1972 Datsun 240Z: Paulo Tabora's SEMA Build

Jan 6th 2023

THIS CAR IS A TRIBUTE BUILD FOR MY DAD WHO PASSED AWAY FROM COVID. I HOPE WE MADE HIM PROUD. - PAULO TABORA, 240Z owner

Paulo Tabora and his close-knit crew of "brothers" transformed the 1972 Datsun 240Z into a one-of-a-kind tribute build to his late father — all in just a matter of weeks before SEMA.

"It took 3-1/2 weeks to build this thing and assemble, it was amazing. Without Jhenessey this build wouldn’t be here. I envisioned the car, and he executed it. Along with our other brothers. We got it started about 4 days before SEMA. The goal was to drive it in, and we did drive it in."

"It’s a fully-built L28. Ported, balanced, big cam—the heart of the build. Without it, this build is nothing. My good friend Taka Sato from Kyusha House blessed me with these Tiple Solex Nismo carburetors, one of the holy grails of the Solex line. This motor’s special."

"A lot of the stuff we use is from Skillard Automotive—the door cards, the heel plates, the center console, the delete plates. The seats are some old Recaro that my friends from Rogelio’s Upholstery Rogelio’s Upholstery were able to do for me. Alcantara wrapped with leather and grommets. His son actually did the dash, and wrapped it in alcantara. He did a great job, with the stitching matching the seats."

"I’ll be looking at these gauges every time I drive. These Speedhut olive gauges are just super clean, super well-made. It’s such a work of art."