We really hope you enjoyed some of the detailed images of the Fugu Z while it was at the Ravspec booth during the NYIAS. For this installment, we will be taking it to the streets where we feel all cars truly shine.
While some enthusiasts associate the 240z with Wangan Midnight, others who grew up stateside will connect it immediately with BRE racing and it’s livery. One of the first times I began to look into an S30 as a possible project car was when I saw a Star Road version of the chassis. The flawless yellow paint along with the beefy tire setup on their Glow Star wheels really did it for me. Seeing the Fugu Z on the street was a surreal moment but viewing it parked along the Westside highway in the background was a dream. It conjured up images of Wangan Midnight and reminded me of the Option 2 video where Daijiro Inada ripped it up on the highway. See below!
Once loaded, we had just enough time to shoot the unicorn in Chinatown. We chose that area because of the rich history and our personal connection with the surrounding neighborhood. The area where we shot the 240z was on Doyer Street, which was once known as the “Bloody Angle” where the Tong gangs of the early 1900s fought and died. The underground network around the area allowed easy exits and getaways so countless altercations happened at the corner.
That night, the only thing that was getting shot was the 240z. On the southwestern corner is the venerable and long-standing Nom Wah Tea Parlor which has been in business since 1920, the 240z matched the background. The owner, Wilson Tang was kind enough to leave some of the lights on for us. It wasn’t until that point that I noticed how well the Rocket-bunny kit flowed with the original body lines. The Datsun designers probably would have loved this version although they may have never envisioned their S30 to be this muscular. The beefy tires filled the wheel arches while the exhaust note and gutted interior reflected how raw the speed machine has been built.
The new set of Volk Racing TE37 SL (Super Lap) pays homage to the original design with an updated look. The RS Watanabe was made for the original body 240z however, this set of TE’s was made for this widebody version. The fender mirrors are an unmistakable cue from a bygone era where the relationship between man and machine was forged on the road only after many miles. The white gusseted roll cage is just an example which reminds us of the “restomod” flair this 240z exudes.
Lurking in the shadows, this Datsun “dares to be different”, true to the original slogan developed by Datsun in its early years. We wished we could catch a few more glimpses of the car but our time was over. Although we had a short time with the S30, we are so thankful to have been given the opportunity to photograph such an amazing car. A special thanks goes to our friends over at Ravspec. Also, thanks to Wilson for letting us shoot in from of his shop. If you have Instagram, check us out on @primenyc.co where you can find some exclusive images from this feature.
