Comics of the 90s. I find myself more partial to the Inno64 versions, as they are both 2-Seaters and feature even more intricate detailing. The TLVN ones are nice as well but were modeled in the unpopular 2 by 2 “hunchback” shape, including the 81-83 Turbo 2nd gen Z-cars which kept a very familiar look, but with revised styling.

The “Digital Era” early mid-80s brought us the new for 1984 “Z31” Nissan FairladyZ/Datsun-Nissan 300ZX. Now, this is really the first Z-Car that I fell in love with as a young child. If there was a toy or model kit of this car which I knew about, I would have it! The Z31 was my first encounter with understanding “evolution”. Even being as young as I was back in 1984, I understood that this car was a more modern interpretation of the 280ZX, but with more blocked off forms and straighter lines. So far in exact 1/64th scale Johnny Lightning is the only makers to do this early Z31 1984-85 Z-Car. Of course, there are many 3-inch versions around since the real car was new, including Hot Wheels & Matchbox. The one thing that bugs me about my JL 300ZXs is that the tires are too wide and toy-like, plus they didn’t even add rear spoilers nor the front spoiler on their later Turbo releases (as theirs depicts the US Spec’d version). Next, their hood gap is a tad bit large for this scale. Otherwise, I am glad that it was done, Just that Tomica should have taken the reigns and done this model long ago in their TLVN line up (They are moving too slow, but that is another article coming up).

A HUGE surprise earlier this year has to be Kyosho releasing the last updated Z31 87-89 Nissan Fairlady 300ZR/300ZX. This release came out of left field and was not easy to get. Luckily, my friend in Japan sourced these/ordered these for me. So, this is my most favorite of the Z31s. I was just in jr. high when this car rolled out and I was amazed that Nissan could mount a comeback like this against the hot-techy newly released MKIII Toyota Supra which came out a year prior in mid-86 as a 1986.5. This second facelifted Z31 1987-89 (the 1986 was a one year only facelift in the US prior to the second facelift). Kyosho has done a really good job capturing this version. I have always liked the dark grey Turbo Wheels and rear light bar. Only that this JDM Spec’d 300ZR didn’t come with a rear spoiler standard, whereas the US spec’d 300ZX Turbo came standard with a rear spoiler. Z32 era FairladyZ/300ZX. This car was a game changer for Japanese cars the world over and really brought in the 90s with a bang! It was Import Car of The Year in the United States and really is still a design Icon 33 years later. I am fortunate enough to have actually owned a 300ZX Twin Turbo in red. So, I find it a bit slow on the miniature industry that only Konami was the only company to make an exact scale 1/64th Z32 until last year when Inno64 released their JDM Spec’d 2 by 2 Twin Turbo. So far Inno64 has done the most detailed of those two brands, but I find that the mold has design flaws. For example, the rear spoiler is way too huge and thick, the car’s proportions are too flattened (you can see that after the b-pillar) also the rear fender lips were never that prominent on the 1/1 cars). Otherwise, I find this model charming, especially the police variant. I suspect that Inno64 will do the 1996 and later versions only sold in Japan, because the later cars only had cantilevered style rear spoiler. I’m waiting for another brand such as TLVN, HobbyJAPAN, or Tarmac Works to do a 2-Seater Z32.

21st Century Z. In 2002 Nissan released their Z33 Nissan FairladyZ/350Z. This was a big deal! As Nissan had stopped Z32 sales outside of Japan in 1996 (only selling in Japan until 2001). So, in 2003, Nissan rebirth of the Z-Car came again in a stylish coupe in times with cars like the Audi TT modernist design era. Ironically, I owned both an Audi TT and 350Z coupe when those cars were new. That said, a FLOOD of miniatures and model kits of all scales were released to bring in the excitement around the then new 350Z! Companies like AUTOart, Kyosho, Norev, Racing Champions, Johnny Lightning, Tomica Standard line & Tomica Limited, Real Toy, Hot Wheels, Matchbox as well as many others release 3-inch cars. The two standouts for exact 1/64th scale are Kyosho and AUTOart. Both of the forementioned brands gave collectors highly detailed multi-colored interiors, lensed lighting (front & rear), intricately detailed wheels. These cars are just about equal, but my nod goes towards Kyosho for finesse. Additionally, Kyosho released the Roadster and NISMO S-Tune versions of the Z33.

2009 brought the world “Z34”, a Z-car for enthusiast! I say this, because I know the designer Randy Rodriguez and he has ALWAYS been a true Z-Car fan, so this FairladyZ/370Z had strong heritage features. What a great looking design. However, not as many miniature makers created product pieces of this vehicle and I cannot understand why not? Tamiya did release a kit in 1/24 as well as Maisto in metal, but not in 1/18th scale. I was waiting for years before only GT-Spirit/Kyosho-Samurai made sealed resin version in 1/18th scale came along. Then a few companies made 3-inch versions. Only in recent years has a 1/64th scale been released in diecast. Other than Japanese only capsule toys, Greenlight is the only company to make an exact 1/64th scale diecast Z34 as the later 370Z facelifted version. Greenlight actually have done a really good job shape wise. The only areas of weakness on their casting are no lensed front or rear lighting and too small side mirrors. Otherwise, I am really pleased with their examples.

In 2022 for the 2023 model year Nissan RZ34 Nissan Z/FairladyZ debuted. Finally, a new Z, well kinda’-sorta’. See the RZ34 is a very heavily revised Z34 370Z. However, it is powered by the Infiniti Q60 Red Sports 400hp Twin Turbo V6 (with the NISMO pushing out 420hp). The styling on the ZR34 is absolutely stunning! You will find design cues from many Z-Cars of the past including the 240Z and Z32 300ZX. However, the car has its very distinct flavor. I’m in love with the looks, even the polarizing blocked mouth intake on the non-NISMO Z. Also, in Japan these is a special version recently released to look like the orange “Customized Proto” shown in the Osaka Auto Messe. In fact, my friend in Japan got me 1/64th scale miniatures of that version which I am waiting to be shipped to me. So, I probably could have delayed this article until they were in hand. Just like the Z33, the RZ34 is really drawing a lot of excitement in the miniature community. Many brands of all scales have flocked to Nissan for licensing to make this car. In 1/64th scale almost at the same time, Mini GT & Kyosho released their versions of the RZ34 in blue & yellow, with Kyosho already adding white. Plus, Kyosho have released the forementioned orange Customized Edition for Japan. My friend in Japan even sent me a well detailed capsule toy version of the RZ34 in Yellow. Meanwhile, I am waiting for my Auto World Import Legends versions in blue & yellow to appear in the mail. I wonder, did Nissan require that their first two releases of the RZ34 be in yellow and blue? I would like to have the dark red metallic, and possible other colors too. I guess Auto World will most likely be the quickest after Mini GT to release other colors for the Nissan RZ34.Right now, it’s anybody’s guess as who will be the next to release their version of the RZ34? I cannot complain, at least we have many options for this Z-Car already and 2023 is just a little bit more than halfway over.

Basically, all of us Z fans should be covered! Perhaps you will see one or a few Z-Cars which have had some sort of impact on your automotive world!

Sportscars/GTs like Nissan’s Z-Cars are really a significant and iconic part of world automotive culture. Usually if someone says “Z” two cars come to mind. One being the Nissan and the other most-likely being the Camaro Z/28 or IROC-Z. The letter “Z”, the last letter in the world of cars or something like that was how Nissan Ads in the US used to end, so I will do the same for my article here.

Please let us know here at CastHeads which generation Nissan Z-Car is your favorite and why?