1972 Datsun 240z Rally Spec
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Guide Price: £23,000 - £28,000
Highlights
﹒Performance engine spec
﹒Solid, straight shell
﹒A very well maintained car
﹒Sold with a good selection of spares
The Background
Sales of the Datsun 240Z began in October 1969 and it was available in slightly different forms depending on the market. In Japan the car was designated the Datsun Fairlady Z and was fitted with a 2.0 litre SOHC L20A in-line six-cylinder engine which produced 130 bhp. There was also a performance model made, the Nissan Z432 (PS30), which was fitted with a DOHC 2.0 litre S20 engine and produced 160 bhp.
For the US market the car was called the Datsun 240Z and was made with a 2.4 litre SOHC L24 in-line six-cylinder engine and fitted with twin Hitachi SU style carburettors which produced 151 bhp. US market cars were fitted with a four-speed manual gearbox and a three-speed automatic transmission was later made available. For international markets such as Europe and Australia the 240Z was fitted with a 2.4 litre engine mated to a five-speed gearbox.
In the US alone the 240Z sold 45,000 cars in 1971, over 50,000 in 1972 and over 40,000 in 1973, making it a significant sales success.
The History
This particular 1972 Datsun 240Z started life in America, and in 2014 it was imported by the first UK owner. Sourcing the car from the States meant it was in excellent condition with no rot. The plan from the importer was to turn this classic Datsun into a rally car for his own use.
The car was stripped down, but sadly, as with a lot of projects, the cost to build your dream sometimes gets overlooked and in this case the importer decided it was out of his budget to successfully turn a road going 240Z into a competitive rally car.
The Datsun became available and was quickly snapped up by the current owner, who has a long history and passion for rallying. Once the seller had the car home the work could begin to transform the standard car into the car you see here now. The transformation took just a few months to get it into a fully fledged competitive rally car ready for action.
First on the list was to source parts and convert the car from left to right hand drive. It was then fitted with a full Safety Devices bolt-in roll cage. The car originally came off the production line in Blue Metallic, but the current owner opted for a full inside and out respray in red, with a Satin Black bonnet and decals similar to the classic safari spec 240Z.
The original 2.4 litre engine was swapped for a later homologated 2.8 litre which was rebuilt to produce an impressive 220 bhp. I am sure you'll agree, this is more than enough when you are going sideways through a forest! The car was originally built to run on gravel rally stages but the MSA stopped CAT 1 cars being able to run at the head of the field, but now the Datsun is no longer required as CAT 1, so can now take its place at the front. The current owner has had great fun with the car and competed in many HRCR events and impressively completed the notorious Wales GB Rally three times, the last one being in 2017.
Since the last event the car has had all of the mechanicals stripped and cleaned ready for it's next outing - who will be the lucky driver?!
The Paperwork
There is a full documented MSA Historic Rally Vehicle Identity book which has photos and the full specification of the car, engine, suspension, wheels, body, dimensions, weights, etc. You name it, it will be there. Also present is the MSA competition car logbook, other receipts and paperwork. The V5 Logbook is present, but the colour is still showing as Blue.
There is currently no MOT on the Datsun, this expired 11 October 2020.
The Interior
Keeping you safe is a full bolt-in Safety Devices roll cage. Slide into the Atech Racing bucket seats which are in good condition with no rips or tears and strap yourself in with the Sabelt harnesses. The switch panel in the centre of the dashboard controls the spotlights, fuel pumps, oil pressure, battery cut off etc. The owner did mention that the fuel gauge does not work and also the speedometer - you would only scare yourself if you could see the speed if you were flying through a stage. The gear knob and steering wheel have some signs of wear and like a lot of cars of this age the dashboard has a few cracks along the top but is still fully functional.
The co-driver has an aluminium footrest to brace him/herself against. Located behind the passenger seat is a mounted fire extinguisher and sitting behind the driver's seat is the Odyssey dry cell battery.
Twin spare wheels are mounted behind the front seats and to keep you moving is a large 80 litre aluminium fuel cell which is connected to the standard filler on the offside quarter. Mounted to the left of the fuel cell is the jack.
Please note: The Seats and harnesses are now out of date for competition use. The fire extinguisher would need to be recharged and checked.
The Exterior
As mentioned previously the car has been resprayed inside and out from the original Blue Metallic to Red with a Satin Black bonnet. This was in 2014 with odd bits painted again in recent years.
There are no signs of visible rust or rot on the underside of the car and it's very clean around all the wishbones and rear differential. The panels are straight and in line, although the nearside mirror is missing. There are some small knocks and chips around the car as you would expect from any rally car that has been driven competitively.
The four Hella spotlights on the front all have covers, but the nearside spotlight glass is broken, as is the offside indicator lens.
The Minilite wheels are in excellent condition, 6J x 15, fitted with Pirelli tyres. Hiding behind the front Minilite wheels are some 270mm vented discs and 4 pot brake callipers. The rear brakes have been upgraded from drum brakes to disc, all this is coupled up to a dual pedal box with a hydraulic handbrake.
The Mechanics
Fitted in the car is a 2.8 straight-six homologated engine which has had some extensive work carried out to it.
A high lift camshaft has been fitted, with a full work cylinder head. This has given a power output of approximately 220 bhp. With all this power you need to keep things cool, and this is done by a safari aluminium radiator with twin electric fans mounted.
Making sure there is enough fuel when needed are twin fuel pumps which supply the triple Weber 40 DCOE carburetors. Allowing all these gases to escape is a full competition manifold and exhaust, and the floor pan has been modified for clearance of the exhaust.
Mounted to the engine is a five-speed close ratio gearbox coupled to a Subaru limited slip diff with competition drive shafts and CV joints. The diff is mounted in a Safari rear diff cage for protection.
Helping the Datsun keep on track and soak up whatever terrain it’s running on is full Bilstein adjustable suspension.
The Appeal
For anyone that's looking to buy a well sorted, historic rally car, this won't disappoint. It wouldn't take a great deal to get this back ready for competition use, or maybe you fancy a rally car for road use.
One thing is for sure this classic car is not something you see up for grabs every day. As soon as you hear it start you can't help but feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as the 2.8 straight-six fires into life, giving plenty of pops and bangs through the competition exhaust.
Included in the sale of the car comes 8 x wheels, a gearbox, radiator plus many other parts.
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Vehicle specification
- Year 1972
- Make Datsun
- Model 240z Rally Spec
- Colour Red
- Odometer 14,300 Miles
- Engine size 2753
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Location Wales
- Country United Kingdom
27
bids
- pa•••• £28,000 01/12/20
- De•••• £27,750 01/12/20
- pa•••• £27,500 01/12/20
- De•••• £27,250 01/12/20
- pa•••• £27,000 01/12/20
- De•••• £26,750 01/12/20
- pa•••• £26,500 01/12/20
- De•••• £26,250 01/12/20
- pa•••• £26,000 01/12/20
- De•••• £25,750 01/12/20
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