Back at work again… what’s all this talk about an xmas break?

Anyway, I’ve been perusing the Google Books service a bit lately and there are all sorts of interesting magazines and articles from all eras to be found (a lot of them for free), including this nice little piece titled Japanese Micro-Mini Cars from a 1985 edition of Popular Mechanics. At the risk of sounding like a lazy contributor with nothing of his own to write, you should go read it.

No, not that sort of 'rex'

Not sure how I came across it, was originally looking for some Nikon camera articles – but that’s the wonder of teh innerwebs for you I guess.

(it’s almost worth looking through just to chortle at the contemporary print ads!)

Popular Mechanics, Jul 1985: Japanese Micro-Mini Cars »

I’ve lost count of the times I have been asked whether a particular wedge Skyline is an R30 or an R31.  Even amongst so-called Skyline “obsessives” there’s a lacking in ability to tell the difference.  So rather than having to explain it time and time again, I figured that I would take a moment to make an entry on RC about it and then when it comes up again (which it most certainly will) then I can just point people here.  Personally, I don’t see how you can’t see the differences but I put that down to a beyond ridiculous admiration of the Skyline range on my part.

31 Coupe (left) , 30 Coupe (right)

So, if you are one of those people who can’t pick the difference even after the above photo, then carry on reading and I’ll detail the more obvious external features as generally once you pop the bonnet on the car, if the engine housed in the bay doesn’t tell you, then the chassis stamp and data tag most certainly will…

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