Nissan Fashions One-off Watch from Winning Race Car

Nissan fashioned a one-off watch from the components of its race-winning Datsun 510 model. The watch was given as a gift to the vehicle’s driver, the renowned racing legend John Morton. He had driven the car to consecutive SCCA Trans-Am Championships in the early 1970s.

Morton received the watch from Nissan during an event at the Historic Sportscar Racing Mitty, which was held at Road Atlanta on April 25. In typical Morton style, he was not just a bystander at the event. He took to the wheel of a 1970 BRE Datsun 240Z. The 510 that was used as a source of components for the watch Morton received is currently on display (with a replacement chin spoiler) in Nissan’s Heritage Collection in Tennessee.

Nissam teamed up with REC watched to make the watch from the parts of Morton’s 1971 Datsun BRE 510. The watch was made from the car’s front chin spoiler, which also has yellow accents and Morton’s No. 41 signature on its face. Before it was used for the watch, the spoiler was showcased on an office wall at Nissan’s headquarters as part of a tribute to the Japanese car manufacturer’s racing heritage.

By the time Morton emerged as a winner at the SCCA competition, he was already a veteran racer. He had several wins to his credit, including the national championships title the year before which he won while driving a Datsun 240 Z. He had also had a stint driving a 427 Cobra for Shelby American Racing.

After winning titles for Datsun/Nissan family at Sebring and Le Mans, Morton worked as a stunt driver for Hollywood films like Gumball Rally and Greased Lightning before he returned to the world of racing in the late 1970s.

REC makes all of its watches from bits of motoring and aviation history. Currently, the company’s collection includes watches made from salvaged Porsche 911s, Ford Mustangs, Mini Coopers, and Spitfire airplanes.