In 1969, two machines quietly began rewriting the record books. The first was the Datsun 240Z—sleek, affordable, and fast enough to steal European thunder on the rally circuit. The second was Seiko’s original Speedtimer, the world’s first automatic chronograph with both a vertical clutch and a column wheel, the twin technologies that allowed for stopwatch precision without the judder or lag that plagued other chronos of the era.
Two years later, those stories merged on a patch of East African dirt. Driver Edgar Herrmann and navigator Hans Schuller coaxed the No.11 Datsun 240Z across 6,200 kilometers of mud, heat, and altitude to take first place in the 1971 East African Safari Rally—one of the most punishing endurance races on earth. On Schuller’s wrist? A Seiko Speedtimer. It was Datsun’s first Safari Rally victory, a result that cracked the dominance of European marques and cemented both car and watch in motorsports folklore.
Three Watches, One Legacy
Seiko
Fast-forward to 2025, and Seiko is revisiting that shared moment of triumph with a trio of Prospex Speedtimer limited editions—each steeped in vintage automotive cues but engineered with modern Seiko tech.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Datsun 240Z Limited Edition – SPB517
Seiko
A 39.5mm automatic powered by the Caliber 6R55, the SPB517 is limited to 2,500 pieces, priced at $1,150 each. The matte-black dial takes its cue from rally car paint designed to kill glare, while red accents pop on the seconds hand and dial ring. Arabic numerals borrow their font from the 240Z’s dashboard. A crown at 4 o’clock operates a countdown timer for pit-stop intervals, and the leather strap—sourced from Leather Working Group–certified tanneries—is built for sweat and water resistance.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph Datsun 240Z Limited Edition – SRQ057
Seiko
A 42mm automatic chronograph using Caliber 8R48, the SRQ057 is the rarest and most expensive of the trio, capped at 500 pieces, which are priced at $3,200 each. The “Datsun” script at 12 o’clock nods to period logos, while the tachymeter bezel matches the Speedtimer’s 1969 layout for measuring speeds from 50 to 60 km/h.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph Datsun 240Z Limited Edition – SSC957
Seiko
A 41.4mm solar chronograph with Caliber V192, the SSC957 is limited to 4,000 pieces, priced at $1,000 each. The six-month power reserve meets a bracelet whose black-coated center links pay homage to the 240Z’s bonnet. On the caseback, meanwhile, a custom-engraving depicts the rally-winning car.
Available This September
All three watches will be available globally starting September 2025, sold exclusively through Seiko boutiques and select retailers. More than retro tributes, they’re artifacts of a time when a Japanese watch and a Japanese car proved—together—that speed and precision weren’t Europe’s private property anymore.
