To celebrate their 100,000 listing, Bring a Trailer is auctioning their 1973 Datsun 240Z, prepared by Z Car Garage. Finished in Lime Yellow (#112) paint over black vinyl upholstery, it is powered by a numbers-matching Rebello Racing-built 2.7-liter straight-six with triple Weber 40 DCOE carbs. Additional modifications include a 280ZX five-speed manual transmission, an R200 limited-slip differential, ZCG Big-Brakes, ZCG exhaust system and 16″ Panasport wheels with new Michelin tires. The total sale amount for the auction will be donated to the Piston Foundation, a nonprofit that will use 100% of the funds to help young technicians build rewarding careers in the collector car industry by funding programs in the skilled trades. View the auction HERE.
Z Car Garage built and maintained this Z for the previous owner since 2009 and updated it to BaT-preferred spec in 2018. It has since been used as an event car by BaT staff, with whom it has participated in many rallies, cross-country road trips, displays, and other events in the ensuing five years. Enjoy this video showing the Z in action and see below for more details:
The straight-six was bored and stroked from 2.4 to 2.7 liters by Rebello Racing and was installed at ZCG in 2011. Triple Weber 40 DCOE side-draft carburetors with K&N filters are mounted to its E88 cylinder head. Additional engine bay modifications include a polished valve cover, an MSD ignition system, and an inline fuel pressure gauge. Engine number L24-131094 is stamped on the block and matches the chassis plate. Rob dyno tuned the Z, making 203 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels:
A replacement 280ZX five-speed manual transmission was also installed by ZCG in preparation for the sale. An aluminum flywheel and a heavy-duty clutch were fitted in 2011, while both clutch hydraulic cylinders were changed in 2018. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a custom-built driveshaft and an R200 limited-slip differential with a finned rear cover.
Factory black vinyl bucket seats were reinstalled, as was a stock steering wheel. The air conditioning system was converted to use R134a refrigerant in 2009, and was recharged as part of the February 2023 service at ZCG.An Alpine CD/MP3 player feeds aftermarket three-way 6×9 speakers mounted in a ported box in the rear of the trunk. Diamond-patterned vinyl trim is retained on the center tunnel and in the cargo area, while embroidered mats protect the carpets on the floors.
The Z has been stored indoors at BaT Headquarters in San Francisco when not in use. Details concerning the initial purchase and an ensuing cross-country drive from the Bay Area to Road Atlanta are chronicled in this seven-part feature from early 2018. The car has also been used in events such as:
2018 Copperstate Rally (as a photo and chase car, part of the cross-country trip described above)
2018 Tour to the Mitty (part of the cross-country trip described above)
2018 Faultline 500 in Central California
2018 BaT Alumni BBQ at Monterey Car Week
2018 Targa Baja California (from Palm Springs to mountainous central Baja and back)
2019 BaT Alumni Gathering at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway
2021 Faultline 500 in Central California
2021 Drive Toward a Cure
2021 Golden Week Kyusha Festival in Northern California
2021 BaT Alumni Gathering at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway
2022 BaT Alumni Gathering at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway
2022 Overcrest Rally (nearly 1,800 miles in eastern Washington and central Idaho over three days)
2022 Breakfast Club Rally: Tokyo Calling
Additional details can be seen in our blog reports from April 2018,December 2018, and February 2023. Congrats Bring a Trailer on your 100,000 auction. We are really happy to be a part of the journey and Long Live The Z!
At Z Car Garage we love keeping Z’s on the road. From concours-level restorations to light refurbishments, helping a client realize their vision is our passion. CJ shipped his 1971 Datsun 240Z from Durango, Colorado for final mechanical sorting, ZCG-style. Our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles and Z Car Garage Heat Shield along with a new drivetrain make this the Z of CJ’s dreams.
CJ’s Z Story
Before we dive in to the project let’s hear how CJ got his Z car…
CJ: “When I was in my teens I was a huge WRC fan, and rally led to my passion for Japanese cars. Video games like Sega GT and Gran Turismo also helped. I think my first exposure to classic Z cars was when I was about 17 and it was probably in a bootleg Wangan Midnight VHS that my buddies and I found at a Japanese video rental place. I’ve loved the aesthetic of the S30 since that time. It’s not an exaggeration to say I’ve dreamed of an S30 with factory fender flares, an air dam, and a 432 style wing for over half my life, but I never had an opportunity to own one.”
