Janne Uskalithe editor of the Finnish Bumber magazine for the custom motorcycle culture, also has a great passion for powerful four-wheeled machines.
With a background in stunt driving and the man behind Finland’s fastest road car – a Buick Grand National that ran the quarter mile in less than eight seconds – Janne is the type of person I would imagine behind the wheel of a drag-spec 1979 Datsun 280ZX.
In 2022, while Janne was preparing for the Sick Week Drag & Drive event in Florida, USA – a road trip for street-legal drag cars – he came across a local advertisement for a Datsun 280ZX with a small-block V8. The seller was Florida-based Swedish drag racer Adam Flamholc.
Although it was confirmed that the car had been modified for drag racing prior to 2000, its backstory was largely unknown. It even had Alabama license plates that read “Z 1979.” Because of this mysterious history, it was nicknamed the ‘Zombie.’
The Datsun wasn’t in great shape; it needed a lot of work on the chassis, body, and engine. Despite this, Janne saw the potential for a unique street drag car. He bought it and towed it the 1,000 miles to the event.
Even in its incomplete form, the Z intrigued enthusiasts, including Mike Finnegan of Death victim And Faster with Finnegan fame, who immediately fell for its raw, unfinished charm. In the spring of 2022, the Datsun was shipped to Finland for its resurrection.
The restoration was extensive and took over two years. A fresh coat of white paint was applied after Janne jumped into mechanicals, upgraded the suspension, and installed new tires, fuel lines, and carburetor. The interior was done up with stock parts and aftermarket additions like Jaz drag racing seats.
The exterior is inspired by Paul Newman’s Bob Sharp Racing Datsun Z, with a red, white and blue color scheme and large ’33’ racing numbers on the doors. Janne loved this classic American racing style and decided to copy it for his build.
Unlike Newman’s classic IMSA racer, Janne’s car has massive 14-inch-wide rear wheels. Custom “Datsun” lettering wraps around the deep cylinders, emphasizing the Z’s aggressive stance.
The car’s engine remains a bit of a mystery. It came with a Chevy small-block, but the exact displacement is unknown – it could be a 383ci stroker or a 350ci V8.
What’s unmistakable is the menacing sound. An aggressive camshaft profile gives the engine a clear idle, and custom side pipes with NASCAR-style RST boom tubes amplify it.
The naturally aspirated engine produces around 400 hp and is mated to a 2-speed Powerglide transmission, with a transbrake and a 2-step launch system. The rear is built around a Ford 9-inch diff with 4.88 gears, which ensures rapid acceleration.
The Datsun rides on 15×4.5-inch front wheels with 195-section tires and massive 15×14-inch rear wheels with 16.5-inch wide Hoosier slicks that are road legal.
Weighing in at just 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs), the Datsun is both powerful and light, which is why it is equipped with a roll cage certified for quarter-mile passes in 8.5 seconds.
Now street legal in Finland, Janne sees the car as a nearly finished project. There is still some work to be done, such as cleaning up the engine bay and addressing the cracked dashboard, but these are minor things.
In its current state, the Zombie Datsun leaves 100-meter-long black streaks on the asphalt every time it is launched from a traffic light, attracting the attention of car enthusiasts of all ages. Janne says: “Every time you start doing it, often older people come by and tell their ‘Datsun story’ from the past.”
For now, the 280ZX will remain in Janne’s collection, although he points out that it could find a new home once it’s completely finished. Until then, the ZombiesThe Datsun continues to be seen on the streets and race tracks of Finland, attracting attention with its striking looks, sound and performance.
Vladimir Lyadov
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