The Outsider. Hakosuka Gtr In Europe…

When did you first become aware of Japanese culture? It’s a serious question and one that I’ve asked myself, hence passing it on to you. If you’re Japanese or based in Japan, then excuse this line of questioning although I’d hope the resultant answers will be of interest.

I was grown in a land of Ford Cortinas, the odd Datsun and a smattering of Toyotas. That odd Datsun being the local farmer who bought a brand new 620 pick up in 1979, what I would give for that now.

A 1983 Tamiya Catalogue was my first experience of what I would consider to be Japanese culture, looking through the glossy pages opened my eyes to a whole world of car models I’d never seen.

Honda Jazz to TA Celica… They were all there. Liveried with names that were unknown, I was ten years old and my car world just blew up.

I’m sat here at the Retro Rides Gathering thinking about those pages and how much Alan Thomas’ KPGC10 reminds me of those models. It’s image perfect, just how I’d expect it to be as if assembled by full size Tamiya mechanics, the kind whose feet are joined by a flat piece of plastic painted to look like tarmac.

We’ve pictured this actual KPGC10 at a few events over the years, when we shot the Gosser BMW at Classic Le Mans in July it was sat a couple of hundred feet away being displayed by Nissan France, but now finally… We’re alone. Almost.

As with a lot of Japanese cars, there is a hint of familiarity for a European, a line here or there that shows a nod of the designers pen to European styling houses. Alan and I discuss the very Italianate lines of the pillarless coupe and how the ‘wave’ swage line is a key element of the side flank. Which when I think about it is the kind of detail absent on European peers.

If you’re sat there wondering what all the fuss is about, then I’ll give you a little fuss to work with. When Alan became the custodian of this KPGC10, there was only one other S20 engined car outside of Japan, that being a PGC10 (four door) in South Africa.

Now there is a KPGC10, a KPGC110 and a Fairlady Z432 in the USA… But that’s still only five cars outside of Japan. This is a rare car in Japan, let alone London.

It’s easy to see why Alan is the right person to own the GTR. Swapping stories with him is easy, his passion spills through in every answer, we discuss everything from air cooled VWs to the incredible times he had living in Japan from the late 80s through to early 90s, a subject I hope to tell you more about in the future.

It seems that living and breathing the culture cemented his interest and led him down a path to owning one of the rarest and most coveted of Nissan models.

The very skilled previous owner simply instructing Alan to “do as I liked with the car, but to try to show it in a good light and spread the word about Nissan’s early racing activities and these interesting production cars.”

So we’ve blown some smoke, and flashed some mirrors but just how impressive is this GTR?

Very. Everything smells right, looks right, it gives you that sense of unprompted sense of awe when you take a look around. Everything for a purpose and everything purposeful.

Although there’s something faintly odd about it’s presence here, as I said so many facets of Japanese car design are familiar, yet the harsh, piercing exhaust note that the 2ltr rasps out through the side exit exhaust seems so alien.

I half expect to look over the horizon and see Mt Fuji rising from the rolling Cotswold vista, solely brought forth by the distinctive tone. I’m used to barking carbs, but the revs rise so quickly, the 2ltr six shouting a very distinctive song.

Alan points out that although the arch and tyre combo might look impressive, it’s actually over tyred by modern standards. The 11J wide Watanabe mags are gorgeous, but he goes on to say that in the early 70s tyre tech wasn’t what it is now, so they had to be that wide, now modern compounds mean grip is almost infinite in this wide girth.

Adding that on a near perfect day at Silverstone, itself a fast track with plenty of rubber on the line and open corners, you can almost imagine what it would be like to dance around that Fuji track that the Hakosuka (pronounced hakoska) is so famed for racing around.

Flat out, minimal braking and that exhaust note

As for this particular GTR, what is its history? “My particular car is a bit of a white elephant, having started out as a road car and then gradually morphed into a circuit-oriented one trick pony. Perhaps a showroom stock car would get more attention for the marque and model, and a greater appreciation for just how extraordinary these cars were for the market and the period.”

