Today’s post concerns another meaningful 280zx restoration that we are undertaking right now.  This car started it’s life as a normal ZX but was put under the knife to receive extensive modifications almost immediately.  It is now a collector’s item and a truly special car to the Z faithful.

This car runs a vintage “blow through” turbocharged and intercooled 3.1L engine that breathes through Mikuni 44mm carburetors.  It is truly a unique setup that allowed Jim Cook to make great power even with the limited technology available at the time.

This car is soon to be under attack from the ZCG assembly crew as we have just received a slew of parts from our powder and ceramic facilities.  Expect to see some posts on this project in the next few weeks as things come together.

There are more pictures and more background info on the 280zx Turbo after the “read more.”  The owner was also gracious enough to gather some information on the car and Jim Cook himself and send it in to us here at zcarblog.com

The following excerpt was forwarded to me from the current owner and great friend of Z Car Garage:

The Jim Cook Racing Custom 280ZX Turbo [is] a dream car for the true driving enthusiast.  Leaving rubber behind it, this is a 12 second performer at the turn of a key.  This Z was hand built to make a statement and to showcase Jim Cook’s racing engineering and aftermarket parts business.  This car was a rolling prototype platform for Jim Cook and his design partner CarTech.  With its list of features you can certainly see what has been the platform that has made Jim Cook Racing so successful.  The car was ultimately used in numerous ad campaigns as well as making it’s way around the Southern California show car circuit long before imports were considered a “serious” category.

Jim Cook, like all true enthusiasts, spent as much time developing parts for his race cars as he did driving them. It was obvious early on in his career that the performance he needed wasn’t going to be found on the shelf of the local speed shops. With the development of a winning track record it was natural that other enthusiasts were going to want whatever it was that was dominating event after event. Jim Cook Racing dominated road racing for 23 seasons with an astonishing 24 hour endurance record of 7 wins in 14 starts, 3 wins in the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 IMSA lap records, 5 United States Endurance Cup Championships. The Jim Cook banner has flown over 35 different types of cars on almost every circuit in the United States, plus races in Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan. The story hasn’t ended, after 35 years, we still supply leading teams, manufacturers and distributors in all forms of racing and street performance with the components they need to be at the front of the grid. Knowing that Jim Cook Racing stands behind every product that it sells, you can be sure we will help you select not only the finest components that you want, but more importantly the ones that you need.

Our plans for this restoration are to make it a tribute to Jim Cook and his and keep as much of the car as possible true to Jim’s original design as a period “resto-mod”. Some updates will be made to improve safety, handling and stopping power in addition to pushing the power to “modern” design limits. Turbocharging technology has improved dramatically in the intervening 20 years since Jim originally designed this car with his partner CarTech. The addition of a roll-bar, 4-point harnesses and modern Corbeau seats will improve the safety of the car without ruining the “nostalgic” feel of the 80’s.

Here are a few specifications of the car from the Jim Cook Racing website.

Body:

* Pearl white
* JCR aero kit featuring our Cal zx wing
* Lightened doors aluminum skins (20 lbs less than stock)
* Tinted head light covers
* Tinted windows (limo black) except windshield

Interior:

* Procar seats
* Air conditioning
* Momo steering wheel
* Very clean

Suspension:

* JCR lowering springs
* Tokico Illumina 5 way shock
* Modified rear arms for anti-squat
* Power steering
* Centerline wheels
* Riken Tires

Engine:

* 3.1 liter
* Forged Venolia pistons
* Cartech turbo kit with boost 22 lbs
* Stainless steel valves
* Titanium retainers
* Scat billet crank
* MSD 6A with boost retard