Shekha Mehta and Lofty Drews on the 1971 RAC Rally.
Lofty Drews with a replica of the car's Japanese carnet plate.
Lofty Drews (left) and the car's current owner, Nelson Cottle, from Auto Court in Dunedin.
“The car was now very tired, and after I acquired it, I set about restoring it in the early 1980s. The shell was in a very poor state, hence the replacement.
“In my view the car is a correct restoration of the original,” he said.
According to Cottle, the car ran a number of different registration plates during its rallying career.
“When it first arrived and was campaigned by Datsun in the 1970 and 1971 seasons, it ran the Japanese carnet plate TKS33 SA696,” Cottle explains.
“During Cal Withers’ ownership it ran his personalised plates, CAL1 and KEG1, then after he sold it, it ran the standard UK plate PTD524K, which it currently sports now.
“The Japanese carnet plate that came with the car is a replica.
“The car was reshelled after Roy Fidler rolled it on the 1972 Scottish Rally, but other than that, it still retains many of the works parts.
“When I purchased the car I received the original UK registration papers, log book and FIA papers,” he adds.
STEPPING BACK IN TIME
Taking a close look at the Datsun 240Z, you get a sense of just how tough those events in the early 1970s really were.
Safari and RAC rallies of the day were long and arduous affairs that often ran all day and through the night, with minimal rest halts. Just finishing such events, let alone winning them, was a feat in itself.
The Datsun 240Z in question has all the landmarks of a classic, early 1970s forest racer.
On the inside, the roll cage is just a hoop with a couple of legs bolted to the floor. There are two spare wheels which, while adding considerable weight, were essential cargo for the marathon events of the day.
The interior itself is sparsely fitted out, as the rally cars of the time were, however, the Zed does sport the ‘works’ rally seats and harnesses, and a small footrest for the navigator.
Externally, the old and hardened Dunlop A2 rally tyres are straight out of the 1970s, as are the reversing light and tow hook bolted to the chrome rear bumper.
"The car is missing some of it period parts, like the works mud flaps, carburettors and airboxes, jacking points and twin exhaust system," Cottle explains.
"Johnathan Bradburn on-sold this car, plus two other 240Zs, including an ex-Win Percy 240Z race car (rego LAL909K) to the Arthur Carter Collection. For reasons unknown, Arthur Carter converted the race car to rally spec and some parts from PTD524K were removed and fitted to LAL909K.
"I have been fortunate enough to find the correct Solex carbies and airboxes, driving light switches, mud flaps etc, over the years, and will have to fabricate the likes of the exhaust and jack points which will be fitted back to the car during the restoration."
WONDERFUL MEMORIES
History aside, seeing Lofty Drews get reacquainted with the car was a joy to behold.
Sitting in the left-hand seat of the car, stories of his adventures in the low-slung Datsun came flooding back and he was quickly entertaining his audience of his and Shekhar Mehta’s exploits.
All of which was music to the ears of Nelson Cottle who, for 12 years, has had the car sitting in a shed, and seemingly needing “the spark” to complete his restoration project.
A successful business and a busy family life has seen the car sitting dormant since 2006, but amazingly, with a fresh battery and a splash of fuel, the 240Z quickly roared back to life.
As for its future, Cottle plans to complete the restoration by adorning the car in the colours that Mehta and Drews ran during that 1971 RAC Rally.
It would be hard to think of a more fitting tribute.
And as for Lofty Drews, with a mind still as sharp as a tack, and a lifetime of stories to tell, one can only hope that he has a book in the making, and that one day we can all read the exploits of a remarkable career.
Lofty Drews was thrilled to be reunited with the works Datsun 240Z in New Zealand. Photos: Peter Whitten
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