So the question would be how about the 260z 2+2 these are a 4 seater with more passenger space unlike a rx7 or 911. One even appeared on the grid of one of the James Hardy 500 (or was it 1000 by then) in 1976 if I recall.
The ideal Nissan to race is the old Carlos Neate Nissan/Prince Skyline GTB as it was a sedan/saloon and raced here in NZ in period but it now is with a collector in Australia who does not race it....shame....
I personal don't buy in the 240z/260z as a sports car - GT car yes, sport car no. I say this due to the way the FIA classify cars under the rules of the day ie read the Appendix J for a period a 240z/260z raced in ie 1975 rules for Appendix J. A Datsun Zed car fits into the GT classes. Even the highly modified Group 4 240z/260z/280z raced under GTS in FIA, JAF (Japan's rep for FIA) or IMSA GTU. Sure some of the grid has "Sports Cars" as the FIA classified them - but I dislike a zed getting called a "Sports Car" as under FIA they are completely different cars/performance/cost. But that is just semantics to some no doubt - when I think I sports cars I think of Le Manns specials or cars with no roof's aka British Sports Cars.
Also see this a reference (not that wiki can be trusted all the time)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_tourer
Notice the Nissan Zcar is listed as such a car.
If I could purchase my old 160jsss back or import a correct 510 or better yet a 260z 2+2 and swap stuff over has the bonus of 6" more wheelbase and 2" more room in the rear for 9" rims with out mods.
However that is if I want to run in a saloon based grid. If I was to look at saloon then I would consider other Nissan L6 powered cars - like an early Skyline - saloon car, which as you have pointed out Steve one of the models was marketed locally as a Datsun 240K factory fitted with the same L24 engine (slightly de-tuned version) as fitted to the Datsun 240z.
My only concern with choosing such a car is this part of the T&C rules (I almost purchase that car you talk of too many years ago but pulled out of the trademe auction letting it go to a fellow zed club member, and then got the 160j sss I talked about before)
It does depend on how this rule is interpreted - if talking the car there could be issues as a Datsun 240k chassis unlike the 240z chassis was never factory fitted with a L28. So in theory it could not have one fitted as the L24 cc is 2393cc + 15% as allowed by T&C put it just under the stock L28 size at 2751cc vs 2753cc (2cc hardly worth pushing really given L24 engines are hard to come by these days but L28 are more common)3.6 Engine (1) Cylinder head(s) and block may be changed to one of the
same make and model range and must be visually
standard and be of standard material.
However if that rule is interpreted as just the engine then. L24 - became the L26 which in turn the L28 and they are all made from the same standard material and from the same make and model range aka the Nissan L6 range of engines.
So how does one interpret this rule? This could mean a fan of the Nissan L6 engines could ran a number of Nissan Saloon's for such a grid if one was to feel so inclined.
I know this meant to be my build thread but could I get answers to these questions.
1. Is a Datsun 260z 2+2 classed as a Saloon (as much passenger room if not more than other period saloon aka Escorts) I believe it should be as they were fia approved for group 1 aka same a escorts, capri ie a saloon.
2. Does the T&C engine rule apply to the engine made/model or car made/model range - of cause the cars age must reflect the engine age if later ie L24 = 1969, L28 = 1975 so any Datsun/Nissan fitted with an L28 needs to be aged as a 1975 cars (when the L28 was first FIA approved)
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