Episodes of Jay Leno’s Garage typically focus on a single vehicle which the comedian and car enthusiast and collector drives through the streets of Los Angeles. This episode is a little different as Leno visited the Nissan Heritage Collection in Nashville, Tennessee – and it makes for a welcome change.
The facility is home to some of the most remarkable vehicles to ever feature a Nissan or Datsun badge, and Leno had the chance to see some of the cars up close with the help of senior manager at production development for the Aftersales division of Nissan North America, Dave Bishop.
Instead of fawning over some of the Skyline GT-Rs in the collection, Leno looks at some of the automaker’s other classics, including the iconic 240Z and the 280Z, sold in North America between 1975 and 1978. These two sports cars may not be nowhere near as fast as Skylines, but they played a pivotal role in establishing the Japanese marque as a force to be reckoned with in the sports car world.
A 1960 Datsun 1200 sedan is also featured prominently throughout the video, with Leno even jumping behind the wheel to see how the tiny car copes with modern-day life. It may be rather unsubstantial compared to current sedans from Nissan, but the 1950’s-inspired British styling gives it a unique flair and ensures it stands out from the pack.