In some circles, but you’re amongst friends here Alan, “A race-bred (certainly blue blooded) twin cam 24-valve straight six engine with triple side-draught carbs, a hand-made stainless six-branch exhaust manifold and electronic ignition…”

“… A five speed O/D trans driving an LSD-equipped diff, with front disc brakes and McPherson strut / semi trailing rear all independent suspension sounds quite exotic for 1971.”

The four door debuted in Feb. 1969, Alan saying, “If these cars were from anywhere other than Japan they’d be extraordinary, but the fact that they WERE from Japan makes them even more interesting for me.”

“In fact, I think they were a signpost of great things to come, and it was only really the Yom Kippur War and subsequent ‘Oil Shock’ / OPEC oil crisis that put a lid on greater things coming. If it wasn’t for that ( Japan had no domestic oil supply, and has always had to import it ) we might have seen some really interesting and sporty cars from Japan in the mid to late 1970s.

As it was we arguably we had to wait until the mid to late 80s, with giants such as the R series Skylines and peers.

Look around the GTR and you’ll see now familiar items. Dog leg box? Okay, we know how this works.

Common sense like the rear drums, finned for cooling… Nothing new there.

The rear anti-roll bar which is unique to the GTR and often cloned on lesser models. Take a look at the brackets.

And you’ll see them again at the front, painted black and flanking the oil cooler, slightly altered and acting as lifting points for a quick lift in the pits. The kind the lever up the whole front of the car in one swift movement of the large hooped handle.

Inside there are indications of the history, from the works spec centre mounted switches.

To the bare GRP passenger seat, itself made by an industrial seating company in Japan. After all, if you wanted plastic chairs akin to those you find in a school, just with a little more ‘scoop’, you’d go to somebody who made them already, right? I smile as Alan tells me this and we discuss how it must confuse builders trying to replicate the look when they trawl through endless period auto accessory catalogues.

Japanese culture then, do we get it? Some will, some won’t. If you’ve read this far, chances are you’re in the former camp. For us it’s all about respect, Japanese cars just ooze it and the KPGC10 you’re looking at here demands it.

Like a lone warrior representing a nation against armies of BMW 2002s, twin-cam Alfas and hot Cortinas it shows just what is possible if you distill all the good bits, methodology, doctrine and make just one car.

Not just any Skyline though…

a GTR.

1971   Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R Hard Top

KPGC10   ‘Hakosuka’

Chassis   Number: KPGC10-01218,  Engine Number:   S20-002256

BODY:
*Fibreglass bonnet & boot lid
*Works type fibreglass ‘Overfenders’ (1971 season type), Works type fibreglass headlamp covers
*Works type blue / white paint scheme.
ENGINE:
*S20 type 24-valve DOHC straight six, 1989cc
*Modified head with Nissan ‘Sports Option’ cams
*High compression forged pistons
*Exhaust manifold: Ito Racing stainless 6-branch, Works-type dual pipe side exit
*Carburettors: Weber 45DCOE-9 x 3
*Factory Mitsubishi electronic ignition
*Mechanical tachometer drive
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ oil breather system &  catch tank
*Works type front-mounted oil cooler, triple core radiator
FUEL TANK:
*Safety cell with interior filler & breather system
*Twin electric pumps, with swirl pot
DRIVETRAIN:
*Nissan competition F5C71-B ‘Option 4’ direct drive 5-speed transmission
*R200 4.1 ratio differential with plate type LSD, finned alloy rear cover
*RS Watanabe ‘R-Type’ magnesium 8-spoke wheels. 9.5j x 15 front, 11j x 15 rear
*Dunlop Racing Japan slick tyres. 235/565-15 front,  265/575-15 rear
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ Sumitomo MK63-20S four pot front brake calipers, ENDLESS pads
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ vented front brake discs
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ alloy finned rear drums, competition linings
SUSPENSION:
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ race front struts
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ adjustable rear dampers
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ Fuji springs front & Rear
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ front & rear anti roll bars
INTERIOR:
*Nissan ‘Sports Option’ three point roll-over bar
*NISMO fibreglass driver’s race seat
*Works type Ikeda Bussan fibreglass shell passenger seat
*Willans four point race harness
*Izumi steering wheel
*Mechanical tachometer
*Works type switch panel on trans tunnel
*Works type modified pedals & foot rest
Original owner / driver Dr Hiroshi Shimizu, Kyoto,   Japan.
Refurbished by Mr Hideki Matsui of NP35, Nagano,   Japan 2005.

