retro-classics - automotive blog

Inspiration

Authors’ Cars: Coupe lyfe

October 3, 2011

How to regain motivation for the coupe:

Fit some lush wheels.

Track down a functioning AAC valve and other miscellaneous replacement engine bay sensors, then give car to John (aka CXGPWR) for an afternoon to werk his magic. Voila, car feels like a completely new beast to drive and actually picks up from down low instead of bogging like a bastard.

Wash it for the first time in aaaaaaaaages.

Yes, I know it looks like it could do with a bit more slam but this is actually an optical illusion more than anything else. Perhaps 55 profile tyres weren’t such a good choice after all.

OK, so I cheated and simply swapped the rims off squid.

: Authors Cars, Inspiration, Random Retro Snap

Random snap: Honey, I shrunk the Skyline!

0

September 20, 2011

by Orion

For someone who isn’t much of a diecast fan, I have amassed a small but hearty collection of DR30s…

From 1:18 right down to 1:89 scale.

the level of detail on the 1:18 Autoart is nothing short of breathtaking, especially when you have the Real Thing parked in the garage to compare it with. Check out some detail shots of it here.

A shame that my other 1:89 model, a Seibu Keisatsu Machine-RS, has gone missing. It used to be parked on my desk at the office but mysteriously disappeared one weekend. I blame the cleaners!

: Authors Cars, Automotive Die-casts, Inspiration, Random Retro Snap

Car For Sale: New Zealand’s rearest (sic) Datsun?

3

September 4, 2011

by Orion

The listing description describes it as the “Rearest” Datsun in NZ… I think the seller means “rarest”, but point taken – it’s the only KP510 coupe I’m aware of in the country. Michael may be able to shed more light on the subject since he has connections to more local Datsun weirdos than I can even comprehend, lololol.

Those tail lights... drool.

Yours for a cool $22,000 and comes with all the fruit, such as the Watanabe rims, front chin spoiler, sweet L16 engine with twin Mikuni crabs, and aftermarket suspension.

Authentic RS-8s of dish.

One day I shall own a ’70s Datto coupe, but between the Bluebird, Skyline, Laurel and Fairlady there’s so many different ones to choose from.

Not quite a C10, but the '70s Nissan DNA is definitely there.

Now where did I put my secret stash of asian millionaire gambling moneys?

1970 Datsun 1600 coupe for sale on Trademe »

: Car Spotting, Cars for Sale, Inspiration

Authors’ Cars: this is why squid will never be finished, Ed!

0

August 1, 2011

by Orion

After selling my white T-top MR2 SC, I lasted all of two weeks before giving in to temptation and commenced searching for another AW11 to trundle around in for everyday duties.

If anyone’s keeping count, this is number five.

Test drove a couple of examples up here in Auckland and was severely disappointed by a) price, b) various mechanical faults, and c) an endemic reluctance on the part of each seller to negotiate a) based on b). Gave Ewan @ hayatonka a call as well, but a search of the auctions and yards in Japan yielded no results within budget, apart from a couple examples with major rust that would never have passed compliance here in NZ without $$$$ worth of repairs :doubt:

Then just as I was about to give up, I received a phone call from a good friend in Wellington saying that one of his mates was selling a tidy hardtop manual AW11 SC, in more or less standard condition, and was I interested at all?