A Stocky Second Chance
It’s nice to see this car in its current guise. This was actually a car imported by a couple of friends in Waterford city. The car came to Ireland as a half loved Nissan, just like most RPS13’s their story is always a mystery. This example was bright pink, had over fenders, standard ae86 front wheels and a Bomex whale tale. Back then this car was laughed at, a bit of an ugly duckling. Like many cars at that time it vanished, many had thought it was dead forever, just like the fate of many Nissans but somehow it came back out of the wood work, and damn did it look good.
The exterior of the car is pretty reserved, which is a breath of fresh air. The aero is quite modest in comparison to the stocky offset wheel choice. The car has been finished in a rather dark Ferrari Grey, which obviously has made the car unrecognisable from its former pink with bolt on arch attire. Front and rear the body was treated to 50mm Origin front vented wings and 50mm rear quarters flushed to the body, to give a very simplified stocky exterior.
The front and rear bumpers are Vertex, a kit which always brings out the lines of the 180sx, being a much more reserved Aero package as opposed to many of the other kits from the same era. The side skirts are Bomex, which came in on the car but were retained due to the fact they are some of the more enjoyable aero to come out of Bomex for the Nissans. Bomex have always been strange that way, much like Veilside, a very hit or miss company.
The rear Zenki lights were swapped out for a Kouki setup with Garnish. Other small touches include the smoothening of the body line and a rear carbon roof spoiler. The car was a daily driver so more or less all the full interior remains. A Japanese double din unit is at home along with a Razo Gear knob, a Broadway Mirror and Bride material for the gear Gaitor.
Interior wise things are relativity simple, with the addition of some essential or tasteful extras. A Bride Zeta fixed back bucket for the driver and standard for other passengers. Some chequered floor mats and a Cusco fly off Button.
Satisfying that car archaeology, some stickers which were retained from being imported from Japan, the Kakimoto racing Back box sticker proudly displayed on the inside of the door, and JIC suspension, which unfortunately have been long since removed from the car. Always nice to see when people retain some of the cars history through stickers.
Lurking on the dash is a Classic Greddy Boost gauge with white backing, along with a HKS Turbo timer.
The OMP worn suede with polished finish wheel selectionwas a nice touch to the usual Nardi choice., the Corsica is an overlooked wheel, mainly because it never really comes in this colour and is a heavily replicated by china for eBay in horrendous colours.
Under the bonnet, none other than the trusty SR that came in the car, some extra goodies include a Trust front mount intercooler, a trust stainless turbo elbow, 3.5 inch downpipe and decat, a HKS Mushroom, a Kakimoto 3 inch cat back and an Exedy stage 2, a decent package that helps this get sideways pretty swiftly.
The wheel choice really helps this Datsun stand out from the crowd, especially in sea of Rota GTRs A Set of Work Emitz 18 x 9.5’s up front and 18 x 10. 5s at the rear.
Handling wise the car has been fitted with brand new BC Racing type BR coilovers, adjustable rear camber arms, a Cusco braces front and rear and Tein tie rod ends. This thing can move, and that what I like about it. The RPS13 is reserved but stocky, almost like a bull terrier. Certainly a different style to much of what’s out there in our country and I was very impressed to see what people would assume to be the ugly duckling of the car world end up getting a second chance and coming out like this. Glad we could share it with you.
Wheels/Tires/Suspension/Handling
Work Emitz Front: 18×9.5 et 0
Work Emitz Rear: 18×10.5 et -12
BC Racing type br coilovers
Adjustable rear camber arms
Cusco strut braces front and rear
Tein tie rod ends
Exterior
Ferrari Grey
Carbon roof spoiler
Kouki rear lights
Kouki Centre garnish
Origin 50mm vented wings
Origin 50mm Over fenders
Bomex sideskirts
Sleepy eye kit
Vertex front bumper
Vertex rear bumper
Engine
Trust Fmic and hard piping
Exedy stage 2 clutch
Cusco 2way diff
Trust Stainless turbo elbow
Stainless Trust 3.5 inch downpipe and decat
3 inch Kakimoto Catback
Hks mushroom intake
Interior
Omp steering wheel
Double din stereo md cd aux iPod etc
Bride Zeta Fixed
Fly off handbrake button
Black and white checkered fitted floor mats
Greddy boost gauge
Broadway rearview mirror
Hks turbo timer
Battery relocated to boot