If you are a purist hot rodder, then the basic premise of whatever you build should follow one mantra: speed first. How do you do that properly? Start with something that was thrown away or left for dead…like this Datsun 260Z. Just one look at it tells you that this car didn’t live an easy life over the years. It’s missing the door glass, you can see the rigged-up rear-view in the video preview, the bumpers are gone and if it weren’t for the new bodykit pieces and wheels, you’d write it off as a project Z-car that needed serious help. But look at those wheels again, specifically the back tires. Yeah, they’re wide, but they aren’t that wide, are they? No, they aren’t: that’s because this Z’s rear subframe is out of a Nissan S13 chassis, and Skyline axles are used. Interesting touch, but why would someone go to all of that trouble for? The Toyota 2JZ, the six-cylinder of tuner dreams, one of the legit heavy hitters from a Japanese manufacturer. This one runs a compound turbo system instead of one hairdryer, routes the power through a 300ZX manual trans, has a fuel pump that is only overshadowed in noise by the lack of exhaust, and is, put bluntly, rough as f***. Perfect!
I for one think the rat rod look is wearing a bit thin by now. Especially on cars that just do not suit it like this fine Datsun.
They don’t let you outside much, do they, Geordie? This thing is awesome. “Built to be driven,” his words. If it looks like hammered ass, but runs like a scalded dog, what is not to like? Hell, I loathe virtually anything from Riceland and the New islamic state, and I’d be tickled pink to get the chance to have some seat time with this. This, not manicured show-ponies, seems to me, what hot-rodding is all about. As for the term, “rat rod,” well, you know us yanks – we can’t peoperly use the words youse gave us, let alone the ones we pull out of thin air.
While I prefer v8 z cars , I love the ride height , tires, flares….. yes I’d like them better if they were glassed or welded in but I love track ready cars that aren’t spit and polished . Yeah I dig it . I would need to loose that unreal loud electric fuel pump . My lands , I think just that pump is grounds for hearing protection!
Another Z ruined with a 2J – shazai Katayama san
‘Rat Rod’ – wow, that phrase lost it’s meaning aloooong time ago.
Built to be driven ?
– not with that rear fittment.
– obviously overly high spring rate to avoid rubbing.
– too bad the S13 rear ends got shitty geometry to begin with.
-Heavy steering? all S30’s have heavy steering until near the edge were they lighten up and become just right. Needs to drive more S30’s
But I’m Z bias
Am I hating ?
who care’s it’s just my opinion,
and opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one
Each to there own, whatever smokes your tyres