And thus, the pivotal moment in this 380RS' saga. Its aforementioned powerplant was produced exclusively for the car, meaning finding a replacement would be damn-near impossible, if not just that. Rather than commit to a bank-account-be-damned snipe hunt for OEM parts that may not even exist outside the other 299 running 380RSs, Yamazaki-san instead chose to spite the mongers of convention, and embark on a bank-account-be-damned build-up of a unique, highly modified masterpiece that would best the 380's intended performance in every regard.
The simple desire to "make this car faster than it was" would be tested, as this Fairlady Z Type 380RS became the subject of a focused, 13-month transformation that would see the car assume a vastly more aggressive twin-turbocharged identity. With the help of Kyoto-based specialty tuner/fabricator Phoenix's Power, a painstaking re-invention of the car's engine was undertaken to ensure reliability and fantastic output. The task of reinforcing the largest VQ35-based engine in existence (95.5mm bore, 88.4mm stroke) and its limited numbers all but forced the acquisition of prototype parts. With one-off Jun forged pistons, H-beam connecting rods and a forged crankshaft, the engine was prepped to enjoy fat boost. It was balanced and carefully assembled by Phoenix's Power, and ported VQ35HR heads with stock camshafts were called in to enhance airflow. An HKS GT-RS twin-turbo arrangement was fitted to the motor, and in proprietary fashion, a Phoenix's Power turbo-back titanium exhaust system was fabbed up to relieve them. The intercooler and associated intake piping were also fabricated by Phoenix's Power, making for an extremely high degree of finish. The installation work included fabricated coolant tanks and an enlarged ARC radiator to help tame this engine's heat. The fuel system was also vastly upgraded with a fabricated swirl pot and revised line routing in an effort to ensure that the 800cc injectors never run dry. Fine-tuning the engine is an HKS F-CON V Pro and Blitz SBC-iD boost controller, and tuning duties were handled by Phoenix's Power. The re-invented 3.8-liter engine now produces 653 horsepower from its original dimensions, which is sent through an ATS triple-plate carbon clutch to the stock rear end.
Phoenix's Power also installed one of their custom-valved suspension kits to push handling capability beyond Nismo-designed limits, while lowering stance 3.5 cm and not sacrificing the car's drivability. Stopping capabilities were also upgraded, courtesy of six-piston Endless monoblock brakes up front and four-piston monoblock units at the rear. The vehicle's exterior retains its original Nismo extended nose and rear diffuser, and the 380RS red leather-trimmed steering wheel, shifter, and Recaro seats inside. According to Yamazaki, he built the car to maintain its balance of comfort, utility and performance . . . just with elevated levels of each.
The engine, brake, and suspension upgrades applied to this most unique Z33 Fairlady model completely transform its dynamic character. With its blown engine a distant memory, any owner/driver of this Fairlady Z will enjoy performance even more unforgettable than that which Nismo envisioned for the small clan of 380RS owners. It is this visceral experience, the feeling behind the wheel of such a finely tuned car, that seems the right antidote to potential controversy from modifying such a rare gem. No one can be sure how the future will react 40 years from now to a Fairlady Z Type 380RS, but that really doesn't matter when the present is offering 653 horsepower and a willingness to use it.