When our friend Shawn Bassett picked up his 1972 Datsun 240Z, the plan was simple: track days, some nostalgia, and a manageable project. Naturally, it didn’t all go exactly to plan. Years of wear — and rust — had crept into the chassis and floor, turning what looked like an exciting new toy into a long-term commitment. Bassett doubled down, tearing into the car’s bones and beginning a transformation that would eventually take him from local circuits to the clouds at Pikes Peak.
If you saw the car at the 2018 SEMA Show, you might remember a sharp-looking Z that hinted at purpose. That exposed carbon fiber version feels like a draft compared to what sits on track today. The evolution since then is the product of countless revisions, tear-down winters, and a growing skillset through Bassett’s shop, Attacking the Clock Racing. The name seems especially apropos here, because time was both the opponent and the motivator.
Power comes from a Texas Speed–built 427 LS, force-fed by a compact Garrett G42-1200 turbo. The combination is good for 850 horsepower, which is plenty for such a lightweight chassis. Even with a tight engine bay, the routing looks intentional thanks to Vibrant components, fabricated pipes, and some custom turbo plumbing. A Dailey dry sump setup keeps oiling reliable under race conditions, and Radium Engineering manages the fuel delivery demands cleanly. Cooling is handled by a ducted front end paired with CSF components, because climbing a mountain of thinning air at pace isn’t exactly gentle on intake temps.
Underneath, the original unibody has been supplemented — and in many places, replaced — by a tube chassis and a Pikes Peak–ready roll cage. Moton 3-way coilovers and SPL suspension parts dial in the grip, while custom knuckles from FDF Fab help with geometry. A StopTech Trophy big brake kit handles stopping power, backed by HEL brake lines. Toyo RS1 competition slicks are the only logical rubber choice. At full load, aero matters more than aesthetics, but this car does both. Attacking the Clock Aerodynamics contributes a wide array of carbon pieces, from the hood vents to the flat bottom, while an APR chassis-mounted dual-element wing towers over the hatch. It’s not subtle, but it’s not supposed to be.
Inside, the heritage of the 240Z’s original dash remains, even as modern race functionality takes precedence. A Haltech IC7 digital display sits front and center, while auxiliary gauges nest cleanly into OEM-inspired shapes. The brains of the operation come in the form of the Haltech Nexus R5 ECU, coordinating traction control, power distribution, and data delivery without the usual tangle of separate systems. A paddle-shift enclosure flanks the steering wheel, commanding a BMW M3 dual-clutch transmission through an HTG control unit — a seemingly unlikely combination that works far better than expected.
Safety is handled with Sabelt gear, a custom aluminum rear firewall, and a Lifeline fire suppression system. An OBP pedal box and ATC button box keep ergonomics in focus. Even battery placement has careful thought behind it, utilizing an Antigravity ATX-30RS housed in a rally-spec enclosure from Mele Design Firm.
The car’s aesthetics still matter to Bassett, but not in a show-car sense. Attacking the Clock Racing’s builds tend to share a certain posture: functional, aggressive, and distinct without being loud for the sake of loudness. The team’s work stands out not because of polish alone, but because each line and opening on the car has a job.
And yet, for all the parts lists and technology, the story of Bassett’s 240Z is more about persistence and growth. The rusty track toy became a SEMA build. The SEMA build became a time attack weapon. From there, the ascent — pun absolutely intended — continued to one of motorsport’s most demanding hillclimbs. Progress didn’t come all at once, but you can see it in every panel and weld. Racing the clock doesn’t end at the finish line. It continues in the shop, after hours, and until the next revision. The proverbial hill just keeps getting taller, and Bassett seems content to keep climbing.
⸻
ESSENTIALS
1972 Datsun 240Z
Location:
Horsepower: 850
Club: Attacking The Clock Racing
SOCIAL
IG: @shawnb26
ENGINE
Texas Speed built 427 LS motor
Radium Engineering (fuel pump hanger, fuel filler, dry brake, fuel pressure regulator)
Garrett G42 turbocharger
PTP (turbo blanket, wastegate blanket)
Dailey dry sump system
Vibrant Performance (fabrication components, clamps, custom turbo dump)
Custom (turbo manifold, pipes)
Haltech Nexus R5 ECU
Custom cooling/ducting front end package
CSF (radiator, intercooler)
HEL Performance custom lines
EXHAUST
Vibrant Performance custom side-exit exhaust
DRIVETRAIN
BMW M3 DCT transmission
Domiworks adapter plate
Driveshaft Shop custom aluminum driveshaft
HTG Tuning GCU
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
Work Wheels Meister L1 wheels
Toyo Tires RS1 competition slicks
StopTech Trophy Kit big brake package
HEL Performance brake lines
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
Moton Suspension 3-way coilovers
SPL Parts suspension components
Custom tube chassis
Custom FIA/Pikes Peak-spec race roll cage
FDF Fab rear knuckles
DC Electronics electric-assist steering rack
AST Suspension (55mm air jack system, safety stands)
EXTERIOR
Custom carbon fiber wide body
ATC Aerodynamics (carbon fiber aero package w/ shark fin, front splitter, custom splitter rods, flat bottom, rear diffuser, canards, custom aero hood vents, louvers)
APR Performance chassis-mounted GT-2000 dual-element wing w/ custom swan-neck mounts
INTERIOR
Modern race interior
Sabelt (Taurus racing seat, 6-point safety harness, racing window net, GT-style steering wheel)
Lifeline Zero 360 (electric fire suppression system, hand-held fire extinguisher)
Custom aluminum rear firewall
ATC Racing (integrated motorsports button box, paddle shifter)
OBP Pro V3 pedal box
Haltech IC-7 dash
AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS
Antigravity Batteries ATX-30RS battery
Mele Design Firm ATX30 rally spec battery box
SPONSORS
LEEN Customs
Toyo Tires
Attacking the Clock Racing
Moton Suspension
HEL Performance USA
Garrett Motion
Vibrant Performance
Sabelt America
Radium Engineering
Haltech
APR Performance
Lowered Lifestyle
WORK Wheels
Vyper Industrial
Stilo
Antigravity Batteries
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Story by Adam Gordon
Photography by Michael Autrey (@nightadderphotography)
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