[Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2009 issue of Grassroots Motorsports. All text has been left as it originally appeared in print.]
Nissan has been having fun with some flattering headlines for the previous few years. For one, their GT-R supercar is concerned in a really public scrap with Porsche’s iconic 911 Turbo for Nürburgring …
A Severe Contender
With a sticker worth of simply $3500 when new, the 1970 Datsun 240Z was a heck of quite a lot of sports activities automotive for the cash. It weighed solely 2300 kilos and had a clean and torquey 2.4-liter inline-six engine. The engine, primarily based on a Mercedes-Benz design, pumped out a stout 150 horsepower, giving the Z considerably extra grunt than up to date choices from Porsche, MG or Triumph.
The Z was an actual looker, too, and whereas the shapely sheet steel was skinny and pingy, it did preserve the mass down. Shortly after the 240Z’s debut, the general public embraced it: Sellers created ready lists and considerably marked up the automotive’s sticker worth.
To battle the horsepower choke of federal emissions rules, the automotive acquired a bump to 2.6 liters for 1974 after which to 2.8 in 1975. The automotive’s identify modified to mirror the displacement bump, turning into the 260Z and 280Z, respectively. Nissan offered greater than half one million first-generation Z-cars, and the badge troopers on to today.
When the Z debuted, Nissan was clever sufficient to comprehend that racing was a good way to legitimize a brand new sports activities automotive on the world stage. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the Z was proved aggressive. Success breeds emulation, and by the mid-Nineteen Seventies, many groups have been utilizing the potent new automotive as a method to get on the rostrum.
Brock Racing Enterprises staff driver John Morton gave the automotive its first SCCA Manufacturing-class championships in 1970 and 1971. The Z-cars went on to dominate the Manufacturing ranks all through the Nineteen Seventies, with names like Bob Sharp, Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Paul Newman clinching championships. The Z-car additionally did effectively in each IMSA and SCCA GT racing.
A New Sort of Significance
A automotive with a efficiency historical past as deep because the Datsun 240Z’s is a pure favourite with avenue tuners and observe addicts alike. All through the ’70s, ’80s and effectively into the ’90s, many Z-cars have been modified to dying by their homeowners after which left to rust. These Datsuns have been value subsequent to nothing, in spite of everything, as beat-up outdated examples numbered within the a whole bunch of 1000’s.
Nonetheless, because the variety of unmolested survivor vehicles dwindled and the years piled on, the 240Z’s future collectibility began to change into obvious to fans of Japanese autos. Racers who had been campaigning these machines actively within the SCCA and different membership organizations started to see their viability as classic racers, too.
The end result? Clear, early examples at the moment are available in many types of preparation, from concours-quality avenue vehicles to trace day monsters. All of those could also be primarily based on the identical platform, however as we just lately skilled throughout a day on the observe, every setup gives its personal distinctive taste.
Catching Some Zs
For a baseline, we wished a 240Z that spends most of its time on the road. Nonetheless, we additionally wanted a automotive that that wouldn’t fall flat throughout a number of scorching laps. Our stage could be considered one of Brian Redman’s Targa Sixty Six weekends on the newly refurbished Palm Seashore Worldwide Raceway, the South Florida observe previously referred to as Moroso Motorsports Park.
Happily, we’ve acquired the keys to simply such a Z hanging on the GRM pegboard: Writer Tim Suddard’s 1970 instance is all the time up for a superb exercise. It’s acquired some modifications, together with track-worthy brakes, bolt-on suspension upgrades, a constructed engine and sticky Nitto tires. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless each bit the classic avenue automotive, a proven fact that’s onerous to overlook whereas assembling the person shoulder and lap belts previous to a drive.
To take the subsequent steps up the Z-car ladder, we enlisted the assistance of Greg Ira and Man Marvin. Greg and Man are longtime greatest mates and Datsun fanatics, and Greg is the 2008 recipient of the SCCA’s Kimberly Cup for many improved SCCA Membership Nationwide driver.
The staff’s racing secure features a trio of early 240Zs, every ready for a special class of racing. Goldilocks could be grumpy with these three little Z-cars: The Improved Touring S automotive is scorching, their E Manufacturing racer is muy caliente, and Greg and Man’s just lately constructed classic racer would flat-out scorch her delicate palette. Now that we had assembled our lineup, we might begin sampling from our Z-car buffet.
Baseline: 1970 Datsun 240Z Road Automotive
GRM Writer Tim Suddard’s Z has appeared a number of instances within the pages of each Traditional Motorsports and Grassroots Motorsports; we used it most just lately within the December 2008 subject of GRM for an interoffice grudge match in opposition to Greg Voth’s Mazda RX-7. Tim constructed the Datsun as a tuned avenue toy with a watch on the occasional observe outing, however this was its first go to to a bigger street course with sustained triple-digit speeds.
It’s value noting that the 240Z made the practically 400-mile spherical journey to and from the observe and not using a hiccup. A five-speed swap offers this Z nice freeway legs, and the hatchback space had room for all our driving gear and a few containers of magazines. Between the sticky tires, skinny sheet steel and aftermarket exhaust, it’s not the quietest automotive on the street. Nonetheless, that’s why stereos have a quantity knob. We acquired a thumbs-up from a number of of the 350Z homeowners we handed on the way in which down, too.
