Seiko’s New Speedtimer Collection Is a Retro Auto Racing Masterpiece

With three watches packing three different movements, all inspired by one legendary race car, Seiko has every racing fan covered.

By Brad Lanphear

Published July 31, 2025

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Updated 6 hours ago

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In 1971, a Datsun 240Z sponsored in part by Seiko unexpectedly won the 6,200km-long East Africa Safari Rally.

It became the most legendary example of the iconic Datsun Z before the brand was phased out by its parent company, Nissan, in 1986.

Seiko created a limited edition collection of three Prospex Speedtimer watches inspired by the triumphant rally car to commemorate its link to the storied, erstwhile Japanese car company.

three seiko watches floating over a race car — The three Prospex Speedtimer x Datsun watches over the triumphant 1971 Datsun 240Z.

Two of the watches are adaptations of the primary Prospex Speedtimer chronographs currently in production, the automatic SRQxx line and the solar-quartz SSCxx line.

Surprisingly, the third option is an entirely new addition to the Speedtimer family that is not a chronograph. The SPB517 has a time-and-date dial and an inner rotating bezel borrowed from the 5 Sports collection.

a Seiko Speedtimer chronograph — The all-black SRQ057 has a double-signed dial with Seiko and Datsun.

All three watches are inspired by the dashboard panel and color scheme of the actual Datsun 240Z that won the 1971 rally race, which now resides in a Japanese automotive museum.

Each dial in the collection is double-signed with the Seiko logo and variations of the Datsun logo. Two have the original Datsun logo etched into the case back, while the third has an engraving of the 240Z.

the back of a Seiko Speedtimer chronograph — The SSC957 has an etching of the winning Datsun 204Z on the caseback.

All three Prospex Speedtimer x Datsun references offer something different for Seiko and racing fans alike. Let’s break them down one at a time (I’ve taken the liberty of presenting them in my preferred ascending order).

A three-hand Speedtimer

This one struck me as odd at first, but after digging into the specs, I realized that the three-hand Prospex Speedtimer SPB517 is an impressive watch.

a seiko watch — The SPB517 has a layered leather racing strap with a folding clasp.

At first glance, it resembles the 5 Sports automotive collection more than a Speedtimer, but the movement alone puts it well above Seiko’s entry-level collection. It is powered by the same caliber 6R55 automatic movement seen throughout Seiko’s mid-tier Presage collection.

The obvious comment is that this isn’t a chronograph, but the internal bezel is an adequate low-tech mechanism for measuring elapsed time. It can mark a second, minute, or hour that something occurred or began.

In that regard, I think the SPB517 is actually a clever and novel addition to the Speedtimer family. It also has the coolest Datsun insignia on the logo, using the brand’s racing logo. It evokes a connection to one of the most iconic racing watches, the TAG Heuer Monaco.

the back of a Seiko watch — The original Datsun logo is etched in relief into the SPB517 case back.

It comes on a perforated black leather racing strap with a crimson suede liner visible through the holes. The SPB517 is essentially a significantly upgraded version of a 5 Sports racing watch with a double-signed dial.

A solar racer

Many fans will say that the collection’s mechanically lesser chronograph is the best-looking watch because it is glowing with 1970s rally racing vibes.

Visually, the SSC957 is a perfect companion for the Datsun 240Z rally car. Standout features are the red chapter ring with a speedometer-inspired 60-second track, the two-tone tachymeter bezel, the red and blue differentiated hands and the contrasting steel bracelet and case.

The only thing this limited edition Speedtimer has going against it is that it’s powered by Seiko’s frustrating caliber V192 solar-quartz movement, which has a nonsensical 24-hour sub-dial linked to the running time at three o’clock.

the side of a Seiko chronograph — The fixed bezel has a two-tone tachymeter scale.

The SSC957 also has the best case back, which sports an etching of the Datsun 240Z rally car. It is the most affordable watch in the collection at just over $1,000, which can somewhat justify its shortcomings.

A blacked-out bad a**

Topping the podium, from my perspective, is the blacked-out SRQ057, one of the most beautiful mechanical chronographs Seiko has ever produced.

The big news here is that this is the first modern automatic Speedtimer, since the SRQxx designation began, to have a fixed bezel with an external tachymeter scale. It is the same one that has appeared on the solar-quartz Speedtimer for years.

Inspiration for the color scheme came from the Datsun 240Z dashboard panel. The blackened steel case, bezel and pushers blend into the brushed black chapter ring and matte black dial.

The only color appears on the red chronograph hands and blue running seconds hand. The hour and minute hand and baton applied hour markers are inlaid with lume.

the back of a Seiko chronograph — The black caseback features a relief etching of the Datsun logo.

The SRQ057 is powered by a caliber 8R48 automatic movement, Seiko’s top chronograph outside Grand Seiko. It comes on a black leather strap with a steel folding clasp.

This glorious racing watch clocks in at nearly triple the price of the other two models and has a much more limited run of only 500 pieces, virtually ensuring that it will become a grail piece for Seiko collectors down the line.

Availability and price

The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer x Datsun 240Z collection will be available in September 2025.

The time-date SPB517 is $1,150 and limited to 2,500 pieces, the solar-quartz SSC957 is $1,000 and limited to 4,000 pieces and the automatic SRQ057 is $3,200 and limited to 500 pieces.

Currently, only the Seiko UK website is advertising the collection, so it will likely drop in the European market before the American market.

Seiko Prospex Speedtimer x DATSUN Fairlady Z

Specs

Case Size	42mm
Movement	Seiko caliber 8R48 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

$3,200 at Seiko

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.