In 2017 CJ acquired his best friend Travis’ 1971 project car that hadn’t run since the 1990s. Over the next four years, and with significant help from his wife, the duo restored or refurbished just about every part of the car.
CJ: “We fully refurbished the dash, redid the entire interior, and mechanically refreshed the brakes and drivetrain. The exterior received new factory matching paint, new gaskets, tail lights and corner lights I refurbished, RS Watanabe wheels, and flares from Marugen Shoukai. The car also got BC coilovers, Techno Toy Tuning arms and subframe components. The L24 was replaced with an L28 and triple Mikunis, assembled in my garage. There are so many good memories wrapped up in the restoration of this car and it was a blast to learn new skills throughout the process.”
In October 2020, with the engine he built with his Dad the car drove under its own power. CJ was proud, and the moment was satisfying and exhilarating, right up until it wasn’t. He had been building drift cars since the early 2000s but the first drive of this car made it clear that if he wanted a car that was sturdy, reliable, and confident to take on road trips, he’d need to get some help from a specialist…
CJ: “And that’s where Z Car Garage came in. I’d been an avid reader of the Z Car Blog throughout the restoration and had even spoken to Rob occasionally about various issues. There was never any question as to where I wanted to send the car for finishing school. So in Spring of 2021 I shipped the car from my small Colorado mountain town to San Jose. The initial plan was to have Rob and the crew bring it that extra 10% to completion. Thankfully Rob understood my vision and suggested additional work to ensure I actually wound up with the car I’d been dreaming of for so long.”
After sorting the engine and installing brakes/suspension we were stoked to get CJ’s car running. Before hitting the dyno we always do a test drive on the street and we noticed low oil pressure on the dash gauge, despite lack of obvious noises or behavior. Low oil pressure unfortunately was confirmed with our own gauge, and so we were at a crossroads with this 2.8 engine that CJ assembled together with his Dad. A decision was made to send it to Rebello Racing for a 3.0L build and it really came alive. CJ already provided the ph44 Mikuni carbs and we installed what every triple-carbed L-series needs: a ZCG Heat Shield!
A Moroso competition baffled oil pan prevents oil starvation with high cornering loads:
Cj was having header fitment issues. We ensured clearance was no longer an issue with a Fujitsubo exhaust system from manifold to muffler. These newer units have better fitment, but every car is different. More photos of the exhaust system in the gallery below:
The engine bay turned out great with general clean-up and sorting:
Driveline Upgrades
With the 3L engine in we focused on the transmission and rear axle. To handle the power from the 3L engine we replaced the stock 4-speed with a Nissan KA24 (FS5W71C) transmission. This was a common swap (before the CD009a came to market) performed by modifying a 280Z L-series bell housing. When we upgraded the transmission we also installed a JWT HD clutch with aluminum flywheel:
Helping put the power down efficiently is an OS Giken LSD. The R180 houses a 4.11 R&P and the assembly is setup in-house (by Joshua Corwin):
As CJ mentioned, he is avid reader of our zcarblog and no stranger to the “Butters” phenomenon: clients desire a similar setup for their own S30s. Our 1971 shop demo Z Mrs. Butters proudly features our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles, ZCG Heat Shield, 6-speed transmission, full KW suspension (releasing soon) and 3.2L engine with triple-Mikuni induction. Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 200 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
We replaced the existing CV Axles (left) with ZCG units (Right). CJ received set #00395. Also visible are the T3 control arms:
Dyno Tuning
Rob dyno tuned the Rebello 3L engine with jetting, A/F and performance in mind as CJ would be driving this Z at 6,500ft above elevation. It put down a stout 261hp/220tq to the wheels:
Enjoy the L-series music in this extended video of CJ’s Z including dyno runs, test drive with Rob and engine/exhaust sounds…volume up!
ZCG Big-Brakes
We are proud to have several of our ZCG products on CJ’s 240z. We installed our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels) which have the been standard on numerous ZCG builds. As fellow S30 owner/racer Glenn C mentioned in his review, on top of braking performance, pedal feel is extremely important and our Big-Brakes deliver. This is a direct result of working with engineers at Stoptech to create a totally bolt-in solution requiring no M/C change or additional proportioning valve/adjustments. All fitting behind a 15″ Watanabe or Panasport wheel (and some 14″ wheels) and retaining factory emergency brake lever.
