There is a reason why Ferrari 250 GTO replicas are often based on the Datsun Z. The 240Z, 260Z, and 280Z were gamechangers for Datsun, the former launching in ’69 and bringing the looks and silhouette of arguably Ferrari’s most beautiful car to the masses. The resemblance is unmistakable, but whereas the GTO of ’62 has a 3.0-liter longitudinal 60° V12 in its nose, the Datsun had to go with something a little more humble. There is nothing wrong with the 2.4-liter to 2.8-liter inline-sixes in the Zs, but that doesn’t stop some Z fans wondering what the car would be like with a proper V12. Luckily, one YouTuber has the answer — and the results are one epic-sounding classic car.
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This Is One Badass Datsun 280Z
Michael Tung and Jordan Easter are two engineers who had the idea of bringing V12 power to a 280Z, turning it into a true E-Type and 250 GTO alternative. Unless you are looking at rare race cars such as the P35 prototype, Nissan-made V12 engines are fairly hard to come by. For that reason, Easter and Tung turned to a Mercedes-Benz SL600 V12 (M120) that they reportedly picked up for just $600 from a junkyard. The idea was originally to put it in Tung’s ’93 Mazda RX-7, but it was too big, so they decided on the Datsun instead.
The V12 Was A Tight Fit In The Datsun
The car in question is a Datsun 280Z, which arrived in the mid ’70s with an L28E as an iteration of the S30 Z, fitted with a 2.8-liter SOHC inline-six engine with iron block and aluminum head. Easter has fitted a 6.0-liter Mercedes V12 twice to this car, the original being done quickly for a hillclimb but suffering issues such as overheating. The second motor is from a ’90s SL, with a lot more time poured into it, with the exhaust system redone, the battery and wiring relocated, as well as the cooling system redesigned. A new custom-made radiator has also been fitted, as well as fitting an expansion tank to help with overheating. The battery has been relocated to the rear to make more room in the bay.
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Easter says she is big into roadsters with large engines, such as Cobras and Vipers. “That’s why I always wanted to do this build,” she explains, “to build a Datsun big-engine roadster.” But she says she wanted to keep a good balance, and that she is happy that the car has almost a 50/50 balance. The engine is not that much heavier than the L-series engine, so the balance and weight aren’t affected too much. Because the S-Class vehicles all came with autos connected to the M120, Easter has gone for a Tremec T56 Magnum. According to reports, the car is also fitted with coil packs come from a Honda Odyssey, a bespoke flywheel from Sweden, and the engine mounts had to be flipped to keep the V12 in place.
The V12 Makes The Z Sound Like A Supercar
After some home-made equal-length headers, the Datsun was recently ready to fire up — and it couldn’t have sounded better. Tung and Easter posted a video of the car being revved up, and it is pure supercar, with a menacing symphony from a Zonda that turns into an F1-like scream.
The car weighs just 2,795 lbs and the M120 is estimated to produce around 400 horsepower, making for effortlessly fast performance. It might not have quite the power of this turbocharged LS4-swapper 280Z, however. The Z is fitted with a cage so it is ready for competition, but is equally at home on the road. The engine is managed by a M120 Megasquirt MS3 Pro, and the exhaust system is completely home-made, with just one outlet at the rear to keep the car looking as stock as possible.
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Buying A Datsun 280Z In 2026
Even with the standard 2.8-liter inline six (with 170 horsepower thanks to the introduction of Bosch fuel injection), the Datsun 280Z is an attainable classic, despite being increasingly sought-after. Released in 1975, the car had more luxury features than its predecessors, plus an enlarged bumper designed to meet US Federal regulations. Overall, you can expect to pay $22,272 for a Datsun 280Z, according to Classic.com, with 1975 cars costing $17,588, and later ’78 models coming in at $23,853. Once you’ve got your hands on one, you can always see what engine might fit into the Z.
Sources: Classic.com.
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