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Sharp/Camel GT
Original Camel GT Pace car built by Bob Sharp Racing now in Sam Posey BSR livery
photos and copy are courtesy of SharpSite Motorsports
Copy from the e-bay ad
Bob Sharp Racing Datsun Camel GT Pace Car IMSA GTU 240Z 260Z 280Z Vintage Race Car
Here is your chance to own a truly unique and historically significant vintage race car. Offered for sale is the original Camel GT Pace Car as built by Bob Sharp Racing and featured in Ben Millspaugh’s book “Z Car; a legend in its own time” (page 20). Nissan entered the US market in the sixties timidly under the name Datsun and began to make a name for itself through racing. Early successes with the Datsun roadster lead to a full assault in SCCA with the 510 sedan and 240Z. The Datsun 240/260/280 Z won the SCCA C Production championships in every year from 1970 through 1979 against the might of Porsche, Triumph and Jaguar. The first CP championships were captured by John Morton driving for the RE team in 1970 and 1971 followed by Bob Sharp in 1972 and 1973. Paul Newman won for CP for Datsun and BSR driving a 280ZX in 1979. After dominating SCCA amateur racing in multiple classes Datsun/Nissan decided to try its hand in the highly competitive professional IMSA series. Bob Sharp Racing was commissioned to build a race car to campaign in the IMSA GTU class in 1975 and a similarly equipped pace car to be the flagship for the IMSA series title sponsor RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. Starting with two 260Z chassis donated by Datsun, the skilled staff at Danbury CT built both cars during the winter of 1974-5. The evolved bodywork was essentially a 240Z with fiberglass hood, fenders, flares, rear spoiler and a special aerodynamic G nose designed specifically for racing. At the time the rules allowed for 14” wide tires in the rear necessitating massive rear fender flares. Since it was anticipated that the Camel GT Pace Car would be used for show and a back-up race car in a pinch it also received the identical bodywork and spoilers as well as a competition safety cage and ATL fuel cell. Bob Sharp won the IMSA GTU championship in 1975 in the for Nissan’s first professional racing title in the nited States. In 1976 the original IMSA GTU Z was completely destroyed in a spectacular accident at Road Atlanta that ultimately wound up ending Bob Sharp’s driving career. BSR continued to win races and championships with drivers such as Elliot Forbes Robinson, Sam Posey, Jim Fitzgerald and Paul Newman.
The Camel GT Pace car was the property of the R. J Reynolds Tobacco Company and later the Whittington brothers when they owned Road Atlanta. The Z-car changed hands when the Whittington brothers ran afoul of the law. Restored in the Brown, white and gold Camel livery the car started a very successful vintage racing career. It was later repainted in the famous Bob Sharp Racing red/white and blue colors paying homage to the sister IMSA GTU Z-car that was destroyed. I have owned this car for over 12 years and sold it to a friend 2 years ago. I am listing this car on Ebay for the current owner. SharpSight Motorsports performed a complete mechanical freshening including the engine, clutch, brakes and shocks. All safety equipment is installed and functional including roll bar, fire system, belts, window net and new fuel cell built to the original specifications by ATL. The engine is a professionally built Nissan OHC 2.8 liter inline six fed by triple Mikuni carburetors extensively modified for racing by Wolfcreek Racing. In its current state of tune the engine is producing well in excess of 300 reliable horsepower. All of the go-fast goodies are on this car such as Nissan Comp ceramic coated header and intake, MSD ignition, crank fire, Nissan Comp large capacity oil pan, Oberg oil filter, adjustable suspension, Wilwood brakes and Goodyear Eagle Radial slicks (25.5/14 x 16 on the rear and 23.5/10.5 x 16 on the front). The transmission is an ultra-rare 5-speed Nissan Comp Option 2 Direct Drive transmission. Included in the purchase price are the HSR and SVRA log books, a photographic album of the restoration and a professional freshening of the engine.
The outstanding neutral handling of the car makes it suitalbe for the wannabe Walter Mitty yet fast enough to satisfy the seasoned racer. It is ideal for DE and track events and has a second seat with harnesses for an instructor or passenger. Here is your once in a lifetime opportunity to own, show and race a rare piece of automotive history with tremendous investment potential.
IMSA GT/U Z Racing in the '70s and '80s
IMSA GT/U Z Racing page 2
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