The Nissan 240RS was a very simple but efficient rally car. Unfortunately it was introduced when the competition was quite strong. It's Japanese contemporary,the Toyota Celica twin cam turbo wiped the floor with the 240RS. The Opel Manta 400 also walloped the 240RS senseless in most rallies. When the history of the 240RS is written however,six world rally championship drivers must be mentioned as indeed,they put the model on the world map of rallying. These six drivers exploited the utmost from the 240RS' FJ24 engine. The car was hopelessly outclassed by the two wheel drive opposition. The six heroic drivers who put the Nissan 240RS on the world rallying pedestal were,Shekhar Mehta(Kenya),Alain Ambrosino(Ivory Coast/France),Timo Salonnen(Finland),Mike Kirkland(Kenya),Tchine(Monaco),Jayant Shah(Kenya). No other WRC driver at the time delivered better results driving a 240RS than these six drivers.
When we ran these things, the lads often referred to them as Morris Oxfords - they had a steering box for God's sake. And the drive from the crank to the cams was just weird.
For the 2WD adventure, only the Toyota Celica spoilt the 240RS's outing! Was a truly phenomenon Rally Raid Kit....might've come a little late into the fray in 1984 when the Quattro was simply on song!
If timo wasn't driving for Nissan I don't think it would have been a car to remember but it was one of those cars to remember when it entered Rally Kenya Safari since it was usually Toyota vs Nissan to the death at the safari rally.
I have a little miniature model, the #12 driven by J. Shah and A. Khan. They were unfortunately a little too late. The predecessor, Datsun 510 won the safari rally 4 times (79-82).
You are wrong Sir,the Datsun 510 AKA 1600sss won the East African Safari Rally only once and that was in 1970. The 160J PA10 won from 1979 - 1981 and the Violet GT won in 1982.
You're right praggoz, they arrived to late to the WRC...and the 160J, wow, an amazing car! My father had one (street version with L series engine) when I was a kid in the mid 80's and was so fun drive
![Bosch Acropolis Rally 1986 | Group B [Passats de canto] (Telesport)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1JVdL87BeQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Bosch Acropolis Rally 1986 | Group B [Passats de canto] (Telesport)](/img/tr.png)
![Lp. Последняя Реальность #107 РОДНОЙ ДОМ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IK3QKzKUlHM/mqdefault.jpg)
The Nissan 240RS would have been a sure WRC winner if only NISMO had taken the bold step to Turbocharge the car.
It probably would have been a winner but their gearbox’s and rear axles couldn’t keep up with the normally aspirated engine as it were. 🎉
Thank you so much for the upload. This is my favorite car in the world. It's inspirational.
My first car was an 82 s110 200sx with the Z22E. I wish I had never sold it. Great video! I never knew how much potential my old datsun had.
The Nissan 240RS was a very simple but efficient rally car. Unfortunately it was introduced when the competition was quite strong. It's Japanese contemporary,the Toyota Celica twin cam turbo wiped the floor with the 240RS. The Opel Manta 400 also walloped the 240RS senseless in most rallies. When the history of the 240RS is written however,six world rally championship drivers must be mentioned as indeed,they put the model on the world map of rallying. These six drivers exploited the utmost from the 240RS' FJ24 engine. The car was hopelessly outclassed by the two wheel drive opposition. The six heroic drivers who put the Nissan 240RS on the world rallying pedestal were,Shekhar Mehta(Kenya),Alain Ambrosino(Ivory Coast/France),Timo Salonnen(Finland),Mike Kirkland(Kenya),Tchine(Monaco),Jayant Shah(Kenya). No other WRC driver at the time delivered better results driving a 240RS than these six drivers.
Nice Cars
A dream that never come again.
The 240RS was RWD, but raced against other Group B AWD cars like the Quattro.
When we ran these things, the lads often referred to them as Morris Oxfords - they had a steering box for God's sake. And the drive from the crank to the cams was just weird.
I like this car very much, its simple but cool and relyable.
Tony Pond was perfect on tarmac.
@Praggoz
Thankyou very much.
Kind regards.
For the 2WD adventure, only the Toyota Celica spoilt the 240RS's outing! Was a truly phenomenon Rally Raid Kit....might've come a little late into the fray in 1984 when the Quattro was simply on song!
What's the music at the beginning?
5*
My favorite datsun
Thank you for this. It's a huge help with my research.
By chance, do you know who the driver/navigator are?
If timo wasn't driving for Nissan I don't think it would have been a car to remember but it was one of those cars to remember when it entered Rally Kenya Safari since it was usually Toyota vs Nissan to the death at the safari rally.
You are wrong Sir,the 240RS had the best results from the two Kenyan drivers, Shekhar Mehta and Mike Kirkland.
My Group B Hero, why? Because it would've been the most fun 🤣
240RS is the homologation model I'd choose over the turbocharged moNsters of Gr. B.. Well, maybe not over 205 T16.. But it would be closw call
Most of you will think im full of it but my father owns one. The engine just needs to be installed back in.
Cyota Corolla post a video
Does he still have it? Is it for sale?
3:09 where is this?
I have a little miniature model, the #12 driven by J. Shah and A. Khan.
They were unfortunately a little too late. The predecessor, Datsun 510 won the safari rally 4 times (79-82).
You are wrong Sir,the Datsun 510 AKA 1600sss won the East African Safari Rally only once and that was in 1970. The 160J PA10 won from 1979 - 1981 and the Violet GT won in 1982.
tom lepski. They are all name variations of the same car afaik, so calling me wrong is bit of a stretch.
You're right praggoz, they arrived to late to the WRC...and the 160J, wow, an amazing car! My father had one (street version with L series engine) when I was a kid in the mid 80's and was so fun drive
were these cars RWD or AWD???
@UBIQUEROL It's Ain't Love Grand by Hott City
Shame they were a couple of years late on the scene.
Nice car.
At 3:00, nice Renault 5!
That engine sound kind of reminds me of the 4age. Kinda sounds similar.
Makes sense, considering both are high output n/a twin cam fours