This Z was imported from the US last year,
after it had been restored and upgraded to fast-road/rally spec. The body has
presumably never suffered from rot because the spot-weld dimples are still
visible on the sill and arch lips. The doors sit slightly proud, though that could
be due to new seals. The bumpers have been re-chromed and the rest of the
bright work is smart, but there's no valance behind the spoiler - so if you
want to bin it you need to find a new panel. The wheels are 15in Minilites
wearing almost unworn Maxxis, with an older Firestone on the 14in steel spare.
The big-bore exhaust is sound, likewise the floors, and the wishbones are still
body color. It sits on uprated struts with adjustable spring platforms all
round.
Datsun
240Z
Inside, we find a good dash top,
aftermarket bucket seats with Simpson harnesses, a Personal 'Fittipaldi' wheel
(with horn-push on the dash) and new carpets, plus white dial faces, but that's
easy enough to rectify.
Datsun
240Z’s interior
The motor is a later F54 (2.8) block bored
out by 1mm to give 2818cc, topped with a big-valve head loaded with a 270° cam
and wearing triple Weber 40DCOEs. There are braided hoses, a fuel-pressure
gauge, a solid state battery, an oil catch-tank (empty) and a large aluminum
radiator. The coolant is light green and full, while the oil is clean-ish and
to the 'FT mark.
Fire it up (with a useful anti-theft
push-button under the dash) and the 'six’ bursts into life with a mighty
thunder. First gear feels tall, plus the gear changes are good and it pulls
hard to 6000rpm and beyond, with oil pressure of 60psi at any revs and the
temperature steady at halfway, about 180°F, the fans cutting in soon after you
stop. The ride is stiff due to harder springs and poly bushing, plus the
handling is much sharper than standard. We’d estimate the power at about
200bhp. The brakes, with rear discs, too, are super-firm, responsive and
confidence-inspiring, but a little rough because the car had been standing.
This would be ideal for road rallies, or could form the basis of a more serious
rally car with much of the groundwork done. The MoT runs until 2 May and tax to
the end of May.
Info
§
Year of manufacture: 1973
§
Recorded mileage: 38,248
§
Asking price: $37,500
§
Vendor: Rally Preparation Services, Witney,
Oxfordshire
§
Website: www.rpsrally.com
Summary
Exterior
§
Straight, rot-free structure
Interior
§
Mostly new, but not standard
Mechanicals
§
Fresh and super-strong
Value
§
Ratings: 7/10
§
For: Great drive with lovely noise
§
Against: Slightly garish cosmetics could do
with toning down, as could the exhaust for long events
Should I buy it?
§
If you want the makings of a competition car,
you likely couldn’t repeat this Datsun’s condition and specification for the
money
Specs and price
§
Price: $4,035
§
Max power: 150bhp
§
Max torque: 1461b ft
§
0-60mph: 8 secs
§
Top speed: 127mph
§
Mpg: 21
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