……………….

Bryn Musselwhite

More stories by me on Speedhunters

More Hakosuka stories on Speedhunters

Our thanks go to David Murphy and Keith Batsford of the Retro Rides Gathering for making this shoot happen… They came from the retro-rides.org forum.

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1

Wait, i think one of those bolts holding the seat in isn't JDM, knockoff alert! (LOL)

2

I wonder if this is the same Alan (HS30-H) from classic z cars, hybridz.org and various other nissan related sites. if it is, the guy is extremely knowledgeable on all things Nissan/Datsun/Prince and has an amazing collection of cars. Thanks to him I know where to get the best fitting ZG replica kit, Marugen Shokai.

3

I wonder if this is the same Alan (HS30-H) from classic z cars, hybridz.org and various other nissan related sites. if it is, the guy is extremely knowledgeable on all things Nissan/Datsun/Prince and has an amazing collection of cars. Thanks to him I know where to get the best fitting ZG replica kit, Marugen Shokai.

4

The second desktop is just perfect!

5

The second desktop is just perfect!

6

A 1994 Tamiya catalogue was my introduction into Japanese car culture, I must have been around 6 years old and I would look through the awesome JDM cars for hours! I remember desperately needing the Carlsonic GTR.... I can probably say that my life-long love of cars can be traced to that catalogue. I also drooled  all over the Martini racing Lancia Delta Integrale... time has really flown. Thanks for the blast from the past Bryn!

7

A 1994 Tamiya catalogue was my introduction into Japanese car culture, I must have been around 6 years old and I would look through the awesome JDM cars for hours! I remember desperately needing the Carlsonic GTR.... I can probably say that my life-long love of cars can be traced to that catalogue. I also drooled  all over the Martini racing Lancia Delta Integrale... time has really flown. Thanks for the blast from the past Bryn!

8

Ohhhhh my a real Hakosuka GT-R!!!!!! 

9

Ohhhhh my a real Hakosuka GT-R!!!!!! 

10

A great feature. What a car! Love that sound =) Maybe I should swap my CA20S in my Laurel to this one :P 2L, just straight six vs. four :P
 
Great pictures also =) Save one for my desktop rotation folder :D

11

A great feature. What a car! Love that sound =) Maybe I should swap my CA20S in my Laurel to this one :P 2L, just straight six vs. four :P
 
Great pictures also =) Save one for my desktop rotation folder :D

12

Oh my. Gorgeous.
Btw, those 290s look fantastic, but I sure can trust the owner saying they're overkill!! :)

13

Oh my. Gorgeous.
Btw, those 290s look fantastic, but I sure can trust the owner saying they're overkill!! :)

14

probably my favourite of all the GTR models! such a nice car

15

what a stunning bit of machinery...I was in total awe of this thing at Prescott

16

sound needs to be added to this thread!
 

17

This is a great article, funny enough, I recently shot a 71 Skyline, though not a GTR, and found the same Kangaroo pouch to be of equal interest. Check out the article / shots here on my blog, hungry4horsepower: http://hungry4horsepower.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/zonc-pt-2-godzillas-blood-runs-deep/ 

18

Gorgeous GTR!! What a lovely exhaust sound!!

19

 @grandtouring Yes he is. I hope will guest blog on speedhunters about his car life. There's Alan Thomas, then there's us. 

20

 @grandtouring Yes he is. I hope will guest blog on speedhunters about his car life. There's Alan Thomas, then there's us. 

