Sung Kang has built a rally-spec Datsun 240Z

This current trip around the sun represents 50 years since the Datsun 240Z – complete with knobbly tyres and spotlights – won the East African Safari Rally. Nissan itself mocked up a rally-spec Juke to celebrate, but Fast & Furious star and all-round car hero Sung Kang has completely eclipsed that.

Above is his DocZ project – an off-road restomod 240Z that’s fully inspired by that 1971 rally winner. It’s so good that Nissan is bringing it to SEMA to show off on its own stand. We can’t wait to see the finished article. 

Nissan says that Kang’s 240Z was already a 1971 car with an East African Safari Rally homage livery, but that it was broken down and riddled with rust. It now has an original L24 engine bored out to 2.8-litres, with a custom head, triple Weber carbs and a fancy custom exhaust. Apparently there’s “healthy amounts of horsepower and torque”.

There’s new suspension and brakes too, as well as 16-inch wheels that are a tribute to the Kobe Seiko-style wheels that came on the Fairlady Z432. They’re clad in proper chunky Michelins with a spare on the roof. Lovely stuff.