Automakers typically treat each other with a mix of disdain, disdain and ambivalence. While the occasional partnership can lighten the mood, it’s noticeable when one company says something good about the other.
With that in mind, we bring you this 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster. However, this is not the typical hot rod that Nissan showed at the 2008 SEMA Show.
So what on earth would make Nissan showcase a Ford at SEMA? A 300ZX powertrain, which transformed the model into the ‘Z Highboy Roadster’. Nissan North America said at the time that the car was built by employee Jack Taylor, labeling it an “incredible variant” that “deserves a second look – especially under the hood.”
The automaker didn’t have much else to say about the car, but it will be up for grabs at Mecum’s Indy auction on May 15. The listing states that the model has a 3.0-liter V6 engine from Nissan, although it doesn’t mention the result. That said, the entry-level 300ZX was rated at 222 hp (166 kW / 225 hp) and 198 lb-ft (268 Nm) of torque.
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Regardless of the numbers, the engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. A buggy board that accompanies the car notes that it also has an assortment of other Nissan components, including a ZX front suspension and a rack and pinion sourced from a 240SX. It is further said to have a “custom 240SX 5-link rear differential, hub brake calipers and exles.”
That’s enough to make your head spin, but the rest of the car is pretty simple, as it features a custom chassis and a Downs Manufacturing body painted a striking shade of yellow. The model also features American Racing wheels, a stainless steel exhaust and a side-opening hood.
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The listing doesn’t say much about the interior, but we can see a 300ZX instrument cluster with 2,160 miles (3,476 km) on the odometer. The model also has brown leather seats, a three-spoke steering wheel and an audio system that seems to ruin the old-fashioned atmosphere.
There’s no auction estimate, but it’s not every day you come across Nissan-powered hot rods.
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