Other Datsuns – Page 3 – the DAILY DATSUN

September 10, 2013

240z on BAT

Yesterday morning greeted us with a smile: there was a 240z on Bring-a-trailer!

This silver 240z is currently for sale in VA, and a shining example of a modernized 240z. Just check out the pics on the original post from VADriven. This Datsun 240z is super clean clean clean, and neatly done (check the underside pic and the near perfect gap lines). It’s got the usual goodies: 5-speed, fender mirrors, strut tower bar, new bushings and BRE styled front air dam; plus some additional stuff that you don’t see everyday (carbon fiber tail light bezel / wing, tons of new gauges, and push button start). You can certainly get a LOT of ideas when scoping out other’s visions of their rides.

Daily-Datsun-VADriven-240z-3

Still available for sale @ $14,000.

Source: Bring-a-trailer, VADriven

August 18, 2013

Interesting Part: Turbo Tom

I’m on my morning Datsun CL search routine. and come across something very interesting: a Turbo Tom.

The Turbo Tom was an aftermarket turbo setup in the 70’s for the early Datsun L-series engines (think, a turbo before the 280zx). It was developed by SCCA racer Tom Wyatt III, which in his own right has a pretty inspiring Datsun racing story of his own. Supposedly as he raced his turbo’d L20b Datsun 510, they had to continue to move Wyatt up in class. He was blowing doors off each class all the way up to the Corvette and Cobras.. the big boys. And even then, he beat Porsches and Cobras by seconds*.

From what i gathered, the Turbo Tom was a BYOT (bring your own turbo) setup, coming with intake and exhaust manifolds, and featured a mount for a sweet 4 bbl carb.

240Z car straight 6 with a Turbo Tom

Like any other aftermarket product, it’s subject to nay-sayers and the Turbo Tom is certainly no exception (one forum member harked it should stay dead). But also with pieces this interesting, there are those who create builds specifically around this turbo setup (zcar.com forum). Personally, I like the setup – it’s unique, it’ll no doubt give that L-series some more get-up-n-go, and it’ll be sure to generate talk with who ever sees it.

Worth $700? eeehhh sounds like a stretch, but I suppose for the right enthusiast, it’ll be turbo-riffic.

Original posting: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/4006283760.html

*DatsunHistory.com, http://www.datsunhistory.com/Racehistory1.html

August 16, 2013

Datsun – still in the media…

Datsun is still among us – sometime you just have to look hard enough..

Maybe it’s parked under a tree, or the blur that just caught the corner of your eye… or maybe in the recent Car & Driver (Sept 2013)!

In a new Juke Nismo ad (Thrill-seekers, seek no more), there it is: an S30 Datsun Z!

Look closely as this isn’t your normal Z – yep, it’s the East African Safari #11 Rally car! This car was the first Z to win an International Victory in a Pro Rally*. A Z in a rally race?.. in that terrain? haha the drive would be a hoot! :]

July 25, 2013July 21, 2013

Zpotted: Historic plated red 510 @ downtown

Heading toward downtown, and a red blur allowed me to catch up with him.

It was a red Datsun 510 with Bluebird plates, roll cage, white side markers and rolling on Rota RBs – all bowed up with a CA Historic plate. The friendly guy mentioned a SF ride with details on the Ratsun Forum. I should really get on there and do a ride one of these days…

July 15, 2013July 16, 2013

Datsun’s back!

Since the last news splash about Nissan re-launching the Datsun brand, myself and many others have been on close watch, anticipating it’s return – and it looks like that day has come! After 30+ years, Nissan brings back the Datsun brand to the emerging markets of India, Indonesia and Russia with the Datsun Go.

The Datsun Go is a 5-seat hatchback aimed at first-time car buyers, looking to post for sale next year for about $6730 USD (400,000 Rupees). With a price tag like that, even in these markets, one can get into a Go and.. go (ahem). It’s certainly without a doubt that Nissan hopes to bring back the Datsun name with similar success it saw nearly 50 years ago when introduced to the US market.

datsunGo_1

The side view shows design cues of the Nissan Leaf…

datsunGo_2

datsunGo_interior

Will we ever see Datsun back in the states? In the short term, probably not. Remember, Nissan’s original purpose for Datsun in the US market nearly 50 years ago was to get into the US market – test the waters so to speak. Of course Datsun became an instant success, and by the early 80’s, they change Datsun back over to the Nissan name. And as they say, the rest is history.

