1970 Datsun 240Z Replica Rally Car. (Image source: zcarblog.com)
Although not sure how far the new 2023 Nissan Z-Car
would last on the torturous Dakar…
Following the Formula 1 Drivers World
Championship being “done ‘n dusted,. which I “watched” live in it’s entirety. Finding
it fairly anti-climatic upon it being obvious that Lando Norris would prevail
as the F1 Drivers World Champion elect, Sigh…
As a calmness permeated over me, I decided to
“see” what Motor Trend TV was airing that afternoon? Who were running a
marathon block ‘O Custom Carolina, a Car show I’d never heard of before. Which
I have to say sounded a lot like Iron Resurection to Mwah…
The show was based around Tommy Pike customs, a
renown South Carolina automobile customization company, housed in a 30,000
square foot facility. With a total of 12 episodes being made for it’s lone 2023
season.
The episode that “Peaked” my Attenzione was the
building of a Safari tribute seventh generation Nissan Z-Car for the 2023 SEMA
show in Las Vegas.
Although in the typical reality TV genre, they
only had less than half the normal 9-12 months build time, i.e.; five months to
finish the transformation. Which I’d say wasn’t a true Rally Raid conversion.
I say this, since the engine seemed largely
untouched, with the exception of the addition of a new intercooler, heat
exchanger, air filter and some composite trim piece. Turning out to be a carbon
fibre engine cover. Along with a larger stainless steel exhaust system.
The main change was the addition of a two inch
lift kit, including custom “One-off” coil over “Dampers” built specifically by
Nissan. Along with a custom aluminum skid plate created to protect the vital
radiator, oil pan and other important motive parts of the car’s “snout”. Which
may also function as a new front bumper “Brush” guard.
The lift kit enabled smaller diameter 17-inch
wheel rims to sport “taller” off-road rubber. Necessitating new braking
components, i.e.; discs, rotors, etc.
The interior had a custom harness bar
installed, connecting four-point seat harnesses. Along with the requisite
rollbar.
The Recaro seats were perforated, a la the 1971
Datsun 240Z Rally Car Nissan was paying tribute to. Along with various old
school navigator stop watches/clocks/timing gear, navigator’s tray, etc.
As Tommy (Pike) at one point of the episode
flies to Atlanta, to check out noted Car Collector Randy Jaffe’s replica 1970
Datsun 240Z tribute Rally Car.
Being Blind, have I mentioned that lately
Y’all? Obviously I couldn’t see if the custom made tyre rack sat inside or
outside the rear hatch? Since they talked about having to modify it to fit. But
don’t know its location or how many spare tyres it carries?
Although later, I discerned that the original
1971 240Z Rally Car carried two spare tyres inside of the rear hatch, so
Arse-sumedly the Nissan Z-Car mimicked this…
Nissan
Safari Rally Z Tribute Car
Rotating spotlights were affixed to the top of
the new Z-Car’s “A” pillar, which I’m pretty sure is the pillar supporting the
font windshield. While further homage to the 240Z Rally car was paid with
several fog lights being mounted on the front hood. All the while with the
repeated mentioning of sending custom parts off for powder coating.
Whilst I’ve got zero clue what the graphics
package looked like? Other than supposedly sporting the No. 23, being in
reference to the new Nissan Z-Car’s debut, Righto?
As mentioned, this new Safari tribute Nissan
Z-Car was built to honour Nissan’s motor racing heritage, specifically it’s 19th
East Africa Safari Datsun 240Z winner. With Edgar Herrman and Navigator Hans
Schuller winning the grueling 3,800-plus miles event in 1971. Being Nissan’s
second, consecutive East Africa Rally win. With the three 240Z’s entered
finishing 1-2-7.
Having further learned that Herrman, who’s of
no known relation to Hans Herrman, had also won the 1970 East Africa Safari
Rally behind the wheel of a Datsun 1600SSS. Reportedly a modernized version of
the well known Datsun 510. Which John Morton drove those BRE Datsun 510’s
(Brock Racing Enterprises) to great success in the Trans Am 2.5-litre category.
Growing up, for years, and its probably still
here in a box somewhere? I had a large, glossy tri-fold paper catalog of Tamiya
plastic model kits. Which I totally recall having this very same 1971 Datsun
240Z on it’s front page, which I think was in large, 1:12 scale? Although back
then, I wasn’t interested in Rally Cars…
Yet I have to say that my favourite vintage
Rally Car is the Lancia Stratos, for which Yuhs guessed it! I’ve got a 1:18
Kyosho diecast sitting in a box here in Tomaso Manor. While I’m also partial to
the Ford Escort Rally Car…
Meanwhile, back on Halloween, 2023. Randy’s
(Jaffe) 1970 vintage 240Z Rally Car was on loan to Nissan and sitting
side-by-side with the new 2023 Nissan Z Safari tribute car. Which would have
been pretty Cool, DaddiO’ to see!
Randy Jaffe’s 1970 240Z Safari
Tribue Car
Naturally, all of this Rally talk made me
wonder about this year’s touted DAKAR, once again taking place in Saudi Arabia
between January 3-17. Meaning we’re on Stage-6 Me Thinks? Since Saturday’s
first stage was the Prologue, before the 13 race stages commenced in anger.
As reigning “Cars” winner El Matador’, aka Carlos Sain is defending His title now driving one of M-Sport’s Brawny Fort Raptor T1 PickemUp’ trucks. Although I’ve got zero clue how Carlos or any of the other competitors are doing…
