Seiko looks back at its partnership with Datsun and the iconic East African Safari 240Z
by Sam D. Smith
2 hours ago
- Seiko commemorates the Datsun 240Z rally car with three limited edition timepieces.
- The new watches will be commemorated with wide-release non-Datsun branded models.
- Collection features both mechanical and solar-powered pieced, on sale from September.
Think automotive-related timepieces, and you’ll probably go to the likes of Tag Heuer, Rolex, Richard Mille, Oris, or anyone else that has had a recent association with Formula 1. But for one watchmaker, their ties to motorsport take a bit of a different trajectory.
Seiko’s association with motorsports goes far back. In fact, before Tag went all-out on their Senna association (one that stands to this day), in the 80s and 90s, the Japanese watchmaker was worn by the Brazilian. But turn back the hands of time even further, and you’ll spot the Seiko Speedtimer on the wrists of one Hans Schuller.
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Schuller was a navigator in the 1971 East African Safari Rally. Together with driver Edgar Herrmann, they emerged victorious in a Datsun 240Z. In the 60s and 70s, the Safari Rally was a true test of man and machine. Dominated by the likes of Porsche, Peugeot, and Ford, 1971 was the first time Datsun tasted victory, earning it fans across the world. So it’s perfect then, the Seiko remembers the role they played in the history books.
Victory Commemorated
Seiko is launching a trio of Prospex Speedtimer limited editions honoring the Datsun 240Z. The collaboration not only revisits that history from the late ’60s and early ’70s but channels it into modern-day watchmaking with designs steeped in automotive cues.
It does so across a range of mechanical and solar chronographs. First up is the SPB517 – a 39.5mm automatic with Caliber 6R55 and a motorsport-inspired countdown bezel, produced in 2,500 pieces. Red accents and period Datsun branding on the dial and caseback evoke the rally car’s livery.
Then you get a 41.4mm solar-powered chronograph with a Caliber V192 movement. Known as the SSC957, it offers a six-month power reserve when fully charged. Limited to 4,000 pieces, it is the most accessible of the trio and includes a caseback engraved with a bespoke 240Z illustration.
Then you get a 42mm automatic chronograph in the form of the SRQ057. It uses Seiko’s Caliber 8R48 with column wheel and vertical clutch, and is limited to 500 pieces. It features a black tachymeter bezel and the script Datsun logo, paying homage to vintage Speedtimer designs.
Devil Is In The Detail
Design details are tailored for enthusiasts: engraved casebacks feature period-correct Datsun emblems, leather racing straps are sourced from Leather Working Group–certified tanneries, and bezels reference original Speedtimer formats.
Seiko will also expand the regular Prospex Speedtimer range with non-limited models sharing similar case architecture and vintage styling, but without the Datsun branding — a nod to collectors who prefer subtlety over overt homage.
Pricing and Availability
The limited editions will be available globally from September 2025, exclusively through Seiko boutiques and select retail partners.
The time-and-date SPB517 will set you back $1,150, with only 2,500 out there for the taking. The solar-powered SSC957 comes in at $1,000, capped at 4,000 units. And if you’re feeling particularly flush, the automatic SRQ057 commands $3,200 and a far rarer run of just 500 pieces