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EVENTS: The Velocity Invitational at Sonoma November 10-12

Filed under: 240z,510,Events,Racing
by Alvin G @ 2:40 pm on September 20, 2023

 

Z Car Garage is excited to participate in the Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway November 10-12. This is a must attend historic racing event for Nissan/Datsun fans with IMSA GTU Z cars, exotics and more to enjoy. Tickets are still available, to purchase simply on click HERE, and read below for a preview.

 

Z Car Garage Racers

Z Car Garage is excited to be racing in Group 6 (1968 – 1978 IMSA GT Cars) and Group 10 (Mini vs Mustang Enduro). Here is a preview:

#49 IMSA Joel Anderson GTU Z

Rob Fuller will be driving the #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z:

 
 

#78 IMSA Porsche 911

Z Car Garage is preparing snd providing trackside race support for our client Kelvin Tse and his IMSA Porsche 911, running with the Z cars in Group 6:

 

Mini Vs Mustang Enduro

 

Rob Fuller will be racing a Mini Cooper against Mustangs in the Group 10: 1960’s Mini Vs Mustang Enduro

…this is an action-packed group don’t miss out!

 

Race car driver, restorer and Datsun Historian Glenn Chiou displayed his FAR Performance 240Z. This Z has a very rich racing history, driven in the 70’s by Loren St. Lawrence in VIPS Restaurant livery.

 

This is a wonderful event for the whole family, check out our report from last year’s 2022 Velocity Invitational. Z you at Sonoma Raceway November 10-12!

Join us for the 2023 Vintage Racing Season!

Z Car Garage is amped for more racing this year. Here is list of events we will be attending in 2023, including CSRG and SVRA . Please join us!

March

March  3rd to the 5th    SVRA  Thunderhill

March 24 to 26th          CRSG   Sonoma

April

April 27th to 30th           SVRA   Sonoma

May

May 4th   to 7th               SVRA   Laguna Seca

June

June  23rd to 25th           CSRG   Laguna Seca

August

August 12-13                    Monterey Pre-Reunion
August 16-19                    Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

September

Sept 8th  to 10th              CSRG   Sonoma

Sept 28- Oct. 1st.            Rennsport Reunion Laguna Seca

October

October 13-15                  CSRG Laps For Laguna

November

Nov  3rd to 5th                 CSRG   Thunder hill

Nov 10th to 12th              Velocity Invitational




Z Car Garage Big-Brakes For 3 Datsun 240Z Builds

Filed under: 240z,Parts,Performance
by Alvin G @ 2:40 pm on September 18, 2023

 

We love to see our parts installed on client’s cars. Nino Tecson just received three sets of our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes for three of his own client’s Datsun 240Z builds:

 

Nino was pleased with the Z Car Garage brake kit upon arrival and shared some installation photos from his client’s Series 1 Datsun 240Z:

“Been hearing nothing but good things about this BBK from @zcargarage ever since it came out. Time to put these on some cars. Kit looks great, of course @zcargarage covered the basics, good packaging, no missing parts etc. Looking at the quality I don’t think there’s gonna be any fitment issues at all. Also I know @rawbfuller put in the time and thought into putting this kit together so I don’t have to deal with proportioning valves and brake bias etc.”

 

Nice touch with the Stoptech calipers in “Z” formation, Nino…

 

Nino is also an S30 owner/enthusiast with a very pretty Series 1 Z. You can learn more about his Datsun story in this Speedhunters feature with photos by Sara Ryan:

3D0A7298-78
 

See Nino’s Z car builds and give him a follow on Instagram for more updates. Thanks for your support Nino we really appreciate your passion and Long Live The Z!

Learn more about our our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes below:

 

 

We have great news for clients that have purchased our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes. Happy to report that the product is now in-house and we will begin fulfilling all backorders in the next coming weeks. We sincerely apologize for the delay. Thank you all for your patience, believing in us and supporting ZCG.

 
 

The Last Stop in Braking for your Z

 

Z Car Garage Big Brakes are one of the best systems available for your S30 Z Car with over 200 kits sold worldwide and unanimous positive feedback. See our ZCG Big-Brakes on client cars HERE and enjoy the photos below:

 
  
 

The JDM Legends Safari Gold Datsun 240Z features our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes:

 

CJ’s 1971 Datsun 240Z features our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes:

 

Jay’s 1972 Datsun 240Z features our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes:




RACING: CSRG Charity Challenge Sept. 8-10

Filed under: 240z,510,Racing
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on September 5, 2023

 

WE LOVE RACING!  Classic Sports Racing Group (CSRG) is hosting the 20th Charity Challenge at Sonoma Raceway, this weekend September 8-10. Z Car Garage is participating and supporting several client’s Datsun 510 race cars running in B-Sedan Group (John Morton Cup). This vintage racing event is totally FREE to spectators so please join us! Bring the family, enjoy cool cars and charity rides around the track.

 

See our 2023 Nissan Z as Pace Car!

 

Z Car Garage is happy to announce our 2023 Nissan Z will be on Pace Car duty at the Charity Challenge. Again, admission is FREE for this event and you will have access to all spectator areas on track, race cars and drivers. Parking is in Lot 2 overlooking the paddock. You can see our report from the 2022 Charity Challenge HERE

Z Car Garage Supports Five Datsun 510s!

 

It is our pleasure to bring more enthusiasts into the world of vintage racing. Our services do include full race support and car-preparation to help make client’s race days seamless and worry-free so they can focus on driving. One of our specialties is dyno tuning. Before a race weekend we confirm that your car is running well and make necessary adjustments while on the chassis dyno:

 

#88 Todd Rueppel

Todd enjoyed his Z Car Garage trackside support experience with us at the Laps For Laguna event!

