LS-Swapped 1973 Datsun 240Z Is a Show Car That Drives Equally Well: Track Time Tuesday
After starting out as a bare shell, this 1973 Datsun 240Z was rebuilt from the ground up and is now capable of doing everything well.
Generally, show cars built specifically for events like SEMA are eventually sold to a private party, or oftentimes, wind up making the rounds at other events for some time, at least until the luster wears off. Then, many SEMA vets are parted out or at least changed significantly in the ever-evolving world of the aftermarket. But that isn’t the case with this super clean LS-swapped 1974 Datsun 240Z, which is owned by Eric Ritz and was recently featured over at Hot Rod.
Ritz’s father has owned a whopping 50 Datsuns over the years, a hobby that he passed down to his son, who has now had his fair share of them as well. But this particular car started out as a shell that the younger Ritz located for his friend Steve, who proceeded to build one seriously incredible ride from the mostly rust-free but barren find.
After sandblasting and reinforcing everything for a massive power infusion, Steve gave the 1974 Datsun 240Z exactly that in the form of an LS2 and T56 transmission that were lifted from a 2006 Pontiac GTO. He backed that up with a limited-slip differential from an Infiniti Q45, as well as a complete suspension overhaul with new parts from Techno Toy Tuning and some Wilwood brakes.
For six years, Steve drove and enjoyed his Z, but the car needed some cosmetic work. Instead of putting the effort into that, he decided to sell the car, and the Ritz family was his first call. Eric jumped at the chance, and after a year of driving the car, he proceeded to tear it down for a total repaint. While everything was taken apart, Ritz soon decided that his Datsun would make a perfect SEMA booth car, and he began collecting additional parts from sponsors with that in mind.
Turns out, that was a great idea, as Ritz racked up awards at SEMA including Top 10 Sport Compact in Battle of the Builders and Top 40 Overall at the virtual 2020 SEMA360 show. Since then, Ritz has been driving the car quite a bit, doing some drag racing, and even participating in Hot Rod‘s Power Tour, which is precisely where they stumbled across this gem, lucky for us.
Photos: Hot Rod
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