{"id":22253,"date":"2022-05-15T09:03:59","date_gmt":"2022-05-15T13:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=22253"},"modified":"2022-05-15T09:03:59","modified_gmt":"2022-05-15T13:03:59","slug":"1135817_jay-leno-checks-out-an-sr20-powered-datsun-1600-restomod","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=22253","title":{"rendered":"Jay Leno checks out an SR20-powered Datsun 1600 restomod"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Datsun 1600 laid the foundation for the 240Z<\/a> and the line of Nissan Z sports cars that followed. Mike Spagnola of Purpose Built Motors respected that heritage while upgrading a 1600’s performance to turn it into a tasteful restomod that recently appeared on “Jay Leno’s Garage.”<\/p>\n

In addition to being special to Datsun and Nissan fans, the 1600 also has special significance for Leno because one of these roadsters was his second car purchase (after a 1934 Ford pickup truck). His car was nothing like this red roadster, though.<\/p>\n

The car started out as a bare shell, Spagnola said. While aesthetic changes are essentially limited to bigger wheels and tires with fender flares to cover them, a surprise waits under the hood.<\/p>\n

\"Datsun<\/p>\n

Datsun 1600 restomod on Jay Leno’s Garage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Datsun is powered by an SR20DET turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 from an S13-generation Nissan 240SX. While still a Nissan engine, it’s easy to modify and has extensive aftermarket support. With an aftermarket turbocharger, it makes about 300 hp at the wheels, and about 260-lb-ft of torque, Spagnola said. That’s a lot more than the stock engine.<\/p>\n

The new engine does fit more snugly in the engine bay, however, and Spagnola had to put some gold-leaf insulation on the hood to deal with the heat thrown off by the turbo. The brakes were sourced from a more modern Nissan sports car as well, in this case, a 300ZX.<\/p>\n

While the Datsun 1600’s lineage continues with the 2023 Nissan Z<\/a> sports car, the Datsun name itself may not be long for this world. After being retired in 1981, the Datsun name was revived<\/a> in 2013 for emerging markets, selling cars in countries like India, Indonesia, and Russia. But Nissan is mulling killing off Datsun again and reallocating resources to its electric-vehicle business, Nikkei Asia<\/em><\/a> reported in April 2022.<\/p>\n