1,000hp Of Datsun Fury
How To Build A Classic

These days, if you are going to build a car from the 1960s or ’70s you’re likely to choose one of three directions for your project. First off there’s the restoration route, where you do your best to return everything back to how it was when the car came out of the showroom. It’s surely the most traditional way to revive an old car.

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Then there’s the resto-mod option. You repair and restore the problem areas on the car, and then add in some aftermarket bits for extra performance and style. It’s a method that seems to get more popular each year.

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And the third way? Well, that’s when you decide to get a little bit crazy. Rather than embracing the old school way, you take the shell of your vintage car and transform it into something much different and much more powerful than anyone could have dreamed when it was originally built.

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Toni Laari’s Datsun 260Z out of Finland is a car that falls into the that third category. It’s got the unmistakable look of an early ’70s Z, and the kind of streetable power that no one could have imagined back in 1974.

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When Toni originally acquired the Datsun it wasn’t as if he was searching high and low for an old Z to build into his dream car. He simply found the car for sale nearby his house and thought it had a good look to it. Not only that, but he liked the fact that it was rear-wheel drive and had plenty of room in the engine bay to accommodate whatever wild power plant he might decide to go with.

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Also of interest is that Toni’s Z is not the more popular two-seat body style, but the less commonly seen 2+2 shape. While some think 2+2 Zs are a bit awkward looking, I think Toni’s car shows they can look just as good as their two-seat counterpart. It also gives the whole thing an added layer of uniqueness.

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Even before he acquired the 260Z, Toni knew he wanted to build a street car with tons of power for the track, great handling and a very cool style. With the Datsun in his possession, he rolled the car into his garage and began on making his vision a reality.

An Eight Year Journey
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It was never going to be one of those builds that takes just a few months from beginning to end. In fact, it was way back in 2007 that Toni first picked up the car, and it wasn’t until the spring of this year that it finally emerged from the garage.

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As I mentioned, serious power was going to be a big part of the project from the start, and originally Toni’s plan called for about 600 horsepower. But that was before things started to get out of hand.

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Toni is far from a purist, so for him it wasn’t a tough decision to go with a Toyota 2JZ-GTE setup. The 2JZ’s legendary reliability made it an easy choice, as did its endless aftermarket support.

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And this would be an important thing as Toni began to build the motor. With so much potential power on tap, his 600hp goal was soon left in the dust. When it came to output, he was now aiming for a four-figure digit.

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The engine itself has been fully built with heavy-duty Eagle rods, low compression pistons along with an upgraded valvetrain and cams. The big story though is the turbo – a Holset 71.5/88mm turbine on a custom KKD Motorsport manifold with 4.5-inch downpipe and a 3-inch exhaust all the way back.

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The result is over 1,000 horsepower to the wheels – 1,036 to be exact – and just over 900 foot pounds of torque for good measure. They’re extremely impressive numbers when you consider that the whole car weighs in at just 1,200 kilograms, or about 2,600 pounds.

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With the Z now making in the vicinity of seven times the power it did stock, some serious drivetrain upgrades were in order. The gearbox is a Toyota R154 with a Carbonetic clutch, and the diff is an ultra-strong R200 with a Nismo LSD, heavy-duty axles and 300ZX Turbo hubs.

The Never-ending Project
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Toni didn’t just want to make his Z fast – he also wanted a car that would handle well at the track, so he spent a lot of time on the Datsun’s suspension and chassis. The suspension itself consists of custom Tein Flex coil-overs with an EDFC controller, and he also improved the geometry to make the car more predictable at speed.

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Just as important was the work done to stiffen up the old chassis. Over the course of the build Toni completely tore the car down, fabricated stronger frame rails, reinforced the chassis wherever possible and also built a custom rollcage.

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When it comes to the exterior it’s all about function. The fender arches have been widened and fitted with ZG-style flares, the front bumper and front spoiler are fiberglass, while the rear end has been trimmed and de-bumpered. Toni even did the paint and bodywork himself.

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The wheels are 17×10-inch and 17×11-inch BBMs from UK’s Image Wheels, and they do a great job of maintaining an old school look while allowing for modern Toyo R888 rubber and larger brakes.

