MATTY Lud had his crazy Datsun 1200 ute out at Calder Park last weekend for the APSA round, and the rotary-powered weapon was running faster than ever! Powered by a Promaz-built 13B bridgeport rotary engine boosted by a giant Garrett GTX42R turbo, Matty ran a PB of 8.99 @ 154mph, breaking into the eight-second bracket for the very first time.

The rest of the drivetrain includes a Mazda RX-7 Series 5 five-speed H-pattern transmission with an Albins gear set and short-shifter which makes it super exciting to watch go down the track, rear end dancing from left to right with every gear change. 750rwhp hits the ground through a four-link 9-inch rear-end.

And yes, Matty genuinely drives this Datsun 1200 on the street. Parachute and wheelie bars removed and drag radials swapped for big-inch Simmons wheels, Matty regularly cruises the car and that’s partly why he chose the RX-7 five-speed over a sequential or auto ‘box. It even has a stereo!