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UPDATE: SELLER WILL COVER UP TO $2,500 USD FOR DOMESTIC/GLOBAL TRANSPORT COSTS.

Chassis # RLS30-000024 is a pre-production Datsun 260Z chassis that was sold by the factory for one dollar in 1975 to Different Drummer Racing, ran by Greg Sorrentino out of Troy, Michigan. It is one of the earliest Datsun 260Z chassis to leave the factory. This Z car has consistently been a winning race car since new in IMSA GTU, SCCA Trans-Am, and C-Production/GT-2 championships. In 1975, the Datsun Competition Department agreed to support Different Drummer Racing’s IMSA GTU racing efforts by selling Sorrentino the Datsun 260Z for $1.00. All the chassis preparation was completed by legendary metal fabricator, Ron Fournier. Fournier’s impressive resume included Holman and Moody, Kar Kraft, Roger Penske and A.J. Foyt; none of whom are known for fielding losing race cars. Mac Tilton developed the suspension setup on the car, who was Crew Chief for the 1971 & 1972 Trans Am championship winning Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) team. John Knepp of Electramotive Engineering built the motors for Different Drummer Racing.


Sorrentino would go on to race the Z against the likes of Al Holbert, David Hobbs, Sam Posey, John Paul Jr., Walt Maas, Brad Frisselle, and Dick Barbour at tracks like Mid-Ohio, Road Atlanta, and Pocono Raceway. Sorrentino’s success in the Z would pave the way for his later success in the Can-Am series.

In 1979, Sorrentino sold the car to Loren St. Lawrence, who was a consistent race winner in SCCA’s C-Production class in the mid-1970s driving a Datsun 240Z. St. Lawrence, coming off a 1978 trip to the National Runoffs, acquired the car to compete in professional IMSA and the SCCA Trans-Am races. He would further refine the car and take multiple wins at tracks like Portland International Raceway, Seattle Raceway, and Westwood Motorsports Park. One of his most notable races came at his home track of Portland International Raceway. In this IMSA GTU race, St. Lawrence would finish 8th, after a hard-fought battle with Don Devendorf, Yoshimi Katayama, Jeff Kline, Sam Posey, Dennis Aase, Frank Leary, and Casey Mollett.

St. Lawrence sold the car in late 1980 to Roger Burpee. Burpee raced the car from 1980 to 1982 in SCCA C-Production and IMSA GTU. Ron Emmerson came into ownership in 1983. Emmerson successfully campaigned the car from 1983 to 1991, winning many National and Regional races. Emmerson raced the car in the SCCA GT2 and IMSA GTU classes at racetracks like Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Sears Point, Laguna Seca, Portland, Seattle and at Road Atlanta for the 1984 Runoffs. A successful 1984 season led to Emmerson being crowned the 1984 SCCA Northern Pacific Regional Champion. He would participate in the Runoffs at Road Atlanta that year and finish 10th after starting from 15th position. The Different Drummer Racing IMSA GTU 260Z was restored to original specifications 2021 and is now campaigned by its current owner in historic races across the nation.

Historic details can be found on this PDF: https://app.box.com/s/okckomrskmh5t6dg4xd4q6du7gn9m1qs
More current photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6NFcm8tBqVNpynhP9

● Original SCCA logbooks included (includes early IMSA entries)
● PPG single stage paint by Customs by Miguel in Santee, CA
● Rebello Racing 3.0 L-series Race Motor - very fresh with only ~6 hours on the motor)
freshly tuned by Rob Fuller at Z Car Garage
● 44 PHH Mikuni Racing Side-draft Carburetors taper bored w/ Datsun Comp manifold
● Stahl racing headers
● BHJ/Rebello harmonic balancer
● Quartermaster Racing 5.5 button racing clutch/flywheel
● Datsun Competition Option 1 Racing 5-speed Transmission, CLSD 4.44 Gear Ratio, front/rear sway bars, racing oil pan
● Original Tilton Engineering Suspension w/ Koni Race shocks
● Ron Fournier fabricated racing components: aluminum radiator reservoir, oil catch
cans, switch panel, dash, door panels, inner panels
● Z Car Garage CV Axles
● 16x10&12 original E49 BBS magnesium race wheels
● AVON A24 slicks (~1-2 race weekends remaining)
● Full fiberglass Gnose body kit: hood, front fenders, doors, rear quarters, hatch
● Every nut and bolt replaced during restoration, using high-grade aircraft hardware
● Car comes with spares: E31 head, R190
differential case, original bits and pieces

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