Steel StingRay - 1971

[We Bad]

Greetings all,

Attached are two scans from the Nov. 1971 issue of Hot Rod magazine, featuring a 240Z powered by a small block Chevy. This was years before the Scarabs appeared.

(You may have to save the files to your computer in order to zoom in.)

This is the earliest reference to a V8 Z that I know of.

Enjoy!

[Arne]

Interesting! That's probably the first documented "Plus 1" tire and wheel package for an early Datsun. The 15x5.5 aluminum American Racing LeMans rims with "Michelin 185VR15" tires (almost certainly Michelin 185/70VR15 XWX as fitted on similar vintage 911S) would have been just a touch taller than the original 175-14.

[hls30.com]

Speaking of Hot Rod Magazine and V8 conversions...

In 1974 AJ Carter of AJs Z-Car Store here in Savannah, called Hot Rod Magazine to see if they would be interested in pictures and driving impression of a 396 big block conversion he did on a 240Z. Hot Rod Magazine told AJ he was full of it and that there was no way a big block would fit. Hot Rod Magazine diverted Terry Cook from the Gator Nationals to Savannah to take pictures and get a driving impression of the 396 big block conversion. halfway down the ramp onto I95 from GA144, Mr. Cook commented on the Speedo error-AJ politely informed him that they actually were going 110 halfway the ramp.

Obviously this was the first big block conversion they had ever seen havig said it simply couldn't be done!

Will