Early 70s Japanese race car aero

[HS30-H]

I thought it might be worth posting some reference photos for discussion about early efforts to 'improve' the aero characteristics of S30-series Z cars.

 

It seems to me that some of the parts-adding and mods performed over 35 years ago can still be food for thought today. At the very least, some of us might find the pictures of interest.

 

First shot. A 1971 factory 'Works' 240ZR race car with an FRP front panel that reduces the radiator inlet size ( I believe it was also fully ducted to the rad support panel ) and gives a separate inlet duct for the carbs. This car also sports a front 'spoiler' with brake ducts and slots for the QuickJacks used in the pits. The full-length FRP engine/trans undertray appears to be slightly damaged and is hanging down at the back.

Note that this car - like so many of the Japanese circuit race Z cars of that period - was built for endurance races that varied from 300 to 1000km in length:

 

 

Another Works car at speed. Similar to above spec, but with outlet ducting added to the bonnet ( hood ):

 

 

A slightly clearer view of the bonnet ducting in this 'pit-in' shot:

 

 

Aftermarket race parts suppliers in Japan were soon on the case, and producing their own versions of the parts seen on the Works cars. Here's a period magazine ad from 'Scuderia Nissan' ( a race team / parts manufacturer not actually affiliated to Nissan Motor Co. ) that shows a similar front panel treatment - but this time for the S20-engined Z432. Note the carb inlet duct on the opposite side to that of the L-series engined versions:

 

 

More to follow.......

[HS30-H]

During the 1971 race season, many of the 'Works' race cars began to be fitted with the newly-homologated 'ZG' aerodynamic body parts. These were updated, changed, modified and tweaked between almost every race, and by 1973 the full-blown super-wide overfender versions with super deep front spoilers were in full use.

Once again, radiator inlets at the front of the car were ducted all the way up to the rad support. These were difficult to see when the bonnet ( hood ) was in place, but were sometimes revealed in the pits - or when the car was damaged:

 

 

 

 

[BillZ260]

GREAT PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That works car is what I thing I have been searching for! I has the period race car look and probably decent aero kit attached. Between this and the new wind-tunell results, I'm in Aero parts overload but this is great!

 

Where did you come across these pics?

 

I REALLY DIG that "WORKS" front inlet.

[HS30-H]

Here's a car that shows some interesting modifications. Driver Haruhito Yanagida ( boss of well-known Z specialist garage and race team 'CENTRAL 20' ) was a sometime Nissan 'Works' SCCN team driver, and had good access to some trick Works parts and cars. However, he also had some of his own ideas - as illustrated here.

This cars sports the full Works Group 4 aero package G-nose kit. Note the extra-deep rear spoiler and small 'flip' strip above the rear window, and the alloy side-skirts:

 

[HS30-H]

During the 1972 season, some teams experimented with fins on the rear deck.

 

Here's Yanagida again, this time in his much-photographed red/white/blue Hitachi / Checkman-sponsored car:

 

 

And another SCCN team driver in the same event - Seiichi Suzuki in the Maruzen Technica-sponsored Tomei car. Suzuki was sadly destined to perish in a race accident within just a couple of years:

 

[jt1]

Very cool pics!!!!!

 

Thanks for sharing them.

 

John

[74Adam]

hmmm, looks like the hood is up just a bit in those last two

[OlderThanMe]

Very good pics!!!!

It looks like the vortex generators at the back should keep air from going around the spoiler...

[Mayolives]

Great photos.................Thank you!

[OlderThanMe]

I'll add some pics that I got on a quick web search...

 

just to show different cars...some you may have seen before and probably have. Others maybe not.

 

Note: interesting spook on the S30.

 

Gnose, big flares, and big spoiler

 

spirit garage Z:

 

I like this airdam along with the Gnose.

 

more coming...

 

More:

 

 

 

 

Notice the hood is open below:

 

[HS30-H]

olderthanme,

No offence, but random images found on the internet are not really what I had in mind for this thread......

 

I was attempting to start a conversation / discussion about early Japanese attempts to improve the aerodynamics on S30-series Z race cars, and factory 'Works' backed efforts in particular ( as they had some fairly good resources, and threw a fair bit of time and effort at the cars ). It seems to me that there are things to be learned there, as the cars DID get faster and the mods were NOT being planned with one eye on winning a beauty contest.

 

The other important fact is that parts that were JAF/FIA homologated in-period for these cars can be of great use to people that want to race in categories and races sanctioned by those bodies today. Here in Europe there are several cars in build at the moment that are going to be utilising the full Works Group 4 aero packages, and that will be competing with other 'period' modified race cars under FIA rules. Proof of use 'in-period' can help these teams pass scrutineering, and allow them to get nearer to their competition, and yet some of them have never seen what the factory teams were using in Japan - which seems a pity to say the least.

