The 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432 was a high-performance variant of the regular Fairlady Z sports car. It was named 432 because it was equipped with a 4-valve, triple-carbureted, 6-cylinder engine (codenamed S20) that had a displacement of 2.0 liters. The engine produced 160 horsepower (or 180 horsepower, depending on the source) and had a redline of 8,000 RPM.
What made the Fairlady Z 432 special was its engine. The S20 engine was originally developed for Nissan’s GT-R race car, which won the 1969 JAF Grand Prix. However, due to rules changes in the racing series, Nissan was unable to use the engine, so they put it in the Fairlady Z instead.
Other features of the Fairlady Z 432 included a 5-speed manual transmission, a limited-slip differential, disc brakes, and a lightweight body. The design of the car was similar to the regular Fairlady Z, but it had specific details like a hood scoop, flared fenders, and a unique grille.
Only about 420 units of the Fairlady Z 432 were produced, making it a rare and sought-after collector’s item today. In Japan, where the car was sold, it was known as a “GT-R in sheep’s clothing” because of its racing-inspired engine.
