---
title: "A Datsun 260Z SEMA Show Car Was Built In A Driveway"
description: "How Chasing Js' Datsun 260Z brought shakotan vibes to SEMA."
date: "2017-03-01"
modified: "2017-03-01"
authors:
  - name: "Danny Choy"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/danny-choy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/8002/a-datsun-260z-sema-show-car-was-built-in-a-driveway"
categories:
  - "Builds"
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "260Z"
  - "datsun"
  - "SEMA"
  - "SEMA Build"
  - "Tuner Cars"
---

# A Datsun 260Z SEMA Show Car Was Built In A Driveway

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/03/chasing-js-datsun-260z.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Attendees at SEMA are there to see the best of the best, and sometimes it's easy to forget the man-hours necessary to roll all that polished sheet metal to the showroom floor. One of my favorite builds at last year's SEMA was Chasing Js' gorgeous Datsun 260Z. On Friday, [Toyo Tires' YouTube channel](<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-L6iJ0XgwbkQiaMtTYM2w>) shared a new video titled "The Road To SEMA," following Chasing J's meticulous build ahead of the biggest aftermarket expo of the year:

https://youtube.com/embed/IrlelpH1EVc

Some of you may be familiar with Chasing Js – Dominic Le and John Esteban previously displayed their rad 'Hakotora,' an SR20DET-powered Datsun Sunny pickup truck with a Hakosuka GT-R front end. It impressed a number of people, including Jay Leno, who later [invited Dominic and the Hakotora to his garage](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-mfmWkoGk>).

It's not easy to one-up a project like the Hakotora. On paper, not even a vintage Fairlady Z is exciting enough for a sophomore album. After all, throwing parts together is one thing, but execution is another. But Chasing Js gets that.

The duo did their homework and pulled off a period-correct shakotan look for the Z car. The rare Gnose front-end is combined with aggressive over fenders that make just enough room for a set of Work Meister M1 wheels on Toyo Proxes T1 Sport tires. Finally, a tasteful John Player Works-style livery adds a little extra period flavor.

Under the hood is a mix of a little bit of old and new. Instead of getting rid of the original L24 motor for another SR20 or perhaps a big RB, Chasing J's opted to go a bit extra with a big single turbo Toyota 2JZ-GTE. The coolest thing of all? This Z wasn't built at a performance shop, but rather on their driveway.

While Chasing J's 260Z wasn't the only Z car at SEMA, the lovely execution and the surprising harmony of different styles and influences has made it definitely one of my favorites at SEMA. I can't wait to see what Chasing J's decides to build next.

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