Blast from the past 9 - Nissan 240Z

Or, as it was known in the UK, the Datsun 240Z. This was the first of the 'Z' line of coupes and perhaps also the first car from Japan to sell on desirability and performance rather than value for money and dependability. It's quite hard to believe that those sleek clean lines date all the way back to 1968. I snapped this well-kept example on Nissan's stand at this year's rain-soaked Goodwood Festival of Speed - which accounts for the large number of people with umbrellas in the background!


Later generations of Z were flabbier but remained popular (although to a far greater extent in the US than in Europe) because they continued for years to benefit from the rosy glow generated by the great original.

With the latest 350Z (there's a silver one in the background of the 240Z photo), though, Nissan is right back at the top of its game. We've already had the 350Z on the Verdict - where it proved immensely popular with our reader-testers - but I'm just wondering whether the extensive revisions this car has received lately provide enough of an excuse for us to get away with featuring the magnificent 350Z a second time...

Great spots 5 - Morgan Aero 8

The car parks at Goodwood's Festival of Speed usually contain almost as many interesting cars as the event itself. Here's one example, which I saw on Sunday, the Morgan Aero 8.


I have to admit, I haven't actually driven one of these but I've always thought they look rather wonderful, apart from the odd cross-eyed headlights, the appearance of which doesn't really seem to improve with familiarity. Still, under the skin, the Aero 8 is an interesting mixture of traditional ash and advanced alloy structures. And whether you like Morgans or not, you have to admit that the company must have been getting it broadly right over the years to survive as one of the very few British-based, British-run and British-owned car manufacturers.

Goodwood tomorrow!

An overnight near Winchester on the way to Goodwood for one of the highlights of the year - the Festival of Speed. No time to report fully on last week's Swedish visit so far, hope to catch up in the next few days. But thoughts of renewables and saving the planet will now be parked for the rest of the weekend.