Liberty Walk’s GT-R Inspired Kei Car

It’s hard to pass up something that puts a smile on your face, something lighthearted that’s built for nothing more than a bit of fun. I’m pretty sure that’s how the Liberty Walk Daihatsu Copen came to be. Yes, this affordable drop-top kei car has been transformed into a pocket-sized Nissan R35 GT-R look-a-like.

Back in their heyday, kei cars provided Japanese automakers with an outlet for fun and whacky designs. They were diminutive in size and engine capacity, but not so much on looks. The Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda Beat and Autozam (Mazda) AZ-1 are the first that come to mind; they all looked like they were trying to do comical impersonations of the high-end supercars of the day. It wasn’t until Daihatsu came up with the Copen that more fun and creativity was injected into the domestic-only class of vehicle, and with the second-generation Copen also came aggressive looks and headlights that had more than a passing resemblance to those on the king of all Japanese supercars, the GT-R.

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Kato-san and the Liberty Walk team have taken full advantage of this, and the result is what they’re calling the GT-K.

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They designed a GT-R-like front bumper conversion, and then continued around the car to add more substance.

Massive fender flares, very much like what Liberty Walk does for the R35, are added and filled up with appropriately sized SSR Longchamp XR4s in gloss black.

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The result manages to pack a punch, but at the same time it comes off as cute. This is one car that would be fun to drive around in markets where people have no idea what it is, just to observe the confusion on their faces.

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The two-seater’s interior has been given the Liberty touch with red leather covers for the stock seats, and the navigation screen is mounted in a very similar way to that of the GT-R’s MFD.

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Of course there are four massive titanium-look exhaust tips popping out of the R35-like rear diffuser, and a GT wing with swan-neck stays to finish up the conversion.

R’s Meeting scheduled programming will resume shortly, I just had to share this hilarious little car with you guys before I get back into it.

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com

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1

It look like a PowerWheels for adults!!! I love it :)

2

No, real adults ride in muscle cars ;)

Author3
Dino Dalle Carbonare

It's got muscles...

4

You probably can put it in the back of a Roadrunner ... I was joking by the way.
I like key cars and could daily in this thing any time :)

5

I want one lol.

Author6
Dino Dalle Carbonare

So do I!

7

I dig it

8

I actually think this is something I would legitimately drive here in the states. Would get some double takes here definitely, mistaking it for a convertible GTR LOL it's so cute plus it's a manual, which sweetens the deal.

Author9
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Confusing people is fun :)

10

So ridiculously cool. I feel like these kei car builds are far more appealing than most modern car builds. I would be so interested to see one paired with performance modifications too, and dream about what it would be like to own the full package.

11

I totally agree. Optimize a little car to zip around daily.

12

I wish we could get this in the USA

Author13
Dino Dalle Carbonare

I don't think it would pass US crash safety standards

14

Mhm that's what I thought. Lucky Japan. they get r34s and these and s15 and... well that list goes on too long.

15

it's crazy how the laws are so different now to years ago, back in the 60's, american cars were absolutely huge (still are I know) but there were other people buzzing around in BMW isetta's and Honda N600 and Z's. I'm kind of glad not everywhere gets everything though, it allows for that discovery moment when you find a car you've never seen before which is always refreshing.

16

Round tail lights conversion? That would seal the deal.

17

I'm sure I've seen one on instagram that had the tail conversion done as well, it did look amazing.

18

How to transform a Copen ( is that the base car,right?) into a kei beast :D

19

Is there a matching one for the right foot?

20

that very same JDM Copen is available here in Indonesia's local Daihatsu dealership....alas with a prohibitive price tag of approximately $ 30,000+ (was equal to $ 35,000 but our currency's value sled down the hill recently)

I can probably muster up the confidence to took mortgage on my house in order to obtain one.....highly the doubtful the old lady will approve, though

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