Battered rally winner

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 14

Battered rally winner

The actual car which won last year’s gruelling 4000 mile East African Safari will be a feature of the Datsun stand at the Christchurch International Motor Show. Special arrangements have been made for the car to be shown and it is a real feather in the New Zealand importer’s cap as the car has not yet been seen in many countries. The winning car is a Datsun 240 Z sports coupe and was driven to victory by Edgar Herrmann and Hans Schuller. Another Datsun was second and yet another took seventh spot to collect the Team’s and Manufacturer’s awards as well! The bright red Datsun sports had a highly tuned motor developing just on 245 b.h.p. compared with the standard version at 150 b.h.p. but it used standard

running gear. For the Safari the car was fitted with extra driving lights, a light weight duralium sump guard and special wheels and tyres. To get an idea of just how tough the Safari really is, only 32 of the original 107 starters actually completed the course! Herrmann and Schuller were not newcomers to the Safari, and neither were Datsun! In 1970 the combination won the event in a Datsun 1600 SSS sedan! After their victory in the East African, Hermann and Schuller drove a modified Datsun 1600 sedan in the Australian Ampol Trial — and won that, too! Some Datsun 240 Z successes:— 1970: Class winner S.C.C.A. Championship (U.S.A.) 1971: “Car of the Year” by “Road. Test” Magazine. 1971: “Best all round Car” selection—ninth an-

nual readers choice poll by “Car and Driver.” 1971: Ist and 2nd overall in East Africa Safari plus Team prize and Manu-< facturers prize. 1971: Ist place in Welsh Rally. 1971: Manufacturers Champion for Trans America Race Series. 1971: Manufacturers Champion for S.C.C.A. (U.S.A.) race. 1972: Third prize in the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally. Specifications (of the standard 240 Z) — Engine: S.U.H.C., 6 cylinder, dual S.U. carburettors, 2393 c.c. (146 cu. in), 151 b.h.p. Transmission: All synchromesh 5 speed (inclusive of overdrive). Suspension: Front, independent strut type with coil springs, compression rods and stabilisers; Rear, independent strut type with coil springs and A type transverse link. Performance: 130 m.p.h. i mile in 16.3 seconds.