We removed the stock brakes and installed our ZCG Big-Brake kit. Not only do they perform, they look great behind the 15×8 Watanabe wheels!
At the rear, the factory drum brakes were replaced with our ZCG Big-Brakes. New OEM Nissan master cylinder and Factory handbrake functionality IS retained!
Details
Cj’s project involved more than installation of our ZCG performance upgrades and dyno tuning. We nut and bolted the entire car, installed T3 RCAs to fix suspension geometry up front, set the ride height, scaled and aligned it. The gas tank was removed and all fuel recovery hoses replaced along with a new fuel pump. The clutch pedal was removed to allow welding-up of the pivot hole that had wallowed-out. This ensures proper clutch travel to work with his new KA24 transmission/clutch combo. The master cylinder, slave and hose were replaced with all new Nissan OEM components.
Driving is Believing
CJ’s Z was shipped back to Colorado in November and we are happy to report he is Enjoying the Ride in his dream Z…
CJ: “Like so many project cars, the goals of the build evolved and the car grew into something significantly more impressive than the onset of the build. Throughout the car’s time at ZCG Rob was great to work with and he always understood my vision and explained how to make it real. By the time the car came back to me in November of 2022 it may have still looked like the car I sent away, but the similarities were skin deep. From the brakes to the drivetrain the guts of the car were totally new and upgraded.”
CJ was impressed with the upgrades from Z Car Garage:
CJ:“The car is incredible now. It is an absolute animal when you give it full beans and the sounds and sensations it creates for me as a driver are like nothing I’ve ever experienced in a car. It is well mannered and drivable at low speeds and can cruise comfortably and quietly in 5th on the highway, but the instant you open up the right pedal it will shove you back in your seat with a massive grin on your face. The best thing about the car to me is the way each piece is set up to work together. The new ZCG brakes and axles work with the new transmission, OS Giken diff, suspension set up, and stout Rebello 3L to deliver a driving experience that is both exciting and confidence inspiring.”
CJ: “One of the coolest things about these old Z cars is the variety of people who love them. When I am out for drives I am just as likely to encounter a 19 year old kid who loves the car as I am to encounter a 79 year old with the same enthusiasm.”
We enjoyed working with you CJ, thank you for your support! Enjoy the photo gallery below.
Rob: “We enjoyed working with CJ, not only does he have a bitchin’ Z car, he’s fun to work with, very responsive and we had great conversations. He did not hold back in communicating his needs and we were happy to deliver the goods like we always try to. Honored to have folks locally and globally that want to work with ZCG. Thank you so much CJ, Long Live The Z.”
Happy New Year from Z Car Garage! We are excited for 2023 and have many projects to share with you. Enjoy these photos from the shop today, Friday 6 with full reports coming to zcarblog.
Rick’s BRE 240Z tribute track car
Rick’s BRE-inspired Datsun 240Z track car just received our first set of Z Car Garage KW coil-over suspension from our latest batch. Clients that have already placed an order: kits will ship soon pending an instruction manual first. We also finalized the CD009 6-speed transmission swap on Rick’s Z that also features our (Race) Z Car Garage Big-Brakes.
Cameron’s Z32
Cameron’s Z32 is here for maintenance work and downpipes, inlet piping, larger intercoolers all from Specialty Z. Cameron has been bringing his 300 to us for many years and we we are really glad to have him back.
Nissan/Infiniti
We continue to maintain and upgrade late-model Nissan/Infiniti sports cars. Sean’s 370Z is in for an engine replacement and Mark’s 350Z got an alignment and UPREV dyno tune today.
Outside in the parking lot we’ve got more S30 goodness. Mike’s yellow V8-powered Datsun 280Z sports a real G-nose and Tremec 5-speed. We just removed the transmission and replaced the clutch to prepare this Z for its new owner. Beau’s orange Datsun is 280Z coming together. Fresh from paint featuring Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles, T3 suspension and more. This 280 has many 240Z parts retrofitted and it will be cool hot rod.
