This is Bruce’s 1971 Datsun 240Z featuring our Z Car Garage CV Axles and Panasport Wheels. Before we go into the parts let’s hear how Bruce got his Series 1 S30…
BRUCE: My love affair with the Z began in 1983. I owned #2112 and quickly realized how special Series 1 cars were. I drove that car as much as possible. It was sporty, sexy and huge bang for the buck. Sadly, I had an accident with it and it was a total loss. I loved the car so much, I vowed to get another but this time do it with no expense spared. Fast forward to 2017, I found the current Series 1 car in the garage of an abandoned building in Silverlake Ca. $1,500 later, she was mine…
…I convinced Don Byars at Full Throttle Panteras, who restored and modified my award winning DeTomaso Pantera, to restore this Z. His extreme quality demands, attention to detail and passion for special cars was just what the car needed.
BRUCE: Although he worked solely on Panteras, he enjoyed the build and the attention the car received being in his shop. It was my job to source parts and get answers to difficult questions and that’s how I came across Z Car Garage. Rob was very generous with his assistance and was a great resource for the wheels, CV axles and the fuel injection system. The quality of parts and such detailed service Rob provided was invaluable. Sadly, Don fell ill in 2022 and passed away before the build was complete.
ROB: I met Bruce in 2019 when he called to purchase some Panasports from ZCG. We talked about the Z and some of the upgrades we have, philosophy behind the cars and how we strive for the right product to do the job. Bruce would keep in touch and later purchased a set of ZCG CV Axles and a KOYO race radiator plus our own hose that make. We can’t work on every Z car because of limited bandwidth, but it’s really cool to share a few things that we’ve developed to make a Z car better.
Z Car Garage CV Axles
Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 200 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback. Here are Bruce’s CV Axles installed on his ’71 Z:
The ZCG CV Axles complement a full suspension rebuild with new parts from Techno Toy Tuning:
BRUCE: In 2023, I moved to southern Oregon and had found a great shop for my classic cars and the Pantera. Chris at Custom Performance and Rods in Central Point Oregon generously agreed to finish the project. Two years later, she was complete. Chris loved the service Rob provided and the beautiful machine work on the CV axles. They were easy to install and really held up well with the high horsepower being pushed through them.
Panasport Wheels
Bruce purchased a set of 16×7 Panasport Wheels from Z Car Garage. We are an authorized Panasport dealer with have limited sets available for fitment on your S30 Z car with 225/50/16 tires. Bruce always loved Panasport wheels and getting a set was on his wish list since he was a teenager. Don Byars who built his ‘74 Pantera chose the slick Gun-Metal color:
Interior
Bruce’s interior choices were subtle with a simplified center console, stitched dash and custom covered seats.
Drivetrain
The Z sports a Rebello 3.0L L-Series engine with Jenvey ITB fuel-injection. Rob provided support for the EFI and KOYO Race radiator. The engine is backed by a T5 5-speed transmission:
Enjoy this video of Bruce’s Z in action. Volume up!
Enjoy The Ride
BRUCE: I have since put about 800 miles on the car working out bugs and now she runs and performs beautifully. I can say for the most part, my collection is complete. My goal was to build a stock appearing Z that had subtle modifications and had the performance of a Daytona Ferrari. I believe I achieved that. Eliminating the stock marker lights and the stacked Ansa exhaust makes the car seem sexy and sleek. I’m still unsure about the T5 transmission that is in the car. The only plan for the future is to possibly swap the tranny out for something better.
“Thank you for the privilege to showcase my Z. Z Car Garage puts forth passion for the marque that is intoxicating and addicting. These are great cars and Rob makes sure everyone realizes it. He is an asset to the Z community.”
Thanks for your support Bruce we love that you are Enjoying The Ride and Long Live The Z! More photos in the gallery below