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For the latter, Wilwood 4-piston calipers and 300mm rotors feature all around, and Toni also fitted the car with a hydraulic E-brake setup for those times he wants to go sideways.

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Although Toni wanted the Datsun to be friendly for street use, his primary goal was to build a capable track car, and that’s clearly evident when you peek inside. Along with the aforementioned rollcage, you’ll find a pair of Sparco Evo seats with matching 6-point harnesses and a Sparco R345 steering wheel.

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The original dashboard is still in place, but it’s been fitted with things like Defi-Link gauges, a Tech Edge wideband o2 controller and a digital speedometer. The pedals are from Tilton and a Jaz fuel cell sits in the rear hatch area.

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Toni says that by far the most challenging part of the project was the long build time. The car was under the knife for nearly eight years and he says there were times when it was hard to find the inspiration to keep going. But once he had the car running and on the track, he’s more excited than ever to keep improving it.

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Among his current plans are more suspension upgrades to further improve the handling, and fitting a traction control system to make better use of the 1000-plus horsepower when the car’s on track. It’s been a never-ending project for Toni, and he doesn’t see himself ever ‘finishing’ the car.

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With its unusual body style, cross-maker engine swap and ridiculous amount of power, Toni’s Z is about as far from your average S30 build as it gets. We can’t wait to see what’s next for a car that’s surely one of the most unique Datsuns on the face of the planet.

Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia_media
mike@speedhunters.com

Photos by Peter Kelly
Instagram: speedhunters_pedey
pedey@speedhunters.com

Bonus Video & Images

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Comments



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59 comments

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1

Dayum girrrrrllll! Get over here!

2

I'm really digging the rear haunches on this absolutely beautiful beast!

3

Awesome looking car.

Tho maybe the owner should spring for actual roll bar padding rather than a pool noodle to protect his head from that roll cage?

4

God I regret selling my 240Z! This is the type of build I would have liked to do, but like any 20-something, the budget just wasn't there. It's always awesome to see ones that are completed; even better when the execution is factory-race-car-clean!

5

God I regret selling my 240Z! This is the type of build I would have liked to do, but like any 20-something, the budget just wasn't there. It's always awesome to see ones that are completed; even better when the execution is factory-race-car-clean!

6

Dang Gena!

7

Dang Gena!

8

The rear 3/4 panels look very similar to a Kenmeri Skyline. I really never saw it until now, and fully appreciate the look with the over fenders and wheels.

9

The rear 3/4 panels look very similar to a Kenmeri Skyline. I really never saw it until now, and fully appreciate the look with the over fenders and wheels.

10

Appreciate the engine choice but surely it should have been an RB26? Keeping is nissan straight 6 would have been the right way to go imo.  Love the car!

11

Appreciate the engine choice but surely it should have been an RB26? Keeping is nissan straight 6 would have been the right way to go imo.  Love the car!

12

What is the gold reflective material on the underside if the hood? Is it to help prevent paint from peeling due to heat? Crazy to see all this work done to a 2+2 - never see them done up. Looks amazing!

13
90nissanS13@my350z

Very classy. The builder(s) has a good eye.

14

I've been following the project since its beginning. An absolutely thorough piece, here's his album for his car from beginning to now. http://www.260z.net/gallery3/index.php/

15

Here's to the mad ones, that sacrifice all for themselves and our momentary entertainment. 


Cheers!

Top quality build porn!

16
SantosLathipanya

love everything about this car

17

Best Speedhunters article by far.

18

AM81 You got it. You can also see it on the firewall. It's a common method used to protect surfaces from radiant heat. You'll even see people put it on their intake piping to mitigate the heat soak.

19

awesome build beautiful car if your going to go absolutely insane with a classic car this is the way to do it :) 
at first glance it doesn't look like such a high hp car but wow
another perfect s30 build but very unique 

and the rear end of the 2+2 design really reminds me of first gen celicas

20

Please no more scandinavian garage builds. I has no minds left to blow. 
k thanks bye

21

Is there such a thing as a car boner? This beast is giving me a chubby right now big time.

