The Ultimate Passion Project
Tim’s 1970 Datsun 240z
We often see or hear the phrase “built not bought“ from many car enthusiasts. Perhaps from a sticker on someone’s car, or printed on a t-shirt, or maybe even used as a clever social media caption to show that the car has been uniquely tailored to the owner’s likes and preferences. When it comes to building cars, there are a lot of ways one can go about it. In fact, there are so many variations that I always find myself circling around a car that leaves me with countless numbers of questions. While I may get all the parts list from the owner, what I find even more interesting are the stories as to how they came about such decisions to create something that is an extension of themselves.
Tim Hicks, who is the owner and founder of Industry Garage has created exactly just that with his 1970 Datsun 240z. When I first saw this car at the Japan Classic Track Day, I knew from that moment that I was looking at something that was a result of immense passion.
It’s actually quite funny how things work out sometimes. Tim was first inspired to get a Datsun when he saw it featured on Speedhunters. He acquired his Datsun in 2009 with no plans whatsoever to transform it into something completely unrecognizable from its original condition. The entire car is dressed in carbon fiber which he fabricated himself through his own shop: Industry Garage. The suspension components are tailor made for track use with Techno Toy Tuning components and Fortune Auto coilovers to keep the car precise around the track with its new power to weight ratio. While it’s easy to fixate on the end result, we can’t overlook the fact that this project took him about 10 years to get to this level… and after all that he found himself with his own feature on Speedhunters last month ready to inspire the new generation to purchase a Datsun and make something crazy out of it… just like him.
While the level of craftsmanship involved in the car alone is rather quite impressive, the story of how it came around is also something I didn’t overlook. I hopped on a phone call with Tim and had the opportunity to get to know him.
I would say Tim is one of the few who has found something they are passionate about at an early age and has been able to harness the skills related to it which has allowed him to continuously progress through his own natural curiosity. He started working on cars at the age of 14 through his father’s shop starting as a detailer. As his interest grew, he progressed to become a painter, to then performing intricate body work, and lastly mechanical work. With 16 years of experience under his arsenal, it has allowed him to build something incredibly meaningful for himself.
The start of Industry Garage was also worth listening to. His friend had needed custom flares for his S2000 and Tim decided to take on the challenge to make composite parts without ever really having the opportunity to do so in the past. As we can all see, he had succeeded and realized that he could turn it into a business due to the existing demand in the industry. In December 2014, Industry Garage was born. The way Tim made his decisions in the past that has led him to where he is now is the willingness to tackle the unknown. Whatever he didn’t know what to do was exactly what he wanted to do if he knew it would help expand his network of expertise and skill to further reach new heights when it comes to the creative process, as well as the decision making processes involved in the complexity of building cars.
Now going back to the Z, I mentioned that this project of his wasn’t planned to go this route in any way. Since he acquired the car when he was 18 years old, all he really wanted was to make a “fun cruising car” — his exact words, by the way. I guess it’s safe to say that he found himself successful at the time as he crashed his Z at the back of a Cadillac which forced him to rebuild the car… Talk about having too much fun right? But this is where it gets interesting — the end of a chapter has started a new one.
With the urge to bring this car back to life — I think he went a little bit overboard and realized he wanted to not only bring it back to life, but rather transform it into something completely insane. As he removed the carbon fiber hood that replaces 8 panels and makes it into 1, you will see an F22C engine that he got from the same friend he created the custom flares for. Equipped with Borgwarner Turbos with all custom piping and manifolds, with the transmission derived from a 2008 S2000, the car is expected to push around 500hp while weighing just under 1,800lbs. or 816 kg once everything is fine tuned. Since the car is equipped to run on E85, power output can top off at around 600hp.
The interior is also unrecognizable with focus on the purpose Tim built it for — quick laps around the track. With custom made pressurized roll cages with the help of his friend Josh who is a talented welder and was also the one responsible for welding the components of the intercooler and the exhaust. The dash comes in 2 pieces of carbon fiber with all the electrical components tucked under to keep the car in order.
The dash comes from an AP1 S2000, with Sparco Pro 2000 for the driver’s seat, and Sparco Pro 2002 for the passenger to keep everyone buckled in for the unforgiving experience around the track, and an OMP steering wheel with aluminum buttons that was derived from a vape shop. Yes, those same buttons that are used to blow smoke and make cool tricks with are the same buttons that are used to bring this car into life… talk about creativity right?
While Tim’s Z pushes a ridiculous amount of power, it also gets plenty of grip with the front wheels running a double step lip with 16x10 BBS’s and 245x45 Toyo Proxy Rs, and the rear running a triple step lip with 17x11 BBS’s and 275x40 Toyo Proxy Rs.
Walking around the car you will find yourself looking at many different components at once. To think that Tim only wanted a “fun cruising car,“ I guess his definition of that is a bit different from ours. I would say that his 18 year old self has been successful with his goal in mind, but what he may have overlooked is his standard for what that might mean throughout his years of progression and mastery. Clearly as you level up at what you do, your standards level up with you.
It’s builds like these that inspire me to look in the mirror and ask myself about what it is that I find to be meaningful work. To think that this project started in 2010 right after he acquired it with no plans whatsoever; it’s a clear indication of how important passion is in your journey and just how far it can take you. It not only allows you to become better at your craft, but it also opens up the possibilities for attracting other like-minded people that can challenge you and constantly help you progress. With this first build feature in mind, I hope you find the inspiration to do something meaningful for yourself as well, and seek out something that allows you to be curious and constantly progress at your own craft.
You can find Tim on Instagram @industrygarage and on Youtube @streetbandito as he tackles on more passion projects that will blow your mind.