We’re delighted to report that the pale yellow Z was each bit the match for the PBIR circuit in addition to most of the vehicles in our run group. We loved a number of laps of wholesome back-and-forth with a Spec Miata; the little race-prepped Mazda bettered the Z below braking and loved a slight edge within the corners, however the Z-car’s potent Balanced Efficiency-prepared straight six clawed again time in huge handfuls on the straights.
Aided by the sticky Nitto NT01 tires, Tim’s Z was in a position to generate cornering forces only a hair above 1.0g indicated; we needed to cling tenaciously to the thin picket wheel and cinch down the seat belt as tightly as potential to keep away from sliding off the traditional vinyl seats. The brakes went a bit gentle after 4 laps, however they have been nonetheless in a position to haul the automotive down from a peak of about 110 mph on the again straight.
This Z’s tendency to understeer on the restrict hampers the automotive on tight circuits, however on the larger-radius corners of PBIR, this trait allowed for very early throttle software. Consequently, we discovered ourselves shortly closing in on some ’70s-era Porsches throughout our laps, and that was about as literal an indication as we might have hoped for to show the importance of those early Z-cars. We have been desperate to hop into the primary of the absolutely race-prepped examples.
Stage One: 1973 Datsun 240Z Improved Touring S Racer
The following degree up from our tuned avenue Z was Greg and Man’s Improved Touring S racer. The SCCA permits for sure modifications on this class, however the majority of the rule ebook is devoted to what a builder can’t change. IT is a well-liked class as a result of the restrictions preserve prices down and assist degree the taking part in area.
Key elements just like the engine and brake {hardware} have to be saved near inventory in Improved Touring, and DOT-legal tires are obligatory. {Hardware} just like the suspension arms and brake calipers are additionally off limits, so the truth that the 40-year-old 240Z continues to be aggressive in opposition to newer vehicles just like the E36-chassis BMW and 13B-powered Mazda RX-7 is a testomony to how revolutionary the Datsun was when it debuted.
Greg purchased this automotive in 2000 from a few engineers in Newport Information, Va. After campaigning the automotive for 2 years, Greg offered it to Man. Since then, the 2 of them have raced the automotive within the Southeast Division SCCA ECR endurance championship.
The automotive has been dependable, however they admit that it wasn’t all the time a quick racer. A contemporary engine helped make their Z a front-runner. The automotive sat on the pole and took the category win on the 2004 Kumho Tires 12 Hours of Homestead race, and it now has a number of regional wins to its credit score. Greg and Man completed third of their endurance sequence factors race in 2004 and 2005, with championships in 2006 and 2007.
In comparison with our avenue Z, this Improved Touring automotive was a dramatic leap towards the racing finish of the automotive spectrum. Nonetheless, a lot of this was because of the absolutely stripped and caged inside. Mechanically, this ITS automotive felt surprisingly much like our tuned avenue Z.
As a result of Road Touring requires the brakes to be inventory save for fluid, traces and pads, these 40-year-old elements gave the race Z a gentle pedal that was very harking back to our avenue automotive. Racing pads do give the ITS automotive extra braking torque, nevertheless, though it additionally tended to tug left below heavy braking.
Additionally like our avenue automotive, the steering was very bodily, however the aggressive alignment on the observe automotive negated the nose-heavy Z’s tendency to understeer in inventory kind. The right racing seat eradicated the necessity to brace in opposition to something whereas driving, and there was a stunning quantity of room inside regardless of the cage.
The enduro-worthy Hoosiers helped the ITS Z-car document a 1.12g lateral acceleration peak, only a hair larger than the road Z. We recorded a again straight velocity of 113 mph, which appears about proper contemplating the race automotive’s 10 additional horsepower.
As an endurance racer, this mildly tuned 240Z is a improbable selection: It’s dependable and fast, however not so highly effective that it has an insatiable starvation for gas and tires. If you happen to’re into old-school vehicles and wish to go racing on a funds, an Improved Touring 240Z is a aggressive and enjoyable resolution.
Stage Two: 1972 Datsun 240Z E Manufacturing Racer
This orange Datsun 240Z is the place Greg and Man present their severe sides. It’s a national-level contender within the SCCA’s E Manufacturing class. Greg put this 240Z on the pole at Heartland Park Topeka throughout the 2008 Nationwide Championship Runoffs, and it has 4 Runoffs podiums in its logbook. Greg has excessive hopes for his or her bid on the nationwide championship this yr.
“The nationwide championships within the orange automotive is what we’re most severe about,” he explains. “The blue automotive is form of for enjoyable, the crimson and white is strictly leisure in classic racing. To be invited to the Runoffs, it’s a must to be within the high such-and-such of your area. We’ll in all probability win the division championship once more; we’ve gained three out of 4 races.”