22

bluestreaksti amen.

23

bluestreaksti amen.

24

By the way, Intake manifold has Audi Sport Quattro design. There should be some inspiration.

25
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner

1200kg and 1000hp?
I couldn't help but think that this'll be an absolutely useless track car.
But other than that, totally badass!

26

Chris 'Haffy' Hafner 
He has couple of boost maps where to choose from on the center console and traction control on its way :) Don't always have to use all of the 1.000hp potential.

27

Chris 'Haffy' Hafner 
He has couple of boost maps where to choose from on the center console and traction control on its way :) Don't always have to use all of the 1.000hp potential.

28
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner

That's more like it :)

29
Gianluca FairladyZ

Man this is absolute madness! These 2JZ engines are absolute power plants..!

30

This is one of the nicest builds I've seen on here for a while. The power and camber are a little over kill for me, but it's not my car :)

31

This is one of the nicest builds I've seen on here for a while. The power and camber are a little over kill for me, but it's not my car :)

32

Oh, good.
ANOTHER article where you confuse the 2JZ-GTE and 2JZ-GE. (http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/12/when-usdm-doesnt-suck-lexus-attack/)
Seriously, Mr. Garrett, are you ever going to put some effort into getting it right?
"Toni is far from a purist, so for him it wasn’t a tough decision to go
with a Toyota 2JZ-GTE setup. The 2JZ’s legendary reliability made it an
easy choice, as did its endless aftermarket support."
So far from being a purist, that he didn't actually put a 2JZ-GTE in the car.
Have you learned nothing from The Fast and The Furious? Just because it's a Toyota 2JZ engine, does not mean it's automatically the magical 2JZ-GTE.
But I guess you didn't read your own specs section.

33

And there's me in the middle of watching again!! Wangan Midnight deciding to give it a break and pop here to be blown away by this monster or Finland's akuma zetto

34

But does he have AC and power steering?

35

But does he have AC and power steering?

36

Now where was Blackbird?

37

@Robert .... the build replaces all parts that make the de and gte different. Save for the oil squirters for the pistons and the stock turbo oil line in the stock block. The rods, bearings, pistons and studs are aftermarket so the different bottom end internals between the de and gte don't matter. The head is aftermarket which takes care of the de and gte having different heads. So what are you on about ? It's semantics at this point because most everything is aftermarket. The Block is the same among the two, so what does it matter if it started as a de or gte ?

38

Is this the Scandinavian version of the Devil Z?

39

mas921 still in Japan. Someone should transport it over to Europe lol.

40

DavidFRogers An RB26 would be far less reliable at this powerlevel.

41

Spring rates seem pretty low for the power he's putting out!

42

@Robert Oh good, a negative comment that brings nothing...
So let me ask you, what is the difference between a GE and GTE block that this is worth mentioning?

It's not as if they mixed up a 351 Cleveland with a Hemi!

43
deleted_82067014_Abezzegh87

Its nice to see you didnt overreact

44

ArmandsSakne and "aspiration". Sorry..

45

Meh Id be more impressed with a Nissan engine.

46

I'm with you Robert the 2jz-ge and 2jz-gte were and are different engines. If you are going to replace almost every part I understand why you would use a "GE". But go to any second hand japanese engine importer or parts recycler around the world and you will see a huge difference in price of the engines. Oh and piston squirters ARE important.

47

Simply beautiful, color and all!

48

The only 2+2 Z worth looking at a second time. Only the S30 model looks great as a 2+2.

49

The only 2+2 Z worth looking at a second time. Only the S30 model looks great as a 2+2.

50

Amazing Look And Design Cool Stylish Dude !!!

Call @971555232108 http://escortskk.com

51

simplyraka mas921 xD!

52
AbiAymanDanAnas

pure beast

53
AbiAymanDanAnas

pure beast

54
AbiAymanDanAnas

pure beast

55

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Smiggins Call us when it's ready for a feature ;0

57

2J in an S30? !! -- dame desu. shazai Katayama san

58

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59
Michael Anderson

This is so much cooler than any 240z built period.

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