The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer x Datsun 240Z timepiece arrives for old school Fairlady enthusiasts.
The shared legacy of two icons, the SEIKO Prospex Speedtimer and the Datsun 240Z, is celebrated in a new series of collaboration watches. Both the Datsun 240Z sports car and the original Speedtimer automatic chronograph debuted in 1969, marking them as true achievements of the era.
This new collection pays homage to their intertwined history, particularly Seiko’s support of the Datsun in motorsports during the early 1970s. The core inspiration is the Datsun 240Z rally car with the number 11, which, adorned with the Seiko logo, secured an overall victory in the notoriously challenging 1971 East-African Safari Rally.
Three distinct limited-edition timepieces, drawing on a range of Seiko technologies, join the Speedtimer series. Each design is directly inspired by the rally car, echoing the chassis’s iconic red and black tones and featuring unique Datsun logos on the dial. The Arabic numerals used for the time indication are inspired by the font found on the Datsun 240Z’s dashboard instruments.
The collection features three different calibers. The SPB517 is powered by the mechanical Caliber 6R55, a time-and-date model featuring a countdown timer function useful for measuring key intervals in motorsports. This model boasts a substantial 72-hour power reserve and 20 bar water resistance, all within a 39.5mm case. Its leather strap is perforated for a sportier aesthetic and is sourced from a Leather Working Group (LWG) certified tannery.
For the serious enthusiast, the SRQ057 is a mechanical chronograph powered by the high-specification Caliber 8R48. This movement utilizes the vertical clutch and column wheel systems, hallmarks of high-precision chronographs, with an escapement made using MEMS technology for enhanced stability.
The SRQ057 features a tachymeter scale on the outer bezel and includes 30-minute and 12-hour counters. The solar chronograph SSC957 uses the Caliber V192 movement, offering a 60-minute chronograph and a 24-hour sub-dial. When fully charged, this watch can operate for up to six months without any exposure to light.
The collaboration detailing extends to the casebacks. The SPB517 features the vintage Datsun logo, while the SRQ057 carries a logo based on the rally car’s emblem. The SSC957 caseback is uniquely adorned with an original illustration of the Datsun 240Z.
These watches are available as strictly limited editions worldwide. The SRQ057 mechanical chronograph is the rarest, limited to just 500 pieces. The SPB517 is limited to 2,500 pieces, and the SSC957 solar chronograph is limited to 4,000 pieces.
Additionally, three new time-and-date creations, two with the Caliber 6R55 and one with the Caliber 8R48, join the main Prospex Speedtimer series. These new releases firmly establish the Speedtimer as a modern icon of precision and motorsports heritage.