21

 @grandtouring Yes he is. I hope will guest blog on speedhunters about his car life. There's Alan Thomas, then there's us. 

22

 @grandtouring Yes he is. I hope will guest blog on speedhunters about his car life. There's Alan Thomas, then there's us. 

23

For anybody who wants to hear the s20 engine at full noise
try this footage from the best motoring dvds.
love this footage
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAXGuD_f3Kw

24

For anybody who wants to hear the s20 engine at full noise
try this footage from the best motoring dvds.
love this footage
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAXGuD_f3Kw

25

For anybody who wants to hear the s20 engine at full noise
try this footage from the best motoring dvds.
love this footage
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAXGuD_f3Kw

26

For anybody who wants to hear the s20 engine at full noise
try this footage from the best motoring dvds.
love this footage
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAXGuD_f3Kw

27

 @DavidMcauliffe This is great !!!
Thanks for sharing +++!!!

28

 @DavidMcauliffe What an amazing sound!

29

Nice unique car and a very knowledable owner. It's a shame that so few countries in Europe showed interest in japanse cars back in the 70:s. Of course it just had to be that way as several countries had and still have strong domestic cars brands and manufacturing. The japanese makes was of course the odd outsiders that only the "odd man" dared buy.
 
Here in Finland we were among the first to slowly accept the outsiders, partly thanks to having no domestic car industry thanks to the wars with Russia no doubt (compare to Sweden). Datsun was first in 1962 (the first and only shipment of PL312 Bluebirds (713 cars) came to Hanko in october. Most people of course had less than admiring opinions of the odd newcomer but thanks to the importers aggressive marketing and equally aggressive test methods in media people slowly became aware of the durability of the japanese car.
 
In 1972 we were one of the few european countries that recieved a shipment of 38 LHD Skylines, model code HGLC10, that were named 2400GT instead of Skyline. All were 4-door versions and on some other european markets there was also a 2-liter version named the 2000GT. One can only dream about what would be the situation today if these cars had became more popular back then, we also had the 240K GT here in Finland but it was sold in equally small numbers just like other special Datsuns like the SSS-versions of the 510, 610 and 710. Not many are left, would be nice to know how many LHD C10-Skylines that were ever made...

30

 @SlappysCarBlog Lmao! xD

31

Absolutely beautiful.  
 

32

this car and text is almost poetick in some weird kinda way
 

33

Awesome feature, definitely worthy!
 
"That odd Datsun being the local farmer who bought a brand new 620 pick up in 1979, what I would give for that now."
 
I know of someone bringing a few 620's and 521's into the country from Aus and America

34

How Alan came to own this car is an amazing story in itself - maybe in a possible part 2 Alan could share that glorious tale with everyone...  glorious glorious sounds... too bad the french rain left a lasting misfire, i'm sure this will be sorted soon if it hasn't already been done so. Thanks for the sweet pics Bryn!

35

 @ericbauer Oh theres a story i haven't hear yet. Would love to hear how he got it. That and his other two 432 Z's. Hows the hako coming along ericbauer? Anything new?

36

 @grandtouring   dont want to hijack alan's post... but i'm getting there though... still looking good to be back on the road for JCCS on 9/15

37

there are pics of at least 2 or 3 LHD C10s in Switzerland on japanesenostalgiccar forum... Look up a forum member called "mitx"... he can help put you in touch i think...

38

 @DavidMcauliffe the english voice over on the BM videos is soo bad... it is though the best video for the car... Gan-san is always so reserved when he talks about the car.. makes me laugh... i bet when the camera switches off he's doing cartwheels over how much this car means to him... lol

39

 @ericbauer haha right, my bad. Well i hope to see it there. Seeing cars like Alan's and yours is always a treat. Make me think my 240z could use a garage mate.