 

Some of the cars you pictured are using Works-derived body parts or copies of them; the yellow City Auto car uses the 1973-spec full Works aero package - as shown in one of the pit scenes I posted - so nothing new under the sun there in a way, although the huge diamtere wheels and tyres would be a no-no in a period-correct race series. The yellow Fujitsubo car uses the slightly earlier Works front spoiler, but again the modern wheels and rubber. The roof-chopped Challenge car was an Eighties creation, and an ( illegal ) road racer / hashiriya car - so it hardly qualifies under the criteria. The Spirit Garage car is great - but again a much later creation and not conforming to FIA/JAF rules either. See where I'm coming from?

 

And most importantly when discussing this kind of thing, I think you need CONTEXT. Unless you know something about the photos you are posting ( date, situation, specs, race category etc ) then it is hard to gain any really meaningful insight from them. That's why I try to post pics that I know something about.

 

Cheers,

Alan T.

[Mayolives]

I didn't know this was a "private" thread and that one person was in charge of the content. After all, isn't this Hybridz.org, where members share information? Olderthanme, your pictures are great.

[rags]

I'm starting to see a trend in this forum and it's very unHybridz like. Where's the love?

[BillZ260]

HS30-H,

 

Seems you have a deep wealth of knowledge pertaining to the Z's racing hearagite, which I both appretiate and enjoy! Id like to learn more and your posts have shared some stuff I've not run across before.

 

olderthanme's post is a contribution to the conversation here, if not for you, at least for me. olderthame's additions were also some pics I've not seen before. He's even got a couple of cool vintage Z race video's posted else where.

 

Don't be the guy that people look up, to only to shoo them away when spoken to.

[capt_furious]

 

 

I'd like to see this reproduced, maybe with a wider airdam that spans the width of the front wheels. This is the first I've seen of the Works Zs, the BRE Zs seem to get far more attention.

 

I'm a bit of a purist, so seeing historical precedent that fits the findings and theories rising from the HybridZ tests is good news.

 

I'd imagine that the fasica shown would be easy to reproduce in fiberglass...since the bumper's removed, one might be able to use the factory mounting holes for the bumper brackets to mount it. That'd be a pretty solid install and would hold up well at speed. Extending a duct back from the fascia opening and fitting it to the radiator opening would be a fairly simple affair.

[HS30-H]

I didn't know this was a "private" thread and that one person was in charge of the content. After all, isn't this Hybridz.org, where members share information? Olderthanme, your pictures are great.

 

I'm starting to see a trend in this forum and it's very unHybridz like. Where's the love?

 

olderthanme's post is a contribution to the conversation here' date=' if not for you, at least for me. olderthame's additions were also some pics I've not seen before. He's even got a couple of cool vintage Z race video's posted else where.

 

Don't be the guy that people look up, to only to shoo them away when spoken to.[/quote']

 

 

I'm just trying to keep the thread on topic.

 

I made an attempt to do that politely ( or at least I thought I did! ), and I tried to explain the reason why my photos depict early cases of cars running in JAF/FIA sanctioned events and the subject of 'period use'. That's the topic.

 

 

 

 

Sheesh. Sometimes posting on this forum feels like taking a stroll through Dodge City circa 1850.

[BillZ260]

I'd like to see this reproduced

 

ME TOO! Anyone up to trying to create this piece? I'm in for one if you do!

 

I'm just trying to keep the thread on topic.

 

Which is fine, but you tore into every single pic he posted. I think it was just a bit unfair, that's all.

[Mikelly]

Lets all be polite and all continue posting pics. You guys know how Alan T. is about keeping his facts straight. Factor it in when reading his posts. And Alan, play nice, but keep playing. Your contributions in this thread are something even I appreciate, and given our stormy past, that's saying something.

 

Maybe we break these two out into separate posts? One for FIA approved/period correct aeromods and one for "Pics of cool Zs with various unknown aeromods?"

 

Keep it friendly gang.

Mike

[jmark]

Great pics. Alan when does the book come out?

[Tony D]

I, too, would be interested in 'The Book' encapsulating Alan's hoarde of information. The tidbits I see never cease to amaze me.

 

Alan, the 'oval' opening seems to be an interesting permutation---what are the chances that the 'Datsun Macau' car had one of these front ends...from the photos the owner had at the time (halftone xeroxes of xeroxes of news clippings) this may be a possible, perhaps? Though I think the Macau car seemingly had more of a "GTO Ferrari" FRP complete nose...it was hard to tell from the photos on the display.

 

I really need to find those negatives, and have them reprinted---I can't find my prints anywhere from when I saw the car in 95...

 

Hopefully, I will be at Spa to see one of those such Group 4 Efforts materialize this year. I will take photos there, rest assured! LOL