However, imagine Nissan make a strategy like Toyota… If Datsun where to be imaged as the young, starter vehicle for the young generation – it’d fall square in competition with Toyota’s Scion brand (and that took off well with both young and aged demographics). A strong argument can easily be made for a US re-launch as those familiar with the Datsun name are now grown up and have teenage kids who are ready to drive. As for price overlap concerns, the now mid-class Nissan shouldn’t have to worry as Toyota has already proven that cars like the Corolla and Yaris can sell well alongside Scion’s xD and iQ. Actually, the passenger car price overlap between Toyota and Scion is over 50% ($14k-$30k, $16k-$25k respectively).

If I had my way, Datsun re-entrance into the world market is just a stepping stone of things to come. As Nissan secures Datsun’s foot hold in the world, they’ll have time to re-position Nissan / Infiniti, introduce it to the European / Chinese markets, and eventually bring back Datsun into the states. Come on Nissan, let’s make it happen.

Read more on Datsun’s return and the Datsun Go at Datsun.com

May 25, 2013

Stopped on San Tomas…

Yep, I got stopped on San Tomas… by an enthusiastic guy rolling in his silver Izuzu Trooper. He was yelling out something, but my window was up – blast manual windows. After getting it open at a stop light, we had a side to side car chat about Z’s. He remarked what a great 280z car I had and that he’s the owner of a ’71 240 Z for which he’s done all the drive train work on. Cheers to another Z kept on the streets, and out of the scrapper! :]

May 18, 2013

The Datsun Z…used as a kit car

Say what? There’s a Datsun Z kit car?! Well, not exactly, it’s more like there have been many Datsun Z’s used as the basis for building another car…

First thing that comes to mind: who in the world would do such a thing?! I mean the S30 Datsun Z body is incredibly beautiful and has a timeless design and aesthetic with plenty of critcal press to back it up. Ok ok, so what if “beauty” is truly in the eye of it’s beholder… and abominations like a S13 Nissan Silvia rock-crawler wasn’t to be called…an abomination? (actually..that particular one is kinda neat…)

Case in question: A Datsun Z turned Ferrari 250 GTO.

I guess there have been a number of these conversions, and like all project cars are in varying degrees of completion and success. This particular Datsun Z / Ferrari replica conversion comes from Craigslist. At first I thought it was a Ferrari post with “Datsun” in it’s laundry list of keywords, but what gave it away at first glance?

The triple gauge humps on the dash. Ah ha! it’s a Z.

Hmm is it worth it? Should people do these types of things to already beautiful cars? I suppose in the end, the build is still in the eye of the builder. And though it’s too bad another Z gets taken off the road, I suppose what remains is a driver’s happiness. But in reality, you know how these project cars go… it’ll probably never get on the road and get re-posted on CL 3-5 years later, unfinished.

May 2, 2013April 30, 2013

Zpotted: Red 1600, summer is here

Yes, summer is here because all the tops are down.

My cousin, Mike, zpotted a Datsun 1600 enjoying the sun in SF.

April 30, 2013

Zpotted: Skinny Puppy 510

Rolling around Office Depot to do a return, and a gunmetal gray 1969 Datsun 510 pulls up just as I do the same!

A nice fellow (didn’t get his name) just recently got his 510 back from having work done by Troy Ermish (very popular 510 mechanic in Tracy, CA). I guess the work took several years to complete (ugh)! “Skinny Puppy” (as noted by the sole sticker on the rear windshield) sported lowered suspension, blacked out bumpers, rear bubble flares, and circular rear side markers. And if it’s from Troy, it probably has his 2.5″ exhaust down pipe. Well, here it is.

Daily-Datsun-Zpotted-510-SkinnyPuppy (7)

April 20, 2013April 21, 2013

Motor Trend: 370z vs 240z

Yesterday morning rolls around – i get a email from my Dad :]
Motor Trend’s show, Downshift, pits an enthusiast’s engine swapped 240z against the crowd sourced Nissan 370z. The 370z has every sweet piece of technology possible at the pinnacle of automotive technology. The 240z has typical upgrades, Watanabe wheels, no-power steering…oh, and a RB26DETT engine.

Let the fun begin!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VRnBKfPOvw