Background
In 1983, Nissan announced the car that they hoped would take them to success in the World Rally Championship. The car they chose was a heavily modified Nissan Silvia designated the 240RS.
The power for the car came from the Nissan FJ24 engine, consisting of an iron cylinder block, topped with an aluminium cylinder head containing chain driven dual camshafts and running at 11.5:1 compression ratio. To run at these high compression ratios the engine was equipped with forged alloy pistons, a forged alloy crankshaft, and a wet sump oil pump. Nissan decided to use the normally aspirated engine rather than Turbo charged variant, even though this was available in their domestic market.
The power was transferred to the wheels through a lightweight competition flywheel, mounted with a twin plate clutch, before passing through a F5C71B (Nismo) transmission, and exiting via a triple joint reinforced prop shaft.
The bodywork of the car consisted of a mix of traditional steel and Fibre Reinforced Plastics. The FRP panels include front & rear bumpers, bonnet and boot lids, front & rear wide arches. The car’s glass was also replaced by polycarbonate windows, to both reduce weight and increase safety.
This Car
Genuine 240RS that was the ex-Blydenstein demonstration rally car and was the car that the press including Motoring News tested in 1984. Sold by Blydenstein in 1985 and transported to Ireland where it was used as clubman’s rally car before being very badly damaged on a rally in late 80’s.
It was stored, still damaged, until being sold to the current owner in 2002 who has completely rebuilt/restored the car to full ET tarmac specification, including the last FJ24 engine modified by Bill Blydenstein himself, as a special favour to the current owner. The car is in the correct Nissan works Marlboro colours.
Technical
Engine : four-cylinder, 2.4ltr, in-line, longitudinally mounted in the front of the car, twin overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, 275 bhp
Induction : Twin Webber Carbs, Normally Aspirated
