- Three unusual rides were brought to the 2023 SEMA show by Japanese oil company Eneos, including a 1969 Jaguar E-type powered by the Toyota Supra’s famous 2JZ-GTE engine.
- The 2003 Nissan 350Z also has an odd engine swap, packing two Honda K24 engines and two Honda five-speed manual gearboxes.
- Lastly, Eneos showed off a Toyota Land Cruiser truck, built off a 1997 model but using a 2009 pickup body imported from the Middle East.
Japanese oil company Eneos brought a trio of unusual builds to this year’s SEMA show. Along with a sleek blue 1969 Jaguar XK-E 2+2 that has a 2JZ-GTE inline-six heart transplant from a Toyota Supra, the company also presented a barely recognizable 2003 Nissan 350Z powered by a pair of Honda K24 engines and a towering Toyota Land Cruiser pickup.
The unorthodox Jaguar was built by drifter Faruk Kugay. The 2JZ inline-six has been highly modified with a new head casting, fuel system, fuel injectors, pistons and rods, and a Borg Warner turbocharger with a performance intercooler. Add in an ECU tune, and Eneos says the 3.0-liter motor should churn out around 750 horsepower.
To make things even stranger, the E-type is fitted with the rear subframe, suspension, and differential from an E60 BMW 5-series. All of that power is routed through a ZF five-speed manual transmission out of an E36 BMW M3. To make the most of that power, the 17.0-inch Rotiform STL wheels wear Bridgestone Potenza RE-71 RS tires. To fit those rollers, the XK-E wears wider 3-D-printed carbon-fiber-reinforced fenders that give the Jag an assertive stance, apparently inspired by the factory Jaguar Lightweight E-type.
Even wilder than the Jaguar is this 2003 Nissan 350Z, built by Ashley Robinson from MLZ Garage. Not much remains of the original car that Robinson bought for $800, with the rear end—damaged when he purchased it—completely removed in favor of a roll cage. Nestled among the metal bars is a turbocharged Honda K24 four-cylinder hooked up to a Honda EP3 five-speed manual. At the front of the Nissan is the exact same setup—yes, not only are there two engines, but also two manual gearboxes. Somehow, Robinson managed to sync the two powertrains.
The Nissan’s looks are nearly as crazy as its mechanicals, with ultrawide fender flares, the exposed roll cage at the rear, and 19.0-inch Weds LXZ wheels. The Kumho tires measure 305/30 at the front and 355/30 around back, with stopping power provided by Brembo front calipers off of a Hyundai Genesis and dual 350Z rear calipers. Robinson’s build sits on air suspension, and the doors and hood (removed for the show) are fashioned from carbon fiber.
Last but not least is the beastly 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser pickup. California-based RPM Off-Road Garage cobbled this truck together from a damaged ’97 Land Cruiser FZJ80 and a 2009 HZJ79 pickup body, which came from Utah’s Land Cruiser Heritage Museum and had been imported from the Middle East, where these old-school trucks are still offered new. The original ’97 frame was extended by 18 inches before the truck body was mounted. Under the hood is a 4.5-liter Toyota 1FZ-FE inline-six. Colossal 37-inch Toyo Open Country M/T tires sit on 17.0-inch beadlock wheels, with new springs providing an imposing 6.0-inch lift.
The Land Cruiser build may not be as absurd as the other two vehicles Eneos presented, but it’s still one eye-catching rig.
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Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.