Found on Craigslist Las Vegas
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/car/276683135.html
Land Speed Racers, Truck racers, Nissan enthusiasts, race vehicle collectors, and automotive historians, check this out!
Former World Record holding Land Speed Racing Truck - Nissan Hardbody Factory race car and it is race ready, or add a muffler and you might get a way with driving it on the street!
In 1994 the Nissan factory decided to stop offering the V6 in their line of pickup trucks in order to help meet the overall CAFÉ (Federal fuel efficiency) requirements for the rest of the car line which had just added the Infiniti cars. Hence, they were very desirous of pursuing anything that would enhance the performance image of the truck line, now limited to the 2400 cc, 4 cylinder, 12 valve motor. In pursuit of that image a contract was given to Desert Steel Motorsports of Lake Havasu City, Arizona to build and campaign a land speed racing truck and a drag racing truck with the goal of setting records. Desert Steel Motorsports was chosen due to their long history of truck racing programs with the factory. Most recently they had run the unlimited SCORE off road racing program with the mid engine, purpose built race truck driven by Scoop Vessels.
Desert Steel embarked on the challenge by building two trucks since the rules were very different between the SCTA (Southern California Timing Association, the world land speed sanctioning body) and the HNRA (National Hot Rod Association, the drag racing sanctioning body). To serve Nissan’s purpose the trucks had to be run in stock classes in order for them to be able to make use of the accomplishments in advertising.
The team to build these trucks was headed by the late Gene Crowe, legendary Nissan factory team manager and premier Nissan engine builder. Carl “CJ” Jackson, of off-road racing fame (SCORE Baja winner) was selected to drive, and the race was on. The SCTA was generous in what they would allow in the way of engine modifications, although the body had to remain stock, and when they say stock, they mean stock. The fit of doors, bed, and anything that could provide an aerodynamic advantage was taboo. Gene began by extensively massaging the head of the 2400 cc KA motor, and redesigned it to be fed by twin Mikuni carburetors instead of the stock injector (an SCTA legal step). Custom exhaust headers were fabricated by Gene, and the ignition became crank-fire. Unbelievably Genes’ work produced a staggering 292 horsepower on the engine dyno at Nissan factory motorsports in Carson, California during development. The cam has such duration that no vacuum was available to power the brakes so an electric vacuum pump was added to keep the stopping up with the speed. The engine oil system has an accumulator to insure full and complete oiling during start up and at all times.
The drive line uses a stock Nissan rear end with non slip differential and a transmission from a 300 ZX was selected to optimize the overall gearing. BF Goodrich provided the tires, Autometer the gauges (with shift light and peak recording tach, oil temp, oil pressure, fuel pressure, volts and a pyrometer for an exhaust gas temperature guage), Mastercraft the seat, Lecarra the racing steering wheel, Simpson parachute and the two halon on board fire systems are Flame Outs. The handheld two way radio is from Vertex who was a sponsor of the racing operation. The windshield and side windows are stock glass, the rear window is plastic. The radiator is aluminum and giant with an electric cooling fan. The race fuel lives in an ATL 15 gallon fuel cell mounted in the bed, and is pumped to the carbs by a Holley electric pump through a regulator.
The truck began it’s career on El Mirage dry lake in California in 1994 where it set records in D/PP at 121.594 and then in 1995 went 136.269 in class D/MP. The team learned how to repack the parachute and developed better techniques of applying the power to the ground with such as the hollow square tube rear bumper that is filled with hundreds of pounds of lead shot. The wheels are stock Nissan with real Moon disc covers (you can’t go to Bonneville without Moon discs), and off to Bonneville the team went. It raced there in 1995 & 1996, setting one record at 144 miles per hour in 1995. It was the world’s fastest normally aspirated four cylinder truck for quite a while.
The truck, named “the Spirit of Havasu” was then retired, and its records stood for some years after that. At the request of the Nisan Factory two cosmetic replica show trucks were built (they had stock running gear) and these toured the country appearing at car shows and dealer promotions for years. The actual truck was featured in the Nissan truck catalog and Nissan motorsports calendar as well. Since that time it has been in storage, put away with a fresh motor, ready to race, or be the ultimate eye (and ear) candy at the cruise night. You might have to add a muffler although it would be sad to quiet the amazing engine…292 Hp out of 2,400 cc on gasoline!
We dusted the truck off, added fuel and battery, aired the tires and it started right up and sounded just as incredible as it did a decade ago on the Salt Flats. The truck is not currently street licensed . It has Arizona title as a 1988, although it is “restored salvage” title. Needless to say this truck is being sold as is, however it is running and driving just fine. I can assist with delivery within 300 miles reasonably