1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

A car cloaked in infamy. A car masked in mystery. A car playing a facade for the devil.


The Devil Z – the scariest car to have ever existed – slaughters those who dare to go behind its wheel. This car has one thing on its inhuman mind: death and destruction.


1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

Searching the web, it is difficult to find any information on this infamous car. Even diving deep into reddit, it is a challenge to find out more. It makes me wonder if it has an Artificial Intelligence in its mechanics; and, every day, races through the internet, searching for itself, and deleting all mentions. Maybe I should search the dark web? Maybe there we could find all the entangled stories … nope, too dangerous! Even with the small stories that I found, others would contradict and create a new storyline.


1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

It has fictitious origins, and some believe that its whole story is clouded in fiction. The Wangan Midnight series is a collection of Manga (from Japan) which follows a fictional street-racing scene in Japan. When the protagonist, Akio Asakura, is determined to drive the fastest car, he finds a Nissan Fairlady Z S30 – the Devil Z – which has a haunting past. The car has an absurd amount of power and speed – what is the compromise? C o n t r o l .


1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

Causing multiple accidents. With its first owner, it was tuned by Ekibasa, but the current owner took it to Air Breathing Research Hosoki. According to the manga, the Devil Z has a highly-modified L28 motor; it has been bored and stroked to three liters; it has a triple twinbarrel carburetors; and a twin turbo with intercooler which can reach 600 horsepower. The exterior features an S30 race aerodynamic kit, standard S30 lights, fog lamps, and a set of RS Watanabe F8 eight-spoke wheels. In the manga, Akio Asakura originally owned the car: where he crashed and died. Two years later, a young man of the same name (the protagonist of the series) purchases the car … At this point, it is barely a car; but Asakura restores it to its original glory. The manga series took inspiration from the stunning Ferrari Testarossa Corsa red and the Nissan Fairlady Z – the latter car being more prominent. The Nissan Fairlady Z (as it was sold in Japan) was also sold as the Nissan S30 and the Datsun 240Z: It is the first generation of Z FT three-door two-seat coupés produced by Nissan. It was manufactured between 1969 and 1978. The engine was based on the Datsun 510’s four-cylinder; produces 128 horsepower; and came with a four- or five-speed manual transmission.


1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

Whether or not the manga series took inspiration from a real cursed car, many people believe that a Devil-Z car – possessed and all – exists! And it has been claimed to be a red Nissan Fairlady Z – but highly-modified with 680 horsepower (600 at the wheels).


1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

The engine is a L28E, sourced from a 1983 Turbo 280ZX; triple Mikuni side-draft carburetors; twin Garret T3/T04 hybrid turbochargers; HKS SuperSequential Blow Off valve; custom fabricated intake plenum; two-inch velocity stacks; custom grind camshaft; forged internals; ceramic-coat forged dished pistons; Midnight Club Air Breathing Research (ABR) S130Z. Modifications include a capacity increase to 3,100cc with forged 89f pistons; ABR original rods; ABR original crankshaft; ABR original 268-degree camshafts with half-inch lift; intake, 1.8 inches; exhaust, 1.5 inches; twin IHI RHC-6 VX55 compressors; and 3P-13 turbines. Engine management is a Nissan-genuine 16-bit ECU; GReddy PROFEC and RBIC III; HKS GCC. The drivetrain is Z31 300ZX Turbo five-speed transmission; ABR original special LSD. The suspension uses specially-modified Bilstein dampers with TRD springs.

The brakes are R32 Nissan Skyline GTR calipers with TRD Supra Race rotors. Wheels are Panasport C5R. Tires are Bridgestone RE71. Exterior modifications include an autometer tachometer; Blitz EGT; HKS water temperature, oil temperature, oil pressure, and boost gauge ABR original rollcage; Recaro LS passenger seat; Sabelt four-point harnesses; and Nismo D-shape steering wheel. After all the modifications, it is titled the “Air Breathing Research S130z”. I have only found one owner, Toshi from Tokyo, Japan. No last name or number plate because he is a member of the Midnight Racing Team – a club which is frowned upon by the Japanese police. Toshi’s answer for why it is so heavily modified:

“To win against my rivals, that is all.” Toshi has pushed the car to 216 miles per hour – that means it would be the fastest street-legal (maybe not exactly street-legal) Z in Japan! There has been additional evidence of the Devil Z being a part of the super-secret super-elite Mid Night Club back in 1978.


1978 Nissan 280ZX based 800bhp Devil Z or Air Breathing Research S130z

Diving deep into the rabbit hole which we call the internet, I found one horrific story. One night, during a usual Mid-Night-club meeting, a gang of motorbike riders arrived and started antagonizing the car drivers. The heat rose and the revs roared. And they raced! However, because the motorbike riders were not familiar with the routes, they engaged the car drivers in a detour. Unfortunately, this left the highway and collided with civilization. An accident arose. The Devil Z ran over someone. The motorbikes ran over multiple people. One death. Many injured.

As stated earlier, it is incredibly difficult to decipher the facts. Some believe the Devil Z (or Air Breathing Research S130z) surpassed 680 horsepower and reached 800 horsepower. Others believe that it set a record time of four minutes and 54 seconds on the C1 loop. Some say its top speed is 168 miles per hour – others say it is 216 miles per hour. Some have stated that the crew used the real cursed car when filming the live-action Wangan series. Others have stated that the real cursed car won the 21st East African Safari Rally, in 1973. Some are adamant that the Devil Z (or Air Breathing Research S130z) is real, possessed, and extremely dangerous. Others are adamant that it is all wrapped up in storytelling.

At the end of the day, no one knows the hard facts. Maybe a Mid-Night Club member summoned the Devil to help them win … Maybe there is an incredible troll out there by the name of Steve … Maybe we will never know.

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