This Z has been racing efficiently within the Southeast for a few years. “I’d been following the automotive for a very long time,” Greg admits. “It was owned by Kemp Heumann and pushed by Grayson Upchurch.” Greg and his brother Cliff teamed up with Man to purchase the automotive in 2005, and Greg used it to win the Southeast Division SCCA championship by a single level—it got here right down to the ultimate race of the season at VIR.
The automotive’s efficiency is persistently spectacular, and it at the moment holds lap data at Daytona, Virginia Worldwide Raceway, Homestead and PBIR. The automotive suffered a stub axle failure throughout its latest Virginia Worldwide Raceway look, however earlier than the DNF Greg reset the E Manufacturing lap document by a second and a half. “I believe that one will stand for some time,” he says proudly of the mid-2:06 time.
In comparison with Improved Touring, the E Manufacturing guidelines are way more open: elevated engine compression, hotter camshafts, limitless transmission ratios, light-weight physique panels and dramatically reworked suspension elements. Full-race slicks are additionally honest sport.
To play on the nationwide degree, this 240Z employs most of the allowed modifications. Fiberglass physique panels assist deliver the burden down to simply 2200 kilos, and that sum consists of about 180 kilos for the driving force. The inventory brakes are lengthy gone, changed by an entire Tilton and Wilwood setup that takes this Z from decades-old know-how to trendy race-bred stopping energy. Sadly, guidelines do restrict the rotor dimension.
The Tilton clutch is an on-off change, one which’s tied to a howling jewel of an inline six. The block pulls like a practice all the way in which to 8000 rpm, and it sounds merely stellar whereas doing so. Energy goes via a four-speed gearbox, however contemplating the broad rev vary, that’s greater than sufficient.
We discovered this Z-car to be somewhat twitchy below braking, but it surely wasn’t onerous to catch, and the Datsun powered out of corners with ease. We noticed a peak lateral drive of 1.19g in cornering on the sticky Goodyear slicks plus a high pace of 123.5 mph.
As you’d count on of a automotive on the sharp finish of nationwide competitors, this 240Z is wound pretty tight, although it has additionally demonstrated above-average reliability. “There’s quite a lot of 35-year-old elements nonetheless on the automotive—for instance, that stub axle that broke final weekend,” Greg explains. “It has a wider observe, 10 inches of contact patch, and the SCCA doesn’t give us a lot brake—the entrance rotor is smaller than inventory.”
Stage Three: 1971 Datsun 240Z IMSA GT Classic Racer
A observe toy of this caliber might solely have come from the storage of a few diehard Z-car fanatics like Man and Greg. “Man is all the time wanting round for a special undertaking,” Greg explains. “Jeff Winter, who runs Rallye/Sport out of Colorado, had it up on the market. It’s an early mannequin with out the lure doorways within the again—these are super-light.”
The automotive was in E Manufacturing trim when Greg and Man bought it, however the tub was so straight that they determined to take it classic racing, the place a automotive’s aesthetics might come into play. They spent a number of months buying elements for the engine bay. “We saved the goodies however took the canine ring gearbox out of it—that will have been enjoyable, however they are often fickle,” says Greg.
The construct turned an excuse to play outdoors the bounds of the SCCA guidelines they have been used to following. They punched out the engine to almost 2.8 liters, added a five-speed transmission, and reworked the suspension and driveline to get rid of recognized weak areas; for instance, Fashionable Motorsports stub axles substitute their subpar inventory counterparts.
Contained in the cockpit there’s gobs of room, though the sturdy cage requires a little bit of care to navigate when getting into or exiting. The automotive’s magnificence isn’t pores and skin deep, as the within of this Z has nothing to cover from a concours choose. The cage fabrication and paint are all top-notch.
Propelled by a remarkably lusty engine that boasts 278 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, this little Z is a beast on observe. It’s the form of automotive that requires two particular traits from a driver: a clean foot to maintain the again finish from stepping out, and robust nerves to simply accept the concept that full-throttle acceleration isn’t madness.
The engine is powerful, but it surely has additionally been constructed for reliability. Greg is hoping that after all the pieces is sorted, the rebuilds will come roughly as soon as each 10 years. There’s nonetheless work to be accomplished, nevertheless, as an oil stress subject saved the automotive from exploring its full potential on our check day.
Regardless of this subject, the Z managed to nook at 1.24g and crank out a high pace of 134.2 mph, besting the remainder by a cushty margin. With Greg behind the wheel at Targa Sixty Six, the gentleman drivers of full-tilt Can-Am vehicles and sports activities racing prototypes needed to keep watch over their mirrors for this crimson and white blur.
Just like the orange automotive, this Z options an aftermarket brake setup. Nonetheless, as an alternative of being hampered by smaller-than-stock entrance rotors, the automotive has huge binders on the most important discs that will match below its 15-inch wheels. Deceleration on the restrict was on par with the strongest race vehicles we’ve pushed.
Their intent is to run it in opposition to the Porsche 911s and six-cylinder 914s that at the moment dominate the classic racing enduros. They are saying that two or three enduros per yr is their plan. “Our purpose is to indicate these Porsche guys what a Z can do,” Greg admits. “There’s not likely that many quick classic Datsuns, however there was a time after they dominated all the pieces.”
Trending Merchandise
