Nissan Restoration Club Bringing Safari Rally Z Back to Life

Japanese automakers took over rallying in the 90s and won the manufactures’ championship from 1993 to 1999, but before that it had mixed success that previewed future success.

In the 70s, NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
6957 photos
12 videos
entered a specially prepared 240ZDatsun 240Z RallyJapan, 1972 > 19742 photos
into the World Rally Championship and won twice, both at the East African Safari Rally in 1971 and 1973. In 1971, the car took first and second places in the rally. It uses a tuned version of Nissan’s L24 2.4-liter inline six engine that produces 215hp. In comparison, the 240ZDatsun 240ZJapan, 1969 > 19745 versions
24 photos
road car has 150hp from the same 2.4-liter engine.

"The car had basically been left in original condition after its last rally, with dents and creases in bumpers and bodywork," said Nissan spokesperson Steve Yaeger.

The Nissan and the Nissan Restoration Club are partnering to restore the winning car from 1971 to its racing glory. Nissan is loaning the club the car, and the club intends to have it restored by December.

The Nissan Restoration Club is made up of 60 volunteers from Nissan’s Research and Development department. It specializes in restoring Nissan racecars to drivable condition. The cars are meant to be able to compete in classic motorsports events and not just be static show cars.

It has restored eight cars, including a 1964 SkylineNissan Skyline Gen.2Japan, 1963 > 1968 racecar, two Datsun 210sDatsun 210Japan, 1957 > 19583 photos
that raced in the 1958 Australia Mobilgas Trial and 1947 Nissan Tama electric car.