Classic car owners generally come in one of two flavors. There are those that treat their automobiles as rolling museum exhibits and exude anxiety every time somebody breathes too close to their babies, and there are those who treat them like, well, cars. Although we have nothing against those who want to preserve and protect their cars for future generations, the best cars (and stories) come from people who toss aside nostalgia in favor of fun.

People such as Chris Bury and his father, who took a 1973 Datsun 240Z and modified it to take part in one of the most challenging races in the planet, the 10,000 mile Paris-to-Peking Rally.

The 37-day race covers some of the Eurasian continent’s toughest terrain, and contestants are still expected to cover an average of 270 miles per day. To handle the inhospitable course, Bury and his father upgraded the Z’s suspension with Bilstein air shocks and heavy-duty leaf springs from a Chevy Chevelle. The jacked-up Datsun also has a host of skid plates, chunky off-road tires (with a pair of spares on the roof rack above), a cow-catcher bar and reinforced components from front to back to ensure it has a chance of actually crossing the finish line.

The Paris-to-Peking Rally has a broad set of rules designed to encourage all kinds of racers to commit to the challenge, no matter the model or age. Bury certainly seems to be taking the challenge seriously though, even dedicating a Facebook page to their adventure. Just don’t spend too much time there, lest you find yourself plotting your own P2P project car.