UniqueONESWe are still discussing strange-shaped vehicles. And on this occasion what will be discussed is a unique four-wheeled vehicle from Faroe Island. The car, which was built in the 1950s, has an exterior appearance inspired by the spacecraft that was popular at that time and has also inspired many other four-wheeled vehicles.
Almar's Dream Car in the day as it arrived in Norway back in 1957. (Picture from: Facebook)
The unique car known as the Almar's Space Race Dream Car was built in 1955 by Almar Nordhaug, a Norwegian who lives in Tórshavn, Faroe Island. He built the car while working at a barrel factory in there, and helped by his colleagues from the barrel factory. The overall design of the Almar's car is very similar to the 1954 Ford FX-Atmos concept car, and we believe it becomes an inspiration during its development.
Right side view of Almar's Dream Car. (Picture from: Facebook)
This car is built on a Vauxhall Cresta chassis complete with its engine and drive system. Then the body is built in a handmade and uniquely, it using an airplane cockpit cover functioned as the roof. Once completed, Almar's car became the first car built on Faroe Island which featured the entertainment system like a cassette player and four loudspeakers.
Almar Nordhaug posed along with his dream car. (Picture from: Kustomrama)
This 2-seater unique-shaped car also had the gullwing doors to stand out prominently so that it will always make people immediately look at when it is passing the streets. When Nordhaug returned to Norway in 1957, he took along the car with him.
Picture of Almar's Dream Car (below) appeared on the Faroe Islands stamps in 2011. (Picture from: Kustomrama)
Not only on Faroe Island but also in Norway, this car is also the center of attention when crossing the streets and it is known as an "airplane" with the Norwegian license plate number T-3022. Just for info, a picture of Almar's Dream Car once appeared on the Faroe Islands stamps in 2011.
During its existence in Norway, this car ever had undergone a process of restoration by Nils Petter Weiberg Aurdal in the 1960s after it was found in a miserable condition and also experienced several times ownership changing. Since then, the existence of Almar's car became a mystery and nobody knows where is it now?😭*** [EKA [05052020]| FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KUSTORAMA | CUSTOMRODDER | FLICKR]
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Mighty ONES The beauty of the design, the powerful engine and the compact dimensions were the reasons of many people fall in love with the Corvette legendary roadster made by Chevrolet. Might be this was what the auto engineers and designers at the one of American automotive giant subsidiaries tried to promote when they first launched the legendary model.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS encounters smoke at Indy’s Brickyard Invitational in 2014. (Picture from: Corvetteblogger)
This can be seen in the Chevrolet Corvette SS, a gorgeous and powerfull as well concept car that was deliberately made initially with the aim of competing in the 24-Hours of LeMans, but was later touted as the forerunner of many Corvette sports/racing car models.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
The concept car's design and construction process was carried out by the GM's team of engineers and designers led by the talented Zora Arkus-Duntov, to create a lightweight and powerful racing car and took the Mercedes 300SL as their based template.
Before we discuss more about the car, it's good for us to get to know a little about Zora Arkus-Duntov. He is a Belgian-born American engineer whose work at the Chevrolet Corvette earned him the nickname "Father of the Corvette."
The talented engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov sat behind the wheel of his creation 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS. (Picture from: RCNMag)
As a result, the car was lightweight thanks to using the magnesium made bodywork (with only a weight of 1,850 lbs) enveloping the tubular steel frames, it also features with the front suspension of coil-over-shocks, de Dion rear axle and built-in aluminum drum brakes.
The Duntov's team only made two chassis, the first was a test car dubbed the 'Mule' and the other to be a race one. Then as their drivetrain, it's pinned under the hood a small block V8 engine with fuel injection which can produce power reaching of 307 horsepower at 6,400 rpm.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
After the cars completed in 1957, the first test would not be carried out at the 24-Hours LeMans, but in an almost similar race but shorter in America, namely the 12-Hours of Sebring. Although the racing results of the Corvette SS for the first time at Sebring were not going well, where suspension problems and another mechanical failure forced it stop after speedy only in 23 laps.
However, the Chevrolet Corvette 'SS' managed to set a new lap record in that race. So General Motors is very enthusiastic about the potential of the SS based on those results of the training and the speed of the laps.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
Not only that it turned out, Juan Manuel Fangio, the winner at the 12-Hours Sebring of 1957, was quite impressed with the car, and then tested the Corvette SS in training sessions. The results were astonishing, Fangio completed his one full lap of 3: 27.4 seconds, that's faster in a car he had never driven before than any other driver could in a car they had driven before.
