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Forty years ago, the Datsun 240Z arrived in North America where it established a foothold for Japanese high-performance sports cars that ultimately led to the hobby we all enjoy today. In 1970, Peter Brock's Southern California-based Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) shocked the world by claiming the first SCCA National Championship for a Japanese production racer over long-established champions from Germany and England in head-to-head competition. That win, with driver John Morton at the wheel, and the follow-up title in 1971, changed the perception of the Z(r) and Japanese cars in general.
The #46 championship car carried the now famous red, white and blue BRE paint scheme designed by Peter Brock. In recognition of BRE's multiple championships in Nissan products and the Z(r)'s first championship, Nissan North America again teamed with Brock to create an updated rendition of the famous BRE livery on a specially modified 2010 Nissan NISMO 370Z Coupe.
The BRE 370Z was shown for the first time at a special BRE Reunion at the Historic Sportscar Racing Mitty Speedfest along with Nissan's upcoming 40th Anniversary Edition 370Z. The BRE 370Z is not just a show car it was built to current SCCA T2 racecar regulations and will see track duty later this year. It will also be on display at multiple Z(r) Club events around the country, including ZCon 2010, the annual Z convention, from July 28 to August 1 in Nashville.
The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition starts out as a 370Z Coupe Touring model equipped with manual transmission and Sport Package (including SynchroRev Match(tm), front chin spoiler, rear spoiler, Nissan Sport Brakes, 19-inch Rays forged aluminum-alloy wheels and viscous limited-slip differential) and adds a premium "40th Graphite" exterior color and red leather-appointed interior.
Additional exclusive equipment includes a high-luster smoke wheel finish, red brake calipers and 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front strut tower brace. Inside, along with the red leather-appointed seats are red door panel inserts, 40th Anniversary seatback and floor mat embroidery, red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and kneepads, smooth leather steering wheel with red stitching and a plaque of authenticity. Only 1,000 examples of the 40th Anniversary 370Z will be available in the U.S.