As a general rule, we at Modified, we tend to place real-world performance above all else. As much as we appreciate seeing a clean show car or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, a practically unlimited-budget, factory-backed race car, we find ourselves the most connected with the middle ground. Grassroots racing is where the 99 percent of us call home, and with the popularity of road racing growing more and more each year, there’s no shortage of quality cars that might never be seen by the masses. Rob Symonds’ 240SX is a perfect example of such a car, and we think it deserves a closer look.
At first glance, his 240SX is a bit different than most S13s we tend to see on the track. The main reason is because Rob isn’t a drifter — not that there’s anything wrong with drifting, it’s just not Rob’s cup of tea. As a certified track nut, Rob partially chose the S13 as a grip platform because of the chassis’ popularity among drifters. “I have always liked the look of [the 240SX], and the S13 is an ideal candidate for anyone looking for a relatively easy car to go road racing in,” Rob says. “It’s a lightweight platform, has a low entry cost, is rear-wheel drive and because of how many people drift these cars, there’s a huge amount of aftermarket support.” When you put it that way, the choice to go the path less traveled with Nissan’s popular coupe is made a little clearer.
The exterior of Rob’s car is all function, with no room for silly frills. With the expected high volume of sponsor stickers in place, the body is mostly stock, aside from a few race-bred modifications. A vented fiberglass hood sheds weight over the stock piece and helps cool the powerplant underneath, while a custom front splitter provides downforce and stability at high speeds. On the rear, a large APR GTC-300 wing provides more aid at speed, and the way in which the wing is mounted is pretty cool as well. It looks like Rob created special brackets so he could mount the wing uprights on the car’s quarter panel instead of on the less solid carbon-fiber trunk, another sign that everything has been thought out and done with a purpose. The rear window glass has been ditched in favor of a lightweight Lexan replacement, a modification that’s allowed in the NASA TTB class in which Rob routinely races.
The front fenders have also been spaced out from the car’s natural door line to help dissipate the heat caused by hard braking, and this modification may also provide a slight increase in clearance for the 245/40R17 Hoosier A6 grooved slick racing tires Rob runs. The 17x9-inch Enkei RPF1s are the wheels that made sense for Rob, with a low cost and strong construction, he’s able to keep his mind on the race and not worry about breaking the bank should he severely damage a wheel in the heat of battle. In the braking department, Rob has opted to go with a beefy 6-pot Wilwood front setup with aggressive Hawk pads. This selection of parts helps slow the car quickly and effectively on track, while still maintaining a good balance for a predictable braking feel.