Wild Vintage Datsun Roadster Is all Corvette Underneath

A C5 provided the bones for this particular build.

Show and Go

We’ve seen some wild Corvette-inspired builds in our time, as well as virtually any kind of vehicle one can think of sporting LS power. However, this 1969 Datsun owned and built by Anthony Palladino might just take the cake, and it’s not just some show queen, either. Rather, as Holley found out at the recent LS Fest Texas, this widebody marvel was built to compete on the track, too.

Photos: Holley Performance

Like Nothing Else

The vintage Datsun certainly looks like nothing else out there, thanks to its ultra-wide fenders and giant wing, which actually serve a purpose in this case, proving downforce and the space required for some massive wheels and tires. But it’s the mechanicals of this build that have us intrigued.

Photos: Holley Performance

New Powerplant

Pop the hood, and you’ll find the familiar LS1 V8, which in this case has been treated to a host of modifications including a Holley SCS universal turbo kit. But even in stock form, this particular powerplant would represent a massive upgrade for this old Datsun.

Photos: Holley Performance

Keeping Tabs

On the inside, this build keeps things simple with a Holley 12-inch Pro Dash conversion that helps the driver keep tabs on what’s going on under the hood. That’s obviously a good thing given the fact that the build sees regular action on the track, having competed in the Grand Champion event at LS Fest Texas, too.

Photos: Holley Performance

Dare to be Different

Underneath that wildly modified sheetmetal lies what is essentially an old C5 Corvette that Palladino used to race in OUSCI competition. However, he wanted to do something a bit different to stand out from the crowd, which is where the idea to build this wild machine came from.

hotos: Holley Performance

Corvette Roots

Thus, the old Datsun rides on a full custom tube chassis that the owner built himself, in his own garage. That base has been fitted with C5 front and rear cradles, the suspension, and of course, that car’s entire drivetrain to boot.

Photos: Holley Performance

Truly Unique

The end result is a truly competitive all-rounder, as this car has competed in everything from autocross to drag racing and pretty much everything in between. Perhaps more importantly, there’s nothing else like it out there, no matter what type of motorsports it might be competing in.

Photos: Holley Performance

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