A V8-powered Datsun 240Z wearing a Ferrari hat - NMNA

I was going to write this up as a You Need This, but I figured I'd post it here since it's so close to crossing the auction block. (October 2)

From the listing:

• V-8 engine
• Weber carburetors
• Quad-tipped dual exhaust
• 5-speed manual transmission
• Wood-rimmed steering wheel
• Aluminum radiator
• Red harnesses
• Wire wheels with knock-offs

Looks pretty neat, though if I were to get it, I feel like I'd have to do more to it so it's really obvious it's not a real Ferrari.

Link: https://www.mecum.com/lots/1155595/1973-datsun-240z/

I'd drive that!

In reply to jimbob_racing :

Color me intrigued as well. 

I've definitely seen worse replicas out there, and I think putting a V8 in it was the right choice. I don't know if the original inline-six would have sounded right–unless you could do some exhaust witchcraft to make it sound like it has double the cylinders.

with this auction description you are not going to get the bidders looking for a "replica' Ferrari

1973 Datsun 240Z

LOT T19 // THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2ND// INDY FALL SPECIAL 2025

V-8, 5-Speed

But I always liked the idea  and using a 240Z  as a base car was a smart move .

Does it look like the word Ferrari is blurred out in several pictures?

We had a couple of forum members who had built a V12 GTO replica, no? BMW engine. IIRC they were reshaping the hood to have the correct cutout, it was a beautiful piece of work. It was on an old version of the forum, it is lost to time.

In reply to jimbob_racing :

It is and we all know the reason.  Dude in the town next to me has a red 280Z version but all stock I6 engine.  I was impressed by his build - it looked nice. 

The blurred out logos is kinda weird

In reply to buzzboy :

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand, the logos are blurred out so that the seller doesn't feel the full wrath of Ferrari's legal department.

I imagine the logos are not blurred in real life (though I think that'd be kinda cool, actually).

Looks like a great build. Beautiful car without the emblems, I'd be tempted to leave them off to keep people guessing. 
I'm sure at cars and coffee, most would know it's not real, but if anyone of us were on the road and it went by, we'd think we saw something worth $$$

I almost feel like it was in an auction near me earlier this year but I can't find the auction results to see if it's the same car

Colin Wood said:

 I think putting a V8 in it was the right choice. I don't know if the original inline-six would have sounded right–unless you could do some exhaust witchcraft to make it sound like it has double the cylinders.

First off, cool replica. I respectfully disagree with Colin. A V-12 is a large part of what defines a Ferrari 250, and the sound and firing order of a 60-degree V-12 is for all intents and purposes a double straight six. A crossplane V-8 is a completely different beast, and sounds very different from a straight six or a V-12 IMO, which sound more similar to each other. When I hear a crossplane V-8, I'm immediately thinking American muscle. I can't recall a single occasion of hearing an American V-8 and mistaking it for a V-12. When I hear a tuned straight six or a tuned V-12, they aren't necessarily identical, but they are more similar to each other than a V-8. Ferrari has always been all about the powerplant, so to change up the layout/sound seems like the worst giveaway that it is a fake, but what do I know?

In reply to ae86andkp61 (Forum Supporter) :

I totally hear you on that one, as a V12 would be ideal.

That makes me wonder what the most affordable V12 you could get your hands on would be? Maybe a Toyota GZ?

Colin Wood said:

In reply to ae86andkp61 (Forum Supporter) :

I totally hear you on that one, as a V12 would be ideal.

That makes me wonder what the most affordable V12 you could get your hands on would be? Maybe a Toyota GZ?

Bmw 760.  

I looked at the Live Feed - this is lot T19.

It jumped from T17 to T20.  Did this sell?

Datsun240ZGuy said:

I looked at the Live Feed - this is lot T19.

It jumped from T17 to T20.  Did this sell?

I'm not seeing anything on Mecum's site that would indicate whether or not it sold, but I'll drop an update as soon as I know more.

(Mianly because I'm curious what it will sell for)

Now it looks like the auction date has been moved to Saturday.

Wonder if there will be masking tape over the emblems?

wvumtnbkr said:

Colin Wood said:

In reply to ae86andkp61 (Forum Supporter) :

I totally hear you on that one, as a V12 would be ideal.

That makes me wonder what the most affordable V12 you could get your hands on would be? Maybe a Toyota GZ?

Bmw 760.  

Jaguar XJS or late XKE?

David S. Wallens said:

wvumtnbkr said:

Colin Wood said:

In reply to ae86andkp61 (Forum Supporter) :

I totally hear you on that one, as a V12 would be ideal.

That makes me wonder what the most affordable V12 you could get your hands on would be? Maybe a Toyota GZ?

Bmw 760.  

Jaguar XJS or late XKE?

Sounds like we need to write a "cheapest way to get your hands on a V12" buyer's guide. 

In reply to Colin Wood :

You know, we might have done this a long, long time ago for Classic Motorsports but, yes, maybe start doing some research. :) 

Bid to $75,000, but went unsold.