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Steve Magrin's '71 Datsun 1200 coupe
This car runs a bog-stock, Crewman LS1 wrecker donk. It was a tradie’s car and was well looked after but it had copped a small hit in the front. I bought the whole wreck from the auctions and mate, I made money from this conversion! Crewman parts are as rare as rocking horse now, so I got a free LS1 once I sold all the Crewman parts.
I just use it for burnouts; the trans is a Turbo 400, which bolts straight up to the LS1, minus one bolt. The rear end is a stock 1200 ute diff and believe it or not, it’s held up perfectly until I powerskidded on the prepped drag strip at Whyalla, where it popped an axle.
I want to tub it and put a Hilux diff in there, but I’ve got plenty of spares, so if I don’t get around to it, I’ll chuck another axle in there. Four hundred horsepower, but only six hundred kilos; it’s not too stressed!
Photography: Alastair Brook