The Unexpected Hakotora

When I think of beautiful vintage Japanese tin, the Datsun Sunny is admittedly not the first thing that springs to mind. Here’s how to turn that assumption on its head though…

Starting with the pickup version of the Sunny, its owner, Dominic Le of Chasing Js, has created a ‘Hakotora‘ through the use of a Hakosuka (C10 Skyline) front-end conversion from 09 Racing in Japan.

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The effect is dramatic, and that made this Datsun a real neck-snapper all week long at SEMA.

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As part of the 09 Racing conversion, some wild vented front fenders complete with dry carbon fiber mirrors were added.

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Integrated flares work well to contain the excessively-lipped 15×9.5-inch RAYS Volk Racing TE37Vs.

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The rear end received similarly-styled 09 Racing bolt-on flares and 15×11-inch TE37Vs to carry the look through. Stretched Toyo Proxes R888s measure 195/50R15 and 205/50R15 front and rear respectively.

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The interior featured a Hakosuka replica dash and console, Nardi wheel, harness bar and Autolook low-back race seats with Takata Racing harnesses. You can also see that the pickup is right-hand drive.

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Factory tailgate latches were left intact; one of the few reminders that this is indeed a ’70s pickup at its core.

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It’s a shame the hood was down when I grabbed these shots, because there’s a built SR20DET lurking beneath. The only clue is an intercooler hiding behind the grille.

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In the back, a new bed floor was built from carbon fiber panels and trimmed in brushed aluminum.

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Custom Chasing Js suspension and a c-notched rear allows the stretched Toyos to sit right up against the custom arches.

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And behind the RAYS wheels I found Wilwood calipers with cross-drilled DBA rotors to round out what is a very nice build.

Stay tuned for plenty more spotlights from SEMA 2015!

Keith Charvonia
Instagram: SpeedhuntersKeith
keith@speedhunters.com

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1
Reuben Rodriguez

This build is Inspirational!!!! Coming from a guy that is into trucks and doing things out of the norm. Luv the track inspired stlye it has. Now I'm getting more ideas of things I want to do to my truck lol

2

Wouldn't mind going to Home Depot in that!

3

Amazing.

4

this lokks so nice can i buy one :?

5

a cafe cb 750 in the box would make that build one notch better.

6

Interesting taillights.

7

Damn this is nice as soon as i have my toyota tiara pickup im going to do something similar! Love this

8

The skyline front end works so perfectly with the truck. If I didn't know better, I would've thought that that was factory styling.

9

this is so cool, love it

10

Just not feeling this one.....Ugly and useless. Sorry.

11

Been seeing pics of this on instagram and was really hoping for a feature

12

Now if I were to get a lil pickup truck, this would be the direction I'd take it. 
That's simply beautiful!

13

This thing's fkn rad, man. I like the idea of a car/wagon/pickup type car. Does VW still do that?

14

Speedhunters, PLEASE LABEL NSFW MATERIAL. Oh god, the want, and the things I would do for this thing.

15

@Mark well you could put stuff in the back still? thats not useless

16

I think they might be earlier model toyota tacoma tailoghts... maybe..

17

That CF bed deck would look sexy on your chevy.

18

johnbezt yes they do. Volkswagen build "utes" or "pickup trucks" as theyre known in the states. and sell them in non us markets

19

This is too cool, love it!!!

20

I don't know that a Hakosuka's head attached to the Sunny pickup looked so GOOD! 
Awesome combination!

21

BettyWhite510 http://www.livefyre.com/profile/72305001/ They are the standard taillights for the Nissan 1400 Champ..

22

@Mark Dude, I own a Datsun 1200, one of these. They go places. I've flogged fuck out of my little ute and she still purrs on to this day; its my work ute, my drag car, my rally car my everything all in one package.

23

BettyWhite510 That's the standard taillights for the Datsun 1200 ute, Sunny truck, whatever you want to call it.

24

The "WANT" factor, is through the roof. Sad, they only come with the steering wheel on the wrong side

25

Not if the bed is made of carbon fibre, now that material is amazing, but you wouldn't want to drop heavy loads in it surely

26

Love this conversion :)
I guess an L28 would make this a hell of a beast

27

RenaudTignol 
I see a huge intercooler stuck up behind the grill. So I would suggest, it's an RB or SR

28

RenaudTignol if you guys would bother to read the article, it has an SR20DET.

29

Google VW Saveiro, currently on 6th generation in the brazilian market.

31

Tfw you're torn between calling something blasphemy and genius....

32

You wouldn't drop heavy loads in one of these anyway. Its a minitruck.

33

Depends what you mean by heavy, I wouldn't want to put a heavy tool box on a carbon fibre bed, I know it's just for show, but think something that is actually useable would be a bit cooler

34

My thoughts exactly!

36

Oooooh nice combo for sure

37

No but you can build one :)

38

And double parking in the back of the lot...

39

RAAAAAAAAAAD.

40

We have a photo shoot coming up with this idea. Using our buddy sandcast 750. Stay tuned.

41

TE37 EVERYTHING

42

Looks great and works very well. I remember the first one of these I saw at Nostalgic 2 Days 2013 in Yokohama and I thought it looked great in gray, but in white it just kills it! I'd love to see this done to a wagon, that'd be super sweet IMO.

43

Mahfoodh You mean the right side. You're the peeps with them on the wrong side ;)

44

Spaghetti Wagon in Race Livery!!

45

DavidCamilo Whoa... not my cup of tea at all.

46

KeithCharvonia xperttunz front-end conversion from 09 Racing in Japan

47

Not bad, not bad at all! That front end looks like it came on the car from the factory :)

48

#inlove

49

that bed floor is winning, but I love the whole build

50

One of my definite favourites of SEMA this year, it has such a staunch presence in person.

51

dovvv RenaudTignol LOL I know right, people looking at photos only.

52

Absolutely love this build. Thanks, Keith

53

205/50 ON A 15X11?! WORD?!!

54

Was SO happy when I saw this truck at SEMA, I found it by accident.. Had been looking for the 'Datsun pickup' in the Battle, and was looking for a shortcut from the South to the Central hall.. Suddenly on the soaked carpet, there it was.. Such a cool build. So wanted to stick my car next to it, get the TE37V/R888/Datsun SR thing photo.. 

Really cool truck Dominic!

55

oklahomastance r888 is little bit wider than regular tires.

56

The dash is the proverbial cherry on the top of that build. Really cool.

57

How much does this conversion cost + wheels?

58

Now this is how a truck should be done.

59
Closed course films

09racing from Japan sells whole truck with conversion or just the kit. They are on Facebook.
And no the datsuns that we have don't work you must have a sunny

60

I own a LHD sunny truck

63

This was my truck before, kinda hard to see but it's LHD. Which is still kinda weird for me, I always walk to the right side to unluck then realize the steering wheel is on the left.
This was me and the the wife picking up 1 set and 4 pairs (12 wheels) of jdm wheels and tyres.

65

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66

I don't know, Keith.... 
I keep coming back to this article, man. I desperately want to build one. Ever get the mini truck fever again?

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