1973 Datsun 1200B Samuri Sukati

FTM 193L underwent a complete rebuild in 2016 but has not been used since then however she starts on the button. In my honest opinion I believe she needs a refresh and a going over before use again.

Please see photos for further details but in our opinion she needs a full paint job, and if the buyer wanted to restore her to her former glory she would need signwritten but there are photos available. Among UK Datsun enthusiasts, particularly those with a fondness for the six-cylinder ‘Z’ series, there is no bigger name than that of Spike Anderson, legendary proprietor of Samuri Conversions and the man responsible for a succession of Z-based racers in the 1970s, most notably Win Percy’s famous ‘Big Sam’.
Anderson learned his trade at the legendary BMC tuning firm Broadspeed in the 1960s, working mainly on Minis and Big Healeys. When Spike left to set up his own company, Race Head Services, one of the first cars to benefit from his
experience was a humble Datsun 1200A, where he managed to coax 105 BHP from the engine.
Thus the humble Datsun 1200 always remained close to Andersons heart. Post the success of Big Sam in 1974 and change in direction to Toyota’s in 1975, Anderson fell upon hard times and regrettably had to sell the “original” Super Samuri Big Sam.
However (by his own admission), being a masochist Anderson wanted to go motor racing again and put his thinking cap on for a suitable project. He went back to his roots with a Datsun 1200, however this time he had bigger plans. He shoehorned a full house 240Z engine and box into the little saloon and named
it the “Sukati Samuri” – Sukati being the Japanese word for fantastic !
Sponsorship for the project was obtained via Brian Harvey of Grand Prix models, and developments continued including a Capri Back axle with LSD, significant suspension upgrades and brakes from an F2 single seater.
Motoring Journalist Clive Richardson was engaged as driver and a plan was hatched to enter the Sukati in Super Saloon Races.
The shakedown at Silverstone was less than successful, with the diff expiring after 1 lap. A replacement was sought and the Sukati was entered into a race at Mallory Park. Anderson drove the car to the circuit by road and Richardson jumped in the car for qualifying.
After 3 laps the Sukati boiled its brakes but they were able to remedy for the race. Starting from the back of the grid and on “road tyres” the Sukati finished 10th overall in Richardson’s hands.
The team could see the potential in the little Sukati and Anderson applied the letters “PTE” to the rear valance before the next race at Silverstone, when Richardson asked what this meant – Anderson smugly replied “Porsche Turbo Eater “!
Silverstone arrived and spirits were high after a successful qualifying session, however in lap 3 of the race a rear wheel parted company from the axle which resulted in a spectacular barrel roll rendering the shell beyond viable repair.
Anderson planned to continue with the Sukati programme and commenced with the reshell of the original Sukati into another 1200 registered “FTM 193L”.
Unfortunately, financial pressures meant that the project couldn’t continue and the incomplete Sukati lay dormant in Anderson’s workshop.
A chance meeting with Z cars enthusiast Chris Browning ensued and Browning commissioned Samuri Conversions to complete the project, but this time to Anderson’s desired spec. A full race 2. 82 Litre 240z engine on triple DeLoreto’s was fitted, the shell seam welded, rear safety cage fitted and the second Sukati was ready to be used in anger once more.
Browning used the car sparingly in Hillclimbs and sprints until a change of ownership in the late 90’s.
“FTM” was then laid up until discovered in 2008.
FTM was found to be in remarkable mechanical condition, however showed signs of being unused for a period, so a full recondition and rebuild was undertaken with the intent of producing a road legal car that stayed true to its competition
heritage.
FTM has remained in storage since completion of the rebuild in circa 2016, but fires on the button and is ready to go!
In our opinion FTM would make a unique competition car and would be eligible for CSCC, HRDC or Equipe Classic racing alongside historic hill climbs & sprints.
FTM’s history file includes original sales invoices from Samurai Conversions, press cuttings, and correspondence from Spike Anderson verifying the cars provenance.