Have you ever seen a car that is way more than the sum of all parts? You know, the car that costs a small fraction to build compared to a typical show car, yet somehow just looks so much better. San Jose's Heartbreaker member Yuta Akaishi has built such a car. A quick glance at the spec sheet shows a very modest list of parts yet the attention this car gets on the street is just a high as any car I've ever seen.
As we made our way through the city streets of San Francisco at night, I couldn't help but smile while watching this car drive. It did everything a new car shouldn't - it barely started, scraped everywhere, threw sparks constantly, couldn't go into any type of driveway and was louder than all hell. It is easily one of my favorite builds in recent years.
Just like his fellow Heartbreakers we've featured, most all of the work done to the car was completely custom and performed by the owner and his friends. The Z Car is predominantly owned and modified by "old guys" with little or no taste. In stark contrast, Yuta's car is built with form at the highest level of importance and it's nice seeing a car stateside that mimics the classic style of Japan. I can only pray that this kind of modification will continue to become more popular.
Tuning Menu
1973 Datsun 240Z
Owner Yuta Akaishi
Hometown San Jose, CA
Occupation Hotel worker
Power 90hp on a good day below sea level (estimated)
Engine Carbureted 2.4L L24 inline-six cylinder; custom exhaust
Drivetrain Stock 4-speed manual
Engine Management None - carbs baby
Footwork & Chassis Function Form Integra coilovers modified to fit; Swift springs; Techno Toy Tuning front LCA, RCA, Tension rods, rear LCA, camber plates; Z Car Customs tie rods
Brakes Stock
Wheels & Tires 14X9/10'' SSR MK-III wheels; 195/60R14 Falken Azenis RT-615 tires
Exterior Motorsport Auto front airdam, rear wing (not pictured), fender flares; Autopal H4 headlight conversion; miscellaneous primer; hand-drawn graphics; subway ring
Interior F1 Spec seat; Works Aero 330mm wood steering wheel
Audio Alpine IDA-x303 head unit, inline amp, 6.5'' speakers
Thanks You My mother Hideko, my sister Yui, everybody in Heartbreaker, everybody from DP, Matthew Garrison and his family, my roommates Alex and Amber, Victoria Nguyen and her family, everybody that featured the car even in its horrible unfinished state (Antonio, Linhbergh), everybody who helped me that I might be forgetting - Love all you guys <3
www zcarparts.com; falkentire.com; ssr-wheels.com; technotoytuning.com; yuta-akaishi.blogspot.com