FirebaseD...

The joke you recall is just that, and is nowhere near the truth. Here is a link to the short history of the Datsun/Nissan nameplate:

http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/make...keHistory.aspx

The "Fairlady" name was used only in Japan. In the US it was a 240Z. 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX and so on up to the present 350Z. The number denotes the engine size i.e. 280Z = 2,800 cc's, however the actual cc's on the nameplate were a little short of the numeric designations for all Z models.

As a former owner of a 1977 280Z 4-speed (the Z car did not come with a 5-speed transmission until the 1978 280Z model year), I can attest Z drivers were not embarrassed to pull up to a muscle car any more than we are to pull up to a Hemi or other large HP vehicle of today. Muscle cars and sports cars are a different breed. There is no comparison between the two...