Friday 20th August 2010

Datsun'ice Racing Car Mate - Wot'll She Do?

Hillclimbers show appeal of 'grassroots' motorsport at Wilton House

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It wasn't all glitz and glamour at the Wilton House Supercar day, and we loved the more gritty approach to having fun with motors demonstrated by the local Hillclimbers from Gurston Down.

One car in particular caught our attention (maybe because we have its Nissan 370Z 'spiritual successor' on the PH fleet), namely a former works rally Datsun 240Z now campaigned on the hills by PHer Ben240Z.

The car has had a colourful history and undergone various rebuilds, including a spell as a circuit racer with a turbo conversion by Janspeed when those ever-so-cool box wheel arch extensions were fitted.

The car even ran a Rover V8 at one point before Ben decided to return to its roots and the car now features a 3.1 litre Datsun six with triple Webers prepped by Pride Engines in Hartlebury.

According to Ben's official stats it makes a relatively modest 260bhp, but thanks to200lb ft of torque, a close-ratio box and a weight (sans driver) of 900kgs it will sprint to 60mph in 4.3secs and do the standing quarter mile in 12.7secs.

The car's been class champion at Gurston Down Hillclimb in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009, battling with Over 2.0 Litre Marque Sportscars like Porsche 911s, E-Types, Scimitars, TVRs and MGs, but Ben tells us he is considering different engine options as the power race escalates and he wants 400bhp to play with!

Equally interesting from a different perspective was the JAP motorcycle engine-powered 'Creamer' special, which also competes on the hills at Gurston and elsewhere.

We understand it was built and campaigned by the owner of a Jaguar dealership in London in the 1950s and is very well known on the hillclimb circuit, but others more educated in the arcane world of 'classic motorsport' can doubtless tell us more. We just enjoyed looking at it on the day!

[domV8]

"Datsun 5 TVR 0"

Sounds like there's a story there...!

[Scott330ci]

Worst Pun Ever

[Chris-R]

Scott330ci said:

Worst Pun Ever

Shirley not...

[TVRWannabee]

I don't think it has been said a lot but the standard of stands at Wilton House was pretty good - this was probably the most interesting - and I look forward to more at next year's event.

[Russ_T]

If you want to see more Zeds come check out www.zclub.net

[Mini1275]

Russ_T said:

If you want to see more Zeds come check out www.zclub.net

Holy lurking Batman !!

[Aleebee]

Mini1275 said:

Russ_T said:

If you want to see more Zeds come check out www.zclub.net

Holy lurking Batman !!

Eek, I feel out-lurked!

[carl0s]

Mini1275 said:

Russ_T said:

If you want to see more Zeds come check out www.zclub.net

Holy lurking Batman !!

LOL

[twobanks]

Lovely old thing. Looks like injection to me, though. (The Z)

Edited by twobanks on Saturday 21st August 22:22

[thunderbelmont]

Mmmmm 240Z. A proper one (Called a Fairlady Z in Japan) as a 2.0L straight six on sidedraught Nikki's (DCOE copies)

Same engine as used in the Skyline GT/R at the time if I recall.



Yummy.

Sadly they never sold them over here with that - only the single cam non-crossflow straight 6 with twin SU copies.

[ben240z]

domV8 said:

"Datsun 5 TVR 0"

Sounds like there's a story there...!

most definately is a story but I am sure that stevev8s will take that up.

Thanks for the comments though.

One minor point is that it is not running triple webers but a slide throttle assembly with injection.

Ben

[PZR]

thunderbelmont said:

Mmmmm 240Z. A proper one (Called a Fairlady Z in Japan) as a 2.0L straight six on sidedraught Nikki's (DCOE copies)

The model you are thinking of was the Fairlady Z 432 ( and Fairlady Z 432R ), and the engine was the S20, which had previously been fitted to the PGC10 Skyline GT-R in early 1969, and subsequently the KPGC10 Skyline GT-R in late 1970 ( and finally the KPGC110 Skyline GT-R in 1973 ). Nissan marketed the 432 and 432R in Japan as a "Fairlady Z with a GT-R engine". Less than 450 were made.

The carburettors were three N40PHH Mikuni sidedraughts, which were a basic design that Mikuni licensed from Solex, but with their own improvements.

The beautiful 432 in your picture belongs to a friend of mine. He's a pilot with ANA.

[peter pan]

Slightly off topic, but there were photos of it at the top, It would seem you have to be pretty brave to punt the creamer single seater at speed where there are hard things to hit, doesnt seem like there is much `structure' in front of the driving seat!?

[franv8]

Both beautiful cars - but particularly a fan of the 240Z!

[ben240z]

sorry to say that the front of the Z is slightly modified following an enthusiastic approach to karousel at the weekend. Another winter project