2 + 2 = 260: A Rare S30 Variant Gets The Spotlight
Words and photos by Michael Chandler
The S30 chassis Datsuns are some of the most gorgeous cars to ever be shipped off of the islands of Japan. The curves and swoops of the coupes will forever remain a pinnacle of automotive design. But something you might not know is that all S30s aren’t coupes. Between 1974 and 1978 they built 2+2’s: longer 260zs (163 inch length and 90.6 in wheel base for the coupes vs. 175 and 102.5 for the 2+2s) with room for two more passengers!
And they’re rare too, while Nissan built them between 1974 and 1978, they were only available in the US as 1974 models. Of the 49,671 260Zs sent to America, only 9,499 were the 2+2 variant. And only one of those 9.499 belong to one Mr. Taigon J. Rider.
The 260Zs had larger engines than the previous 240Z, but didn’t make that much more power due to restrictive emissions equipment and retarded timing. So Taigon stripped all of those pesky emissions things off of the L26, and set the timing to an appropriate mark. While he was stripping things, he was also adding things: like an entirely straight piped exhaust and a wrapped header. On the other side, the intake side, he traded up to a pair of SU Roundtop carburetors topped off by MSA air trumpets. He also addressed the forty year old ignition system. He installed a Crane Cams Fireball XR700 electronic ignition, along with an MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil and a sextet of NGK spark plugs. Most of the afore mentioned modifications aren’t visible unless the hood is up, but one thing is: the Hayden Cooling Systems oil cooler. That oil cooler is a convenient segue to the exterior of the car.
Which is utterly striking. The deep, rich blue paint accentuates the curves inherent to all of the S30s. The blue is contrasted by the white custom front grille and Roberk fender mirrors. Below the grill is a Xenon urethane air dam to accentuate the car’s strong jaw line. And the flares! The massive MSA flares on each fender not only add to the aura of the Datsun, but are also necessary. Underneath them sit massive 15×10 -40 American Racing Eagle Alloy 028 wheels, with 195/60 Falken Ziex ZE612 tires stretched over their massive width.
Inside the different cabin are a pair of racing seats: a Corbeau TRS seat for the passenger and a mystery seat for Taigon. No matter the seat, the occupant is held securely in place by Takata harnesses. The driver grips a MOMO Competition steering wheel for most things, and a OEM “Z” shift knob to change gears.
A rare variant of a classic chassis has been turned into something more unique, by a man with a unique name and Instagram handle: @taigonrider