Ken’s green Series 1 Datsun 240Z (#1762) is getting our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles, KA24 5-speed transmission and Fujitsubo exhaust. The L28 now has Jenvey ITB EFI managed by a Haltech 750. With a cam, dyno tuning and exhaust Rob gained 40hp! Shown on the lift next to Beau’s Z is Eric’s Infiniti FX35 sporting upgraded suspension and R35 GT-R wheels in today for routine maintenance.
Vincent S’ 1973 Datsun 240Z has a long history with Z Car Garage having received upgrades like our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles, full suspension refresh and dyno tuning.
The Z came back to us in March of 2022 for more power, drivetrain and interior improvements. Before we explore these upgrades, let’s take a look at how Vincent found the Z car of his dreams…
Z Destiny
Vincent: “I’m from Le Mans, France and attended the 24 hours race, or Le Mans Classic numerous times. In 2016, I was on the Le Mans racetrack with the car I had then (a Lotus Elise 220), and one of my very best friends, Fabrice. That day, we saw a gorgeous blue, track prepared 240Z that we loved. I took several pics and videos of it.”
A few months later, Vincent saw our friend Dave Scholz’ video on Petrolicious and found his Z highly inspirational. In Summer 2019, Vincent’s job offered him the opportunity to move to San Diego for a few years and he decided this is where he would search for his own Z car, and eventually send it back to France. It truly is a small world, and our client Brian P had listed his ’73 S30 on Bring a Trailer in September of 2000. Vincent saw the Z, bid and won the auction!
Vincent: “I bought my Z on BaT, from Brian P, who had Z Car Garage restore it. He loved his car and had to sell it, but the modifications he wanted to do included a Rebello stroker with Mikunis, etc…Living in the US for only 3 years, I decided to continue the story with Rob, and the Z is now what I wanted and what Brian wanted (I’m still in touch with him). Knowing that I was going to relocate to FR, I also became a member of the Datsun Club of France. ZCG was highly recommended by the group, and is a worldwide reference for Zs! The posts on zcarblog.com with all the pics, etc….are also great to see how the work is done.”
Back for the Z Car Garage Touch
While previous owner Brian P was a little bummed about selling the car, he was stoked that Vince shared his vision and dream to take it the rest of the way. We spoke with Vince and discussed all the upgrades he wanted to do, knowing it had to be completed before his expatriation June 30, 2022. The Z arrived at Z Car Garage from SoCal on March 1, and it was so good to see it again:
Drivetrain
When Brian was coming to ZCG it was during the “Butters” phenomenon: our clients wanted a similar setup for their own S30s. Our 1971 shop demo Z Mrs. Butters proudly features our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles, ZCG Heat Shield, 6-speed transmission, full KW suspension (releasing soon) and 3.2L engine with triple-Mikuni induction. While Vince’s Z had the upgraded brakes, CV axles and suspension, the drivetrain was not touched.
We began drivetrain upgrades by replacing the stock L24 with twin-SUs/4-speed transmission with a Rebello 3L, triple-Mikuni induction and KA24 5-speed transmission. ZCG supplied the ph44 Mikuni carbs (jetted) with velocity stacks, ZCG mesh filters, Harada intake manifold, ZCG fuel rail and all of the things we do on the intake/exhaust side of the engine. Spark is provided by an MSD6AL ignition box. We also installed what every triple-carbed L-series needs: a ZCG Heat Shield!
A Moroso competition baffled oil pan prevents oil starvation with high cornering loads:
The Fujitsubo exhaust system from exhaust header to muffler was installed. These newer units have better fitment.
With the engine out we had our man William repaint the engine bay. ZCG engine bay services followed with freshly plated and plumbed hydraulic lines, hoses and general clean-up:
The engine bay turned out great and Vince wanted a red, powdercoated wrinkle valve cover. More photos of the engine bay details in the gallery below!
