The cars

Nissan 240RS

Team Nissan Europe · 1983–1986

Photo: 先従隗始 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Simple, robust and naturally aspirated, the Nissan 240RS was the opposite of the turbocharged four-wheel-drive monsters. It never won a world championship rally, but it was a regular top-ten finisher on the toughest events and a favourite of privateers from Kenya to New Zealand.

Grouve Sport documentary

Episode 7 — The Underdogs: Toyota, Opel, Nissan, Mazda, Renault, Citroën, Porsche & Ferrari

The underdogs of Group B.

Development

Before the 240RS, Nissan ran a Group 4 Silvia S110 with the 2.0-litre LZ20B engine, which finished third on the 1982 Safari Rally, and test cars with an enlarged LZ24B engine. Former racing driver Masahiro Hasemi took part in the development of the Group B car. The name is usually explained by its 2,400 cc-class engine and 240 hp.

Unlike most Group B road cars, the customer cars were delivered in competition specification, ready to rally. That, and the car’s simple mechanicals, made it popular with privateers.

Results

The works cars of Timo Salonen and Shekhar Mehta concentrated on the long gravel events:

• 1983 – Salonen second and Mehta fourth in New Zealand; Jayant Shah fourth on the Safari; Tony Pond sixth in Corsica.
• 1984 – Mehta third on the Ivory Coast; four 240RSs in the top ten of the Acropolis, led by Salonen in sixth.
• 1985 – Mike Kirkland third on the Safari, Alain Ambrosino third on the Ivory Coast, Mehta fourth on the Acropolis and in Argentina.
• 1986 – privateers still placed 240RSs in the top ten in Greece, New Zealand and on the Ivory Coast.

By then Salonen had moved to Peugeot and won the 1985 world title.

Naturally aspirated, rear-wheel drive and built to survive: Nissan’s Group B car for the long rallies.

European and national championships

In the European championship the 240RS won the 1984 Vida rally in Bulgaria (Petkov), and Terry Kaby was second on the 1985 Cyprus Rally for Team Nissan Europe. See the European Rally Championship.

Results in the World Rally Championship

World Rally Championship podiums of the car (all evolutions), year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd

1982

0wins

0 podiums

1983

0wins

1 podium

1984

0wins

1 podium

1985

0wins

2 podiums

1986

0wins

0 podiums

0 WRC wins · 4 podium finishes, 1982–1986

Photo gallery 4 photos

Historic Group B cars photographed at events, demonstrations and museums; each caption states where and when.

More from Cars

Citroën BX 4TCThree rallies, one sixth place and 86 buyers: Citroën’s brief Group B adventure.Read more →Mazda RX-7 Group BRotary power and a podium on the 1985 Acropolis: Mazda Rally Team Europe’s RX-7.Read more →Ferrari 308 GTB (rally)Charles Pozzi’s privately entered Ferrari 308 GTB, second in Corsica in 1982.Read more →Renault 5 Turbo and Maxi TurboA mid-engined supermini: three world rally wins, two of them in Corsica with asphalt master Jean Ragnotti, plus a home win for Joaquim Moutinho in Portugal in 1986.Read more →Porsche 911 SC RSPorsche never officially fought for the Group B world title, but the Rothmans/Prodrive 911 SC RS won on asphalt in the European championship and took a podium in Corsica.Read more →Opel Ascona 400 and Manta 400Röhrl's 1982 title-winning car and its Group B successor: rear-wheel drive, a Cosworth cylinder head and most of its success in national championships.Read more →

Sources

1. Wikipedia (EN), Nissan 240RS — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_240RS
2. Jonkka's World Rally Archive (juwra.com), results and entry lists 1982–1986 — https://www.juwra.com/

All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.

Thumbnail photos on this page: Croquant (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); TTTNIS (Wikimedia Commons, CC0); Thesupermat (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); HombreDHojalata (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); SG2012 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0).