Seiko x Datsun 240Z: When Two ’70s Icons Decide to Go Racing Again
If you know where this GIF is from, we’re already friends.
Some collaborations feel forced. This one feels like slipping into a pair of flared jeans and suddenly hearing “Highway Star” in the background.
Seiko and the Datsun 240Z go way back — rally cars, timing gear, and a whole lot of dust. In the late ’60s and early ’70s, both brands were out to prove something. Seiko was busy inventing the world’s first automatic chronograph with both a vertical clutch and a column wheel. Meanwhile, Datsun rolled out the 240Z, a sports coupe that went from “Huh, interesting” to “Global cult icon” faster than you can say carburetted straight-six.
By 1971, a Seiko-branded 240Z — car No. 11 — had clawed its way across 6,200 kilometres of brutal African terrain to win the East African Safari Rally. Iconic car, iconic watchmaker, iconic moustaches (probably).
Now, the duo is back together for a lineup that mixes motorsport nostalgia with modern Prospex muscle.
The Headliners: Three Datsun 240Z Limited Editions
Let’s start with the star trio — each one nodding to a different piece of 240Z history.
All three have curved sapphire crystals (AR on the inner surface), stainless steel cases, and a healthy dose of “DATSUN energy” on the dial.
SPB517 — The Mechanical Purist
RM6,000 | Limited to 2,500 pieces
Caliber 6R55 | 72-hour power reserve | 21,600 vph | 24 jewels
Case: 39.5mm × 12.0mm | 20 bar WR | Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
The most classic of the trio — a clean three-hander running the 6R55, Seiko’s latest mid-tier workhorse with a full 72 hours of power reserve. It’s the one that feels most like a vintage driver’s watch: no chronograph, no fuss, just strong lines and that big retro Datsun logo.
The dial uses Arabic numerals based on the actual font from the 240Z’s dashboard instruments. If you’ve ever sat in an old Z, you’ll feel it instantly.
Around the back, the case back carries the period-correct Datsun brand emblem. Attached is a perforated LWG-certified leather strap — breathable, sporty, and perfect for your imaginary rally stages.
Extra technical bits:
– Stainless steel case with Seiko’s super-hard coating
– Screw-down case back
– Seiko’s newer three-fold clasp with push-button release
– Curved sapphire with AR coating inside
SRQ057 — The Heavyweight Chronograph
RM16,500 | Limited to 500 pieces
Caliber 8R48 | Vertical clutch + column wheel | 45-hour power reserve | 28,800 vph | 34 jewels
Case: 42.0mm × 14.6mm | 10 bar WR | Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
If you want the most serious piece in the collection, this is it. The 8R48 is the purest expression of Seiko’s mechanical chronograph engineering: column wheel for crisp pusher feel, vertical clutch for smooth engagement, and MEMS-machined escapement parts for stability and precision.
You get a 30-minute subdial at 9 and a 12-hour totaliser at 6 — the classic Speedtimer layout.
This one gets the cursive Datsun script and a tachymeter bezel that lets you measure speeds from 50–60 km/h, mirroring the 1969 Speedtimer’s quirky original bezel format. It’s a detail only long-time Seiko nerds will catch, but it’s a lovely one.
Flip it over and you’ll find a case back engraved with a rally emblem based on the very car that took home the 1971 Safari Rally win.
Extra technical bits:
– Dual-curved sapphire crystal with AR on inner side
– LWG-certified leather strap with deployant clasp
– Screw case back
– Stainless steel case (no super-hard coating on the chrono models)
SSC957 — The Solar Chronograph
RM4,500 | Limited to 4,000 pieces
Caliber V192 | Solar | 6-month power reserve on full charge
Case: 41.4mm × 13.0mm | 10 bar WR | Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
The most accessible of the three — but packed with practical features. The V192 solar chronograph gives you a 60-minute timing function, a 24-hour subdial, and a power-reserve indicator so you know when it needs some sun.
The Datsun logo here is the block-letter version, boldest of the bunch. On the back, instead of a logo, you get a full custom illustration of the 240Z — a nice nod to car collectors.
Extra technical bits:
– Stainless steel bracelet with push-button clasp
– Smooth-curved sapphire crystal (AR inside)
– Stainless steel case with Seiko’s standard finish
– Screw-in solid case back
“But Wait, There’s More: Three New Speedtimers Join the Main Line!”
SPB513 & SPB515 — Time-and-Date Vintage Homages
RM4,700 each
Caliber 6R55 | 72-hour power reserve | 39.5mm × 12.0mm | 20 bar WR
Two clean time-and-date designs with silver-white (SPB513) and black dials (SPB515).
They echo the look of a 1972 Speedtimer while maintaining modern usability.
Both come with:
– Stainless steel bracelets (multi-row for better ergonomics)
– Curved AR-treated sapphire
– 4,800 A/m magnetic resistance
– Super-hard coated cases
– Screw case back
SRQ055 — The Non-Datsun Chronograph
RM13,000
Caliber 8R48 | 45-hour reserve | 42.0mm × 14.6mm | 10 bar WR
Same impressive engine as the SRQ057 — column wheel, vertical clutch, MEMS escapement — but cleaner and more contemporary.
Think of it as the “business chronograph” to the SRQ057’s “vintage motorsport” flavour.
This one adds a black tachymeter bezel and a full stainless steel bracelet.
So Who’s It For?
If you love Japanese motorsport history, retro Seiko chronographs, or you grew up watching grainy VHS tapes of rally cars bouncing across African savannahs, this collection is basically fan service.
Seiko didn’t just slap a car logo on a watch — they built a whole mini-collection that actually feels rooted in something real. The fonts, the colours, the logos, the case-back engravings — the whole package smells faintly of petrol, sunscreen, and 1970s optimism.
If you just want a handsome, well-specced chronograph from a brand that knows how to make them? Same answer.