40

 @ericbauer Yes, I have probably seen them all at some point browsing the web...:) Should probably have mentioned that I have one of the finnish ones in my garage (and also one of the 312's that my dad bought new back then)...also I'm the one that asked if you might have a set of center caps for the C110 and C210 alloys for sale...:) They seem to be quite rear but I scored a nice set in Australia som time ago,,,;)
 
I'll have to message him, I have an extra instrument cluster that I found on a swiss auction site some time ago but it is probably not the same guy, the world can't be THAT small?? :D
 
Would be nice to know just how rare they are, some say that there were only about 50 ever made but I'm having a hard time believing that...there should have been a couple of hundred at least I would imagine...we have about 10 "still alive" in Finland and the net reveals as you said a couple i Switzerland, a few in Holland and of course the one in Portugal that probably is the nicest of them all, having been garaged almost all the time!

Author41
Speedhunters Bryn

 @grandtouring  @ericbauer
 Alan's story is amazing and there is so much more information I'd love to share at some stage, obviously that's up to Alan. I'm just glad we got the GTR, as we first pictured it in 2009!

42

Brilliant post, what a majestic car!

43

Brilliant post, what a majestic car!

44

Brilliant post, what a majestic car!

45

Thanks for a really nice article, Bryn.
 
If anyone has any questions about the car, please fire away. I'll do my best to answer......

46

@AlanT .... Alan, you should talk to Bryn about getting your own "reader's ride" follow up feature so you can share the amazing story of how you came to be the caretaker of this car!...

47

@AlanT .... Alan, you should talk to Bryn about getting your own "reader's ride" follow up feature so you can share the amazing story of how you came to be the caretaker of this car!...

48

There's one in Portugal? Do you have more info please?

49
Nismo Omori Factory

Wow!A real KPGC10 with a S20 for once!None this mock up KGC10 with a L Series, like seen all over the web.Nice find SH! 

50
Nismo Omori Factory

Wow!A real KPGC10 with a S20 for once!None this mock up KGC10 with a L Series, like seen all over the web.Nice find SH!

51
Nismo Omori Factory

Wow!A real KPGC10 with a S20 for once!None this mock up KGC10 with a L Series, like seen all over the web.Nice find SH!

52
Nismo Omori Factory

Wow! A real KPGC10 with a S20 for once! None this mock up KGC10 with a L Series, like seen all over the web. Nice find SH!

54

Thank you very much Matias! Never expected to see one of these in my country, very happy to know that...

55

 @AlanT @brynmusselwhite  in the pics the rear dunlop slicks are 290/575-15, in the specs they are listed as 265/575-15. Is this merely a typo? Or are the narrower tires treaded rains perhaps? If so, are those narrower 265s still run on 11J rims, or narrower rims?

56

Eric, it's just a typo. The 265s are on the front, and the 290s are on the rear. I have some 14" wheels for any use in the rain ( 10j and 8j ) but the only times I've actually driven the car in the rain it's been on slicks.......

57

Eric, it's just a typo. The 265s are on the front, and the 290s are on the rear. I have some 14" wheels for any use in the rain ( 10j and 8j ) but the only times I've actually driven the car in the rain it's been on slicks.......

58

Eric, it's just a typo. The 265s are on the front, and the 290s are on the rear. I have some 14" wheels for any use in the rain ( 10j and 8j ) but the only times I've actually driven the car in the rain it's been on slicks.......

59

Eric, it's just a typo. The 265s are on the front, and the 290s are on the rear. I have some 14" wheels for any use in the rain ( 10j and 8j ) but the only times I've actually driven the car in the rain it's been on slicks.......

60

 @AlanT 
 
Alan... Could you write a book? Just on everything about the holy trio of S20 cars, really.
 
I'm not sure anyone in the english speaking world is quite as knowledgable as yourself. I always thoroughly enjoy reading your posts on the various S30 forums around the web.
 
 
Also... What's the deal with how you came to own this car? Seems an interesting story.

61

 @brynmusselwhite .. hey Bryn! Nice to meet you at JCCS over the past weekend... shame that I didn't finish my car in time... you certainly are quite the world traveler! keep up the great work!!

62

i had chills down my spine reading that last line and photo

63

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