Some people can’t let go of the past, and in this case, it’s not a bad thing. This tuned 240ZG from Japan oozes all of the classic cool that the older Fairladies are known for, but with a long list of upgrades, has enough performance to run with the current crop of track cars—including a new GT3.

To be fair, the GT3 is a 997 Mk.1, and it’s being driven very tentatively, but it’s a great lead-in. Even on the straights, the City Auto 240ZG has enough grunt to run with a 415-horsepower Porsche. That straight-line speed is due, in part, to an L24 motor bored to a solid three liters, a heavily worked N42 cylinder head, a 76-degree cam, 87mm pistons with L20 rods, an LD28 crank, and Mikuni MSR45 flat slide carburetors, all of which give 270 horsepower at a screaming 7500 rpm! That raucous, buzzy sound is enough to get a modern, tech-oriented racing geek nostalgic for the rosy past of motorsport.

The City Auto 240ZG blends old-school charm with modern day tire tech and some respectable grunt.

That thrust is sent to an R200 LSD with 4.3:1 gears, which is why the acceleration is relentless and even in any of Tsukuba’s numerous hairpins, the motor is always on-song. It also corners incredibly well too, what with huge 18″ Work Meister S1 rims measuring 10.5″ +3 up front and 11.5″ -17 in the rear. Running on 280-section Advan slicks, City Auto has employed a modern power steering system to help turn the near-foot of rubber at each corner.

Safe and secure, this Datsun’s cornering speed through the daunting Turn 12 is impressive to say the least; exhibiting a predictable amount of understeer in the faster corners and most of the slower ones, too. However, that torquey motor means a little wheelspin is never too far away—seen clearly at 7:44.