#7 Kelvin Tse

Kelvin and his brother Kenny are regular ZCG trackside support clients…

 
 

Gabe’s B-Sedan and his Dad’s B-Sedan:

 

#7 Rob Fuller

ZCG owner Rob Fuller, Bay Area Datsun Dealers tribute car

Photo by Jim Rose

    
 

Rob will also be racing the #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z at Sonoma Raceway.

 

We look forward to seeing you at the races. Check out the race schedule below and a full report coming to zcarblog.com. Do It In A Datsun!

 

 

Join us for the 2023 Vintage Racing Season!

Z Car Garage is amped for more racing this year. Here is list of events we will be attending in 2023, including CSRG and SVRA . Please join us!

March

March  3rd to the 5th    SVRA  Thunderhill

March 24 to 26th          CRSG   Sonoma

April

April 27th to 30th           SVRA   Sonoma

May

May 4th   to 7th               SVRA   Laguna Seca

June

June  23rd to 25th           CSRG   Laguna Seca

August

August 12-13                    Monterey Pre-Reunion
August 16-19                    Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

September

Sept 8th  to 10th              CSRG   Sonoma

October

October 13-15                  CSRG Laps For Laguna

November

Nov  3rd to 5th                 CSRG   Thunder hill

Nov 10th to 12th              Velocity Invitational




FOR SALE: KA24DE-Powered 1971 Datsun 510 Wagon

Filed under: 510
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on August 31, 2023

 

We are selling our 1971 Datsun 510 Wagon. It features a 2.4-liter KA24DE engine with five-speed manual transmission sourced from a Nissan 240SX. The car is a wonderful driver and recently completed the 300-mile Tokyo Calling Rally in Napa, Ca.

 

It was repainted in its original shade of green with a black vinyl interior and re-chromed bumpers by the previous owner. The interior features BMW E30 front seats, Nardi steering and rare Bluebird center console. New carpet, headliner, door cards were installed and all rubber seals were replaced.

 
The KA24DE uses a Megasquirt engine management system. We dyno tuned it, making 148hp/161tq at the wheels.

 

You can see this Datsun 510 Wagon in action with dyno runs, in-car and freeway driving in this video below:

 

For pricing and additional phots/details please visit our FOR SALE page

  
 




Rick’s 1965 Nissan Silvia

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects,Maintenance,Performance
by Alvin G @ 3:11 pm on August 11, 2023

 

Rick’s Nissan Silvia returned to Z Car Garage for a suspension upgrade and sorting. This is not the 90’s Silvia (US-Market Nissan 240sx) we know and love, it is the ultra-rare 1965 Silvia CSP311. Only 554 examples were made from ’65 -’67 and never imported to the US.

 

The Silvia is special for many reasons. This car was built on the Datsun Sports Roadster chassis, meaning it is a body-on-frame platform sharing the same R16 drivetrain as the Datsun 1600 (SP311). All were hand built and right hand drive with a gorgeous interior. Fairlady owners will notice familiar gauges and switchgear–all borrowed from the contemporary Datsun Roadster.

Image
 

A rare specimen indeed, fortunately owner Rick K was able to acquire this Silvia from our friends at JDM Legends and have Z Car Garage maintain it. See our report from Rick’s initial visit (inspection, dyno tune etc,) all on zcarblog.com.

 

Bilstein Suspension

 

Rick visited us earlier this year for installation of upgraded Bilstein shocks on the Silvia. We have had a great experience running these units on my personal SR20-powered roadster and the ZCG 1967 Datsun 2000 Roadster:

 

The Bilsteins are available Datsun Restoration Products. Theses are high-quality, fully rebuildable and most importantly custom-valved for the Datsun Roadster for touring to race applications. Rick’s custom-valved set both front and rear for his Silvia:

 

Installation was a breeze. You’ll notice the supplied lower spring mount. Once installed, these shocks can be removed and replaced through the lower A-arm, no need to disassemble the front suspension to change shocks:

 
 

The car was fully aligned following the new shocks:

 

We also sorted some minor things for Rick. Our electronics master Joshua Corwin fixed the wiring to enable all exterior lighting to function, and we fixed his license plate bracket:

 

Driving is Believing

 

The Bilstein shocks transformed the ride quality of the Silvia. Much like our experience with these on our personal Datsun Roadsters, the dampening ability of the Bilsteins is superior to off-the-shelf shock absorbers for this chassis. No more “po-going” or high-frequency jarring on the freeway. I had a blast driving this RHD gem on the Tokyo Calling Tokyo Calling Event with Breakfast Club Rally back in March and the difference was night/day. The Bilsteins are that good.

Image
 

Rick was kind enough to let me experience the Silvia with the new shocks on one of my favorite roads here the local foothills. It was so much fun. Now Rick needs some nice sticky, vintage rubber to take full advantage, enjoy!

 

We are so happy to see Rick still Enjoying the Ride. It was a real pleasure to see Rick’s Silvia driven by his son Matthew at the local Morning Motors hosted by DrivingWhileAwesome:

 

The Silvia is in good company with Rick’s family C1 Corvette. He’s enamored with the Silvia and even found a way to get the unobtanium OEM hubcaps reproduced. For now, the Watanabe’s will be used for spirited-drives!

 

Huge thanks to our client Rick K for giving us the opportunity to enjoy this gorgeous (and rare) slice of JDM forbidden fruit. We look forward to seeing you on the road! More photos in the gallery below.

 

…[read more]




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