Big Sam

Resplendent in the oh-so-retro colour combination of brown and orange, Big Sam was a Modsports racer in the seventies and early eighties. Modsports allowed series-production cars to be modified pretty freely, as long as the original engine block and cylinder head were retained and the body stayed looking largely stock. This particular Datsun 240Z, with its 250bhp 2400cc engine, 900kg glassfibre body and huge slicks, was extremely competitive in the series, taking a National class title in 1974.

Octane magazine recently drove the car, which still competes in its original guise, at the Goodwood circuit. You can read about their experience here.