Classic lines, modern heart - The dream 1974 Datsun 240K GT

Every so often, you come across a car that looks and sounds pretty much perfect. This is one of those cars, a New Zealand new 1974 Datsun 240K GT. I first came across this car while at a local car club meeting a few weeks ago and just had to organise a review.

 This awesome automobile belongs to Leighton Hamlin, who has had the car for around 13 years. He originally used to own a Nissan Skyline R32 GTS but decided that he wanted something to work on as the R32 never broke. Thus he sold the R32 and bought the 240K.

 It wasn't all plain sailing from there though, the Datsun used six batteries to get back home and had to be left in Waiouru for a while and catch a lift back home. It was also a bit terrible to drive, with the old L24 Overhead Cam Straight Six and Three Speed Automatic, the car used to cruise at 100 KMH on the motorway at 3500 RPM in top gear. But through all this, Leighton saw potential in it and after many years of hard work, the 240K looks stunning.

 The overall styling of the car has resulted in a period style appearance, which complements the cars various lines and shapes. Many hours were spent fabricating the flair guards, which were hand made out of metal as opposed to the numerous fibreglass GT-R style bolt on flairs that are normally fitted to C110 Skylines.

Now most of you are probably thinking "That's an old Skyline" and you would be right. The Datsun 240K GT was a New Zealand market version of the C110 generation Nissan Skyline, and shares the same chassis as the second generation GT-R. The only real differences between the GT-R and the 240K GT is of course the Drivetrain, as the GT-R came with the incredibly rare Twin Cam S20 Straight Six, whereas the 240K had the L24 Single Cam Straight Six, the rear lights operated differently, the grilles were different and the GT-R had bolt on Flair Guards. Surprisingly, if you peel off the factory simulated wood panelling from the Gauge cluster, it is the exact same Aluminium item found in the GT-R.

Because the 240K/C110 Skyline is incredibly rare in NZ, trim pieces were hard to source. One piece was even located as far away as Kuwait!

 

The Datsun rolls on Rota RBX Wheels which are reminiscent of the classic RS Watanabe/Minilite design, but come in better sizing to match this particular car.

 

Leighton ditched the asthmatic L24 and three speed auto for a forged RB30DET that was bought out of an unfinished project. The RB is backed up by a S2 R33 GTS25t Skyline 5 speed Manual gearbox with a Twin plate Exedy clutch and a long nose R200 LSD.

Boost is provided through a monster Garrett T72 Turbocharger and front mount Intercooler combo, leading into a 6 - 1 Exhaust manifold and out through a 3" straight through exhaust with a single Adrenalin R resonator. This results in a nice RB growl and flows quite nicely.

This RB30 is built to last. It sports CP Forged Pistons, Carillo I Beam Conrods, balanced crank and other goodies (see list below). The head is from an R32 GT-R RB26DETT and houses a nice pair of HKS Step 2 Cams and rocks a shiny Tomei Cam cover.

The interior has largely remained stock, with recovered factory seats and recovered dashboard plus some period style additions such as a Wood Grain Steering Wheel and Gearknob.

To fully appreciate the RB30DET, here is a quick flyby of the Datsun on a private road.

 

Overall, this classic Japanese cruiser is pretty much perfect. There is nothing that I would personally change about it as everything just seems to fit and work perfectly. I would like to thank Leighton for taking time out of his day to let me review his excellent and pristine example of a car few people have ever seen or even heard of.

Specifications

Car: 1974 Datsun 240K GT (C110)

 

Engine: Nissan RB30DET:
RB30 3.0-liter block; RB26 DOHC 24-valve cylinder head, Nismo N1 oil pump, oil restrictors fitted to block, standard crank with Ross harmonic balancer, Carrillo I-beam connecting rods, CP forged pistons, HKS Step 2 272/10.2mm camshafts, adjustable cam gears, fuel rail, ported/polished, 90-pound valve springs, 1mm oversized intake valves, K&N air filter, 3" intercooler piping, modified Garrett T72 turbocharger, 6-1 exhaust manifold, 3" exhaust with Adrenalin R muffler, Turbosmart Power-Gate60 60mm external wastegate, T-Reg Pro fuel pressure regulator, Trust blow-off valve, front-mount intercooler, R.I.P.S front-facing plenum, 90mm throttle body, Carter high-volume lift pump, surge tank, twin Bosch Motorsport 044 fuel pumps, braided fuel lines, AN fittings, Link G4 Xtreme engine management system, MAP sensor, shaved and wire-tucked bay, Nitto cam gear cover, thermo electric fan, aftermarket radiator

 

Drivetrain: RB25DET S2 5 Speed Manual, Exedy Twin plate clutch, long nose R200 LSD

 

Suspension: Koni Shock Absorbers, Cobra Springs

 

Brakes: 300mm front, 270mm rear slotted/drilled rotors, four-piston front, dual-piston rear calipers, 1-inch Wilwood master cylinder, adjustable bias valve

 

Interior: Recovered Factory Seats and Dashboard, Custom Wood Rimmed Steering Wheel, Custom Wood Grain gearknob

Bodywork: Custom Metal Flair Guards, Chin Spoiler, GT-R Ducktail Wing

Wheels and Tyres: Rota RBX Alloys: 17x8.5" front, 17x10" rear, 215/45 R17 front, 225/45 R17 rear Dunlop Sportmaxx Tyres