Owners from across the nation with cars from every generation showed up at Bartlett Lake
- Nissan Z owners with cars from every generation united in their passion recently gathered in Arizona.
- The event proved that despite cultural differences, a great performance car can bring people together.
- The promoter interviewed several Z owners about their love for the model.
The Nissan Z has long been an approachable performance car for enthusiasts—well, that is, when greedy dealerships and flippers don’t ruin the fun for the rest of us. Through the years, it has transformed and adapted to its era. Now, over 50 years since its introduction, owners from across those years have gathered in Arizona to celebrate the cars. That passion is clearly on display in this pair of videos from the event.
Hosted by Nick Loves Nissan, NISMO MO USA, ZCCA, and Z1 Motorsports, the gathering occurred at Bartlett Lake, Arizona. The 2,830-acre reservoir provided a stunning backdrop for the plethora of Z cars in almost every shade and color imaginable. Owners met on the morning of April 7th, and the weather was absolutely perfect.
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Nearly 100 Z cars joined in on the event dubbed ‘Z Holiday’ by Nismo Nick. The stories behind these cars lend to the reputation that they have. One owner brought his 50th anniversary 370Z which is one of just 36 in the entire USA. “Z means everything to me,” he says, “everybody has a Z story.”
Another woman brought her 1989 300ZX to the meet-up, revealing, ‘I actually have three more of these at home.’ One gentleman showcased his wife’s car at the event—a stunning 1972 240Z that’s set up for the track. And when he says it’s for the track, he means it. It boasts an LS3 V8 under the hood, a six-speed manual gearbox, a custom body kit, and a wing that would make a new Civic Type R blush.
Many of these owners discuss how long they’ve had their sports coupes or, at the very least, how long they’ve been obsessed with them. Several have owned their Z cars for decades, while others have bought and sold various models over the years. One enthusiast mentions he’s been driving the same 1972 Z for 53 years.
On the other hand, a few are newcomers to the clan. A bevy of new Nissan Z cars showed up including a few of the Proto Spec variety. If there’s anything for us all to take away from this party it’s that we can all come together under the umbrella of performance and enthusiasm for automobiles.