Nissan Z rally tribute unveiled – but it’s not for showrooms

Japanese car-maker Nissan has turned its latest-generation Z sports car into an off-road rally machine, paying tribute to the coupe’s competition heritage – but don’t expect it in your nearest showroom.

Officially called the Safari Rally Z Tribute, this lifted and stickered-up sports coupe celebrates the Nissan 240Z winning the circa-6100km 1971 East African Rally.

If this all seems familiar, the 50th anniversary of the 240Z’s win was celebrated in July 2021 with digital renderings of a Nissan Juke-based tribute to the sports coupe – later turned into a real car in May 2022.

However, Nissan has now entrusted South Carolina-based speed shop Tommy Pike Customs with turning its new Z car into a true representation of the rally winner.

In addition to the red-and-black livery which replicates that of the 1971 240Z’s, the Nissan Z has been equipped with LED driving lights on its front bumper, bonnet and A-pillars, while a bumper guard and skid plate protect its V6 engine.

Under the body panels, there’s custom KW ‘Safari’ suspension and Nismo parts which deliver an extra five centimetres of ground clearance – and help to provide room for the 17x7.5-inch Nismo Safari wheels, wrapped in Yokohama Geolander mud-terrain tyres.

The Nissan Z’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine produces no more power or torque than the standard road car, but has been upgraded with a Nismo cat-back exhaust system, cold air intake, carbon-fibre engine cover, coolant expansion tank, heat exchanger, and twin-disc clutch and flywheel.

Inside, a four-point harness holds front seat occupants into their Recaro ‘Pole Position’ racing seats.

Unfortunately, unlike the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato, Nissan does not plan to put the Safari Rally Z Tribute into production.

Instead, it will be on display at this week’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas, alongside a replica of the 1971 East African Rally-winning 240Z.

However, Nissan and Japanese watchmaker Seiko have released a ‘Seiko Safari Z watch’, paying tribute to the latter’s sponsor logos on the side of the 240Z – limited to 240 examples and priced from $US299 ($AU470).