1973 Datsun 240Z

This 1973 Datsun 240Z was purchased by a previous owner in 1983 and subsequently modified for racing with HSR. It won six events between 1986-1992, including the 1992 championship. After this, the car was built into an IMSA GTU tribute and painted in a Dad’s Root Beer livery. In 2008, Bob Sharp purchased the car and took it to the original team that painted the Newman-Sharp race cars to have his old livery applied. He drove the car at Lime Rock and several other tracks, but never officially campaigned it. Adam Carolla purchased this 240Z three years ago, and his in-house team has maintained it since. The stroked 3.0-liter inline-six is equipped with triple Mikuni carburetors and paired to a Nissan Comp 5-speed manual. Additional racing modifications are detailed below, and the car is now being offered with many receipts from the build, documentation of the specs, Bob Sharp’s signed entry form from the 2009 Lime Rock Park Vintage Festival, and additional paperwork. A video of Adam Carolla explaining the known history and overview of this Datsun can be viewed above. The exterior features a one-off IMSA G-nose body kit with a quick-disconnect system for the fenders and rear hatch. Aside from the roof, the entire body is made of fiberglass, and Lexan windows have been fitted all around except for the windshield. The suspension incorporates chromoly control arms, a Carrera camber kit, adjustable NASCAR-style sway bars, Koni adjustable shocks, and a Carrera coilover kit. The Dad’s Root Beer livery can be seen on the cover of the winter 1998 edition of Z Club Magazine, which is included with the sale and shown in the gallery. Out back, a Supertrapp dual exhaust system flows through a Nissan competition header, and the exhaust note can be heard in the video above. Braking is handled by Wilwood calipers all around, a Tilton brake/clutch pedal master cylinder set up, braided lines, and a Tilton bias bar. 16″ BBS mesh wheels measure 11″ wide up front and 12″ in the rear. They are shod in Goodyear radial slicks. The cabin features a single Recaro racing seat, a fresh air/cool-shirt set up, an integrated roll bar, Sparco steering wheel, Wilwood pedal system, and more. Additional equipment includes a 15 gallon ATL fuel cell, dual Holley fuel pumps, a 10 pound fire suppression system, and Autometer primary and auxiliary instrumentation. The photo gallery provides additional detailed pictures of the interior. The engine is based on a 2.8-liter turbo block stroked to 3.0-liters, utilizing the following components: JE pistons and knife-edged diesel Maxima crankshaft E31 head by Slover and Sunbelt Performance Engines 50 Mikuni carburetors with match ported, long intake and velocity stacks Electramotive crankfire ignition Aeroquip lines and fittings throughout Reed camshaft with heavy-duty springs and adjustable cam gear Documentation includes handwritten notes stating that the engine produced 329 horsepower at 7,250 rpm when it was first built. That power is channeled through a Nissan Competition 5-speed manual gearbox with a Quartermaster dual-plate clutch and R200 limited-slip rear differential. Extensive undercarriage pictures can be viewed in the photo gallery below. In addition to records documenting the IMSA GTU build, this car comes with paperwork explaining the current setup, including pencil drawings of the fuel system as it was originally designed. A letter from HSR in October 1995 to the owner who had the car built confirms it was accepted to run as a GTU car. Additionally, there are emails between Bob Sharp and the previous owner, and Bob Sharp’s entry form into the Lime Rock Park Vintage Festival September 4-7 2009, which is signed by Bob and includes his medical form.