Driveline Upgrades
With the 3L engine in we focused on the transmission and rear axle. To handle the power from the 3L engine we replaced the stock 4-speed with a Nissan KA24 (FS5W71C) transmission. This was a common swap (before the CD009a came to market) performed by modifying a 280Z L-series bell housing. When we upgraded the transmission we also installed a JWT HD clutch with aluminum flywheel:
Helping put the power down efficiently is an OS Giken LSD. The R180 houses a 4.11 R&P and the assembly is setup in-house (by Joshua Corwin):
Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 200 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
Stock half shafts (L) and Vincent’s ZCG units, set #00295. Also visible are the T3 control arms:
Dyno Tuning
Rob dyno tuned the Rebello 3L engine making a stout 239hp/211tq to the wheels:
Enjoy the L-series music in this extended video of Vincent’s Z including dyno runs, test drive with Rob and drive-bys:
ZCG Big-Brakes
We are proud to have several of our ZCG products on Vincent’s 240z. We installed our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels) which have the been standard on numerous ZCG builds.
We removed the stock brakes and installed our ZCG Big-Brake kit. We also installed a full coil-over (Koni) suspension from Techno Toy Tuning. T3 finishes the suspension in our signature color and we really appreciate Gabriel and his staff. They make some of the best suspension parts out there for Z cars.
ZCG Big-brakes and T3 coil-overs replacing stock setup:
At the rear, the factory drum brakes were replaced with our ZCG Big-Brakes. New OEM Nissan master cylinder and Factory handbrake functionality IS retained!
Panasport Wheels
Complementing the new coilover suspension on Vincent’s Z are 16×7 Panasports and Hankook R-S3 tires in 225/50/16. We wanted the look and feel of Mrs. Butters Z so we obsessed over ride height until we got it exactly where he wanted it. The Z looks fabulous from any angle:
Recaro Seats
The stock seats were replaced with Euro-spec RECARO Pole Position in leather:
Driving is Believing
Vincent visited Z Car Garage for the first time when he picked up his Z on 6/22. Here is Rob showing Vincent the engine bay and going on a test drive:
Vincent: “Rob and team ended up working 24/7 in the last few days so that this could happen. I picked it up on the 22 of June, early morning, when I believe I also met Alvin. It was amazing to meet you, Rob, and ZCG ! I then drove down the Pacific Coast Highway, to drop the auto in LA, where the logistics/freight company is. They finally put it on a boat 3 months later (and I now live in FR).”
Vincent was impressed with the upgrades from Z Car Garage:
Vincent:“What’s it like to drive??! Brian already had the brakes and axles done, so all good there. With the engine, gearbox, clutch, exhaust done + Recaros, it’s a complete different car to drive. Much more lively, direct, raw…the Recaros filter less than the original seats, but are now on par with the global performance and grip of the Z. I feel much more connected to the road.”
We are happy to report that the Z is now in France! Vincent picked it up in Le Havre (north of FR) and drove it all the way to Lyon (South east, where he resides). The engine started right away, and trip was a pleasure. He sent us some great photos (above):
Vincent:“Hey Alvin, I believe only 750 240Zs were ever sold in France back in the day…so you can imagine the looks I got! Some people thought it was a Ferrari 275 or a Type E…So grateful to Rob and the awesome job he’s done on the auto, and Brian, to whom I bought it, can be reassured…The Z’s being taken care of!”
Since owning the Z Vincent found out that the Blue Z he saw in Le Mans belongs to another member of the Datsun club of France, David Donne. Vincent also has been in touch with Dave Scholz, via Instagram who has been super friendly and helpful.
We enjoyed working with Vincent:
Rob: “All in all Brian would be super proud. Car was scheduled to be put on a container to go back to France and we made it with 1 day to spare. Huge thanks to Brian and Vincent. Super excited about this car and my only regret is that he doesn’t live local so we could enjoy it together.”
Thank you for entrusting us with your S30 Vincent and LONG LIVE THE Z!
Filed under: 240z,Parts
by Alvin G @ 12:40 pm on November 11, 2022
We have great news for clients that have purchased our Z Car Garage Big Brakes. The calipers recently left the forging company and they are now being machined at Stoptech. Once calipers are anodized they will be ready to ship in the coming weeks, fulfilling all back orders. We apologize as parts supply issues have caused delays. Thank you all for your patience, believing in us and supporting ZCG.
The Last Stop in Braking for your Z
Z Car Garage Big Brakes are one of the best systems available for your S30 Z Car with over 140 kits sold worldwide and unanimous positive feedback. See our ZCG Big-Brakes on client cars HERE and enjoy the photos below:
