Ex-Jim Fitzgerald 1979 Datsun 280ZX Racer

This 1979 Datsun 280ZX was raced from 1980 through 1983 by Jim â??Fitzyâ? Fitzgerald, Paul Newmanâ??s close friend and teammate. Fitzy remains the winningest driver in SCCA history and campaigned this 280ZX in C Production as well as IMSA GTU, including appearances at the C Production Runoffs in 1981, 1982, and 1983. The car has belonged to Adam Carolla since 2009, during which time it was raced by him at the Monterey and Sonoma Historics. This Nissan vintage racer is now being offered for sale with a current SCCA logbook. Jim Fitzgerald was given this 280ZX in 1979 after racing Bob Sharpâ??s then-new 280ZXs that year. The car was prepared by Fitzgeraldâ??s crew in North Carolina for competition in the 1980 season. Photos of the current and Proformax livery the car wore in period are included and shown in the gallery. This historic racer has been restored and is currently finished in the Tricolor livery worn during GT2/GTU competition. Carollaâ??s name has been added in white script over the driverâ??s door. The car also made several magazine appearances while being campaigned by Fitzgerald and was featured in a Panasport advertisement wearing a variation on this same livery. The cabin remains close to its period specification, with a modern Sparco Corsa fixed back seat, blue Sparco harnesses, and a quick-release Sparco steering wheel added for safety. Instrumentation includes a centrally-mounted tach, dual oil temps gauges, a large shift light, and an air-fuel ratio module affixed to the dash. The transmission is a Nissan Competition Option 2 Direct-Drive 5-speed manual with a dogleg first gear. Power comes from an L28 2. The current build includes the following:L28 blocked overbored. 040â?³ and fine honedBlock decked and line-honedL28 OEM Forged crankshaft which has been balanced, nitrided and magnafluxedCarrillo L24 rodsCosworth L28 +. 040â?³ pistonsPiston domes custom machined and fitted to combustion chambers with valve clearances for camCustom camshaft with NMS adjustable sprocket, valve spring retainers and lash padsMalvern Racing stainless steel L28 intake and exhaust valvesChamfered headbolt holesCustom oil systemOEM 280ZX Turbo oil pump with NMS springs and shimmed relief valveN42 â??Square Portâ? heads, fully portedPort matched intake manifoldDetailed built notes are included with the sale and are pictured in the gallery. Several additional lift are shown in the gallery. The suspension includes Koni coilovers at all four corners. A set of â??Designated Hitterâ? decals can be seen in the gallery, a reference to Fitzyâ??s 1980 C Production runoff appearance, where he hit Freddy Bakerâ??s Jaguar XKE on the first lap and was disqualified. According to the story surrounding the sticker, Fitzy was given a â??Designated Hitterâ? nametag at dinner the night before the race.