Your Dream Z

Rob Gaskin

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Richiep's comment yesterday about Albrecht's replica 432 got me thinking:

'That is a car I would love to have a look at, finished or otherwise'.

I think the Z car I would love to own is Kevin Bristow's ex-works '71 RAC Rally 240Z. A fantastic restoration of an iconic car in it's day. These were obviously special cars but even so they were far more related to the car they were based on than the modern WRC cars. I have followed motorsport for at least 50 years and have seen some marvellous cars in action over that period.

Back in '71 I had just started rallying (a Hillman Imp) and had been 'into' rallying for a while because of family connections. My cousins and I set off on our annual pilgrimage to follow the RAC Rally - like so many other enthusiasts in those days. This particular RAC turned out to be very memorable mainly because of the horrendous snow - you must see the DVD 'From Harrogate it Started'. The winner 'Stig' is still rallying today and his son a top F3 driver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUnHsafuHJQ

Kevin's car was driven by Edgar Herrman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Herrmann a great Datsun driver especially on the Safari ('70 and '71 winner). Anyway I saw 'Kevin's' car in action on that memorable rally and it was marvellous. My cousin took some pictures and I was able to give those to Kevin when I found out he had the car. He kindly invited me to see it and sit in the very seat Edgar sat in and hold the steering wheel Edgar held. That's what makes this car so fantastic - it is the actual car that has been restored so carefully and sympathetically to keep it as original as possible. These days the seat and steering wheel would be Sparco or Momo etc not Datsun made!

That car feels so special to me because I'd seen it and that surprised Kevin because I don't think he was born then!

Have a look and see what I mean: http://www.classicandperformancecar...241171/datsun_240z_rally_car_restoration.html

There are lots of other cars I have great memories of but this is my favourite Z. Big Sam - yes another great car but not as original as Kevin's car.
 
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richiep

richiep

Club Member
That is a fantastic car and story to go with it.

My dream Z? Well, a genuine 432 would be my first post-lottery win purchase (although it would probably tie with a KPGC10 GTR in that scenario!). A genuine HS30H 240ZG would be lovely too (my JDM bias coming to the fore here!).

Albrecht - if I ask really, really nicely, can I buy that white one off you that you have ferreted away? That should keep me busy for a few years in resto-land. :D

TBH, in some ways I have my dream Z though. It's not perfect, but it's a Fairlady Z-L (JDM fetish ticked), and it's evolved in the resto-mod style that I prefer. More evolution will take place over the next year or two and it'll be exactly where I want it to be.

Of course, as you know Rob, my thoughts and actions are already focussing on the next project too. If I do a Z, I have a pretty good vision in mind for it.
 
Lexx

Lexx

Well-Known Forum User
I'll have a lhd with LS3 and T56....
Mostly as I know resto mods **** off purists and I like to do my own thing.
 
Albrecht

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
Rob Gaskin said:
Richiep's comment yesterday about Albrecht's replica 432 got me thinking:
Click to expand...

What I'm building is actually a replica of a 432-R, which is another thing entirely. Hundreds of differences between a genuine 432 and a genuine 432-R, and essentially it's an impossible task to build a 100% accurate facsimile of one. So I was kind of on a hiding to nothing before I even started.....


Rob Gaskin said:
I think the Z car I would love to own is Kevin Bristow's ex-works '71 RAC Rally 240Z. A fantastic restoration of an iconic car in it's day. These were obviously special cars but even so they were far more related to the car they were based on than the modern WRC cars.

He kindly invited me to see it and sit in the very seat Edgar sat in and hold the steering wheel Edgar held. That's what makes this car so fantastic - it is the actual car that has been restored so carefully and sympathetically to keep it as original as possible.
Click to expand...

As has been said before, Kevin pulled off an amazing feat with his restoration of the car. Lightning in a bottle. Most others would have sourced a donor (replacement) bodyshell for the car, and probably would not even have realised just how special those pre-1972 build Works rally cars were.

And that's one of the key points; Few realise that the Works 240Zs - and especially those 1970 and 1971 build super lightweight cars - were quite fundamentally different than the road cars. Those early Works cars were essentially 432-R bodyshells with L-gata engines. Anybody else would have probably thrown the baby out with the bath water, but Kevin took the time (years...) and the effort (years...) to understand what it was he was dealing with. Not easy when there's so little in the way of hard data available.

