Cotton wool? No thanks.

One thing I’ve started noticing more and more recently is Australian society’s tendency to force safety on us at the price of freedom. Just a few examples of safety regulations: pool fencing, bicycle helmets, lower speed limits, car height limits. There are more and more rules and laws for everything, and people are becoming more risk-averse to avoid litigation (just try holding a car meet in a shopping centre carpark). Continuing with this trend, over the years the shape of cars has changed. Just remember the long-nosed swoopy Japanese coupes of the 80s and 90s, and since then, cars becoming taller, heavier and softer. As another example, compare a DC2R with a DC5R, from the front, the side and on the scales (1120 vs 1180: 60kg weight difference in a stripped out racecar is quite a lot).

Occasionally I feel like I’m being suffocated by all the rules and regulations I have to stick to, JUST IN CASE something happens. At other times it makes me angry, but what is there to be done about it? It seems even the experts agree, but good luck to anyone trying to speak out that too much safety can be… well, too much. Is it just me, or are we slowly being suffocated by cotton wool?

I was at Japanese Nationals a couple of weekends ago, and peeped a car that was a breath of fresh air. No safety, no regulations, just pure awesome. Here is Dave’s S30 240Z in all its glossy white glory, slammed on ridiculous Work Equip 01s, fender flares, original L24. Its old, impractical, thirsty, loud, relatively slow, prone to rust, and I loved it so much that I got in touch with him straight away and lined up a shoot for Downshift, and started seriously contemplating buying it.

Dave’s been building this car for a few years, so he can’t have had too much inspiration from Yuta’s famous S30. Despite that, the two cars share quite similar, ridiculous fitment, and a presence like no other. You just can’t walk past without craning your neck, as proven at the last JDMST meet that Dave turned up to.

Over the years, the Z has been upgraded with some serious engine work, both new and old-school, like the triple 40mm carbs, electronic ignition, water and fuel pumps, N42 pistons, extractors and a very, very lumpy cam.

On the outside, the JDM theme has been carried out perfectly with black ZG flares, fender mirrors, and fat 15″ Work Equip 01s. Dave had a bit of trouble with getting these to fit over the 6 pot Wilwood calipers with 12.2″ rotors – 30mm spacers sit inside the front wheels, for about one mm of brake clearance.

The suspension has also seen a lot of work to make the car sit low and wide, with Dave adapting some R33 Skyline coilovers to fit the Z, along with a bagful of AZC adjustable bits. The tie rods are totally custom, and while not pretty, they work a treat.

The S30 was produced in Japan from 1969 to 1978, and it instantly became a classic in both the Japanese and American markets for its great performance and classic, mustang-esque styling, courtesy of designer Yoshihiko Matsuo. With their L24, 2.4 litre cast iron block engines, they made approximately 150 hp and had independent suspension to make the most of it. Unfortunately due to rust issues, not many survive today, so it is rare indeed to find one in good condition, let alone tastefully modified! Back in the late 60s and early 70s, the world was different, and things like power steering, air conditioning, ABS, airbags were unheard of. In a sports car such as the 240z, you got a car that was built to go, stop and turn well. And in my opinion, that’s really all you need.

Here are the details of his modifications to get the Datto looking like this:

Engine
L28 with N42 head and flat top pistons
Triple 40mm Dellorto carbs
6-2-1 extractors
2.5 inch mandrell bent stainless steel exhaust
Race cam
MSD 6AL ignition with soft touch rev limiter
MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil
Electric fuel pump
Electric water pump
Twin electric radiator fans
Heavy duty clutch

Suspension & steering
R33 Skyline JIC coilovers, fully height and damper adjustable
AZC adjustable camber tops
AZC adjustable front lower control arms
AZC adjustabe castor rods
AZC rca and steering knuckle
Custom pillow ball tie rods
Alloy steering bush

Brakes
280zx brake master cylinder
Front 12.2″ diameter curved vane directional vented rotors
Wilwood Superlite 6 piston calipers
Rear 11″ 280zx vented discs with 4 piston calipers

Wheels
Work Equip 01s Rear:15×10 -22 Front: 15x 9.5 -26

Interior
Bucket seats
Nardi steering wheel
Hydraulic handbrake
Defi tacho
Defi Link control unit
Electric water pump controller and temperature gauge
GReddy gear knob
Pioneer head unit

Body
Front air dam
BRE spoiler
ZG flares
JDM fender mirrors
Series 2 260z bonnet vents

Insane? Impractical? Awesome? Yes.