Automakers usually treat each other with a mix of disdain, contempt, and ambivalence. While the occasional partnership can brighten the mood, it’s notable when one company says something good about another.
With that in mind, we’re bringing you this 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster. However, this isn’t your typical hot rod as Nissan showed it at the 2008 SEMA Show.
So what on earth would get Nissan to showcase a Ford at SEMA? A 300ZX powertrain, which transformed the model into the “Z Highboy Roadster.” At the time, Nissan North America said the car was built by employee Jack Taylor and billed it as an “unbelievable variation” that “deserves a second look – especially under the hood.”
The automaker didn’t have much else to say about the car, but it’s going up for grabs at Mecum’s Indy auction on May 15. The listing says the model has a Nissan-sourced 3.0-liter V6 engine, although it doesn’t mention the output. That being said, the entry-level 300ZX was rated at 222 hp (166 kW / 225 PS) and 198 lb-ft (268 Nm) of torque.
Regardless of the numbers, the engine is connected to a five-speed manual transmission. An error-ridden placard accompanying the car says it also has an assortment of other Nissan components including a ZX front suspension as well as a rack and pinion sourced from a 240SX. It goes on to say it has a “custom 5 link 240SX rear differential, hub calipers, and exles.”
That’s enough to make your head spin, but the rest of the car is pretty straight forward as it features a custom chassis as well as a Downs Manufacturing body that has been painted an eye-catching shade of yellow. The model also sports 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 showing 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 appears to ruin the old school vibe.
There’s no auction estimate, but you don’t exactly come across Nissan-powered hot rods everyday.