That car is an incredibly important survivor. I share your enthusiasm for it, but I think it's out of our league...!
 
STEVE BURNS

STEVE BURNS

Club Member
Albrecht said:
As has been said before, Kevin pulled off an amazing feat with his restoration of the car. Lightning in a bottle. Most others would have sourced a donor (replacement) bodyshell for the car, and probably would not even have realised just how special those pre-1972 build Works rally cars were.

And that's one of the key points; Few realise that the Works 240Zs - and especially those 1970 and 1971 build super lightweight cars - were quite fundamentally different than the road cars. Those early Works cars were essentially 432-R bodyshells with L-gata engines. Anybody else would have probably thrown the baby out with the bath water, but Kevin took the time (years...) and the effort (years...) to understand what it was he was dealing with. Not easy when there's so little in the way of hard data available.

That car is an incredibly important survivor. I share your enthusiasm for it, but I think it's out of our league...!
Click to expand...

This is what it looked like prior to Kevin getting his hands on it in 1995 approx
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Lexx

Lexx

Well-Known Forum User
Albrecht said:
Here's a news flash for you. The "Purists" don't give a **** what you do to your car.
Click to expand...

:lol: The irony in that reply is just too much.


In all seriousness though. I'd like a 71 retored as close to OEM spec as possible. Simply as an investment for the future.

But, as I said, I'd love to resto-mod a S30. LS3 with a T56 to go alongside the OEM car.
That's the car I would use more as an everyday type vehicle that I wouldn't care about putting thousands of miles on a year.
Where as if I owned a fully restored OEM car, I'd be scared to put miles on it and it'd no doubt be a garage and show queen.
 
Alphabettispaghetti

Alphabettispaghetti

Club Member
I think for myself I'd going waving a few hundred K at Alan T. His collection covers everything for myself, not only that it'd feel like I was custodian of something special. To be used but loved.


Of course he'd turn me down till I'd sweeten the deal with free a Pizza for life card :)
 
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Alphabettispaghetti

Alphabettispaghetti

Club Member
Lexx said:
:lol: The irony in that reply is just too much.


In all seriousness though. I'd like a 71 retored as close to OEM spec as possible. Simply as an investment for the future.

But, as I said, I'd love to resto-mod a S30. LS3 with a T56 to go alongside the OEM car.
That's the car I would use more as an everyday type vehicle that I wouldn't care about putting thousands of miles on a year.
Where as if I owned a fully restored OEM car, I'd be scared to put miles on it and it'd no doubt be a garage and show queen.
Click to expand...


Why a 71 car?
 
Albrecht

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
Lexx said:
:lol: The irony in that reply is just too much.
Click to expand...

Why? Do you honestly think I'm one of these "Purists" you're talking about?

If there's any irony here it's probably hovering around pretty close to your "I like to do my own thing" comment. As if you're any different to anyone else.
 
martinmac

martinmac

Inactive
Lexx said:
Stupid really. I have a poster that belonged to my dad and it's of a '71 car.
He passed away when I was only 9, and it's something about honouring his memory
Click to expand...

Dont worry young ninja, keep watching what I do and you have my job soon, then you can get one. :)
 
zNathan

zNathan

Well-Known Forum User
Would love to own 'Toshi's' Mid Night Club 280ZX although I would have to relocate to Tokyo to really get the experience..
 
M

madda

Well-Known Forum User
No **** licking here, I genuinely am waiting for Johnymd to sell his, but would be really interested in Wyns and Tels too, but I guess I'll be waiting a while............ It ticks all the boxes I wanted to tick when looking for my 240z and I have ended up with one I can't mod so I guess I'll have to buy another.

The thing is, I'm fully aware that bolting the engine in is the easy part, it's the journey that follows which matters and I can see all these guys cars are a long way long the road to being complete packages.
 
T

TomZupra

Well-Known Forum User
I hope you didn't think I was **** licking, I practically built Tels car myself :D . . . .ok maybe just the battery brace
 
moggy240

moggy240

Insurance Valuations Officer
Staff member
Club Member
I would be quite happy with something that I am able to drive
 
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