Despite GM's enthusiasm, unfortunately the Corvette should be scrapped several months later, as the American auto-making community band together to ban the manufacture of factory-produced racing cars. This was triggered by a great accident that occurred at the 24-Hours Le Mans of 1955 which claimed the lives of 83 people, since then the public attitude towards automotive racing has changed drastically.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
Protests forced many companies to withdraw from racing, organizers reviewed safety rules, and Mercedes, which was accused to involve directly to the accidents mentioned above then decided to refuse to participate in any auto races until the 1970s.
But it won't stop GM from launching the Corvette as a sports car for the layman who likes to combine the look and feel of a race car with the comfort of a daily-using vehicle. Then Zora Arkus-Duntov, those car's engineer-designer, presented it to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29, 1967, during the drivers meeting before the 51st Indy 500 mile race started, paced by the Chevrolet Camaro.
Beauty ONES Now, We are talking about an unusual designed classic car from Fiat in the 1950s named the Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider. This classic car is known to be the work of a renowned Italian automotive designer named Vittorio Stanguellini the owner of Automobili Stanguellini, who was collaborated with the Bertone at the time.
1957 Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is known to be the work of a renowned Italian automotive designer named Vittorio Stanguellini. (Picture from: ItalianWays)
As we all knew, later the car was also inspired by some of the most unique and beautiful Bertone's cars of all time, including the Fiat-Abarth 750 Record, Alfa Romeo Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica (B.A.T) 9, to the Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupé.
The story begins in 1957 when Nuccio Bertone bought a Fiat 1100 Touring Veloce (TV) which had been upgraded to Fiat 1200 specifications and later modified by Stanguellini to improve its performance. The car appears with a Jetsons-like body, which makes it look like a UFO on wheels.
1957 Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is equipped with a 1200 cc OHV straight-4 engine, two Weber carburetors coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system. (Picture from: ItalianWays)
But that's unusual because it was known as the "rocket/jet-age era". The Stanguellini's round nosecone is a really cool detail that enriches the car and gives it a cool sleek shape, and together with the tailfins (borrowed from the BAT car), the car really looks like it's made for someone from outer space to drive.
This two-door convertible beautiful designed concept car is equipped with a 1200 cc OHV straight-4 engine, two Weber carburetors coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system, hydraulic drum brakes on all wheels, independent front suspension, and rear axle with elliptical leaf springs.
1957 Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is debuted at the 1957 Turin Motor Show and be one of the most beautiful cars to ever wear the Fiat badge. (Picture from: ItalianWays)
With only 59 hp of engine power, it is certainly not the right choice for speed fans, because it is neither too powerful nor fast. But quite brilliant, and it must be one of the most beautiful cars to ever wear the Fiat badge.
Only one unit of the Fiat
Stanguellini 1200 Spider prototype ever built by Bertone and to be
exhibited at the Turin Motor Show, then brought to the 1957 Geneva Motor
Show, then sold to an Argentinean owner before being brought to Buenos
Aires. Unfortunately, after a few years, the car broke down and left in a
barn to rot. But in 1995, this car was found and restored. Then the car
was sold at a 2017 RM Sotheby's Amelia Island auction for $ 275,000.
The Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is one of the finest examples of the styling and aerodynamic concept of a sports car of the 1950s. With a turbine-like front grille design, cut-outs behind the front wheels and rear wing, combined with sleek vertical design lights, will make anyone who sees it felt curious. *** [EKA [26112020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DRIVETRIBE | ITALIANWAYS ]
When Phonemaker... The development of electric-powered vehicle industries that is currently booming is not only carried out by automotive companies, but by other parties or companies who had nothing to do with the automotive industry previously. This is also done by a Taiwanese manufacturing company named HonHai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. through its brand, Foxconn, which has been known for assembling various well-known American telecommunications products such the Apple iPhone.
Foxtron Debuts Three New EV Prototypes at Hon Hai Tech Day 2021. (Picture from: Tekno-Kompas)
Reportedly, the Taiwanese company is now preparing to expand its business into the electric-powered vehicle (EV) industry and unmitigated, as their initial step into the EV industry, the company introduced three EV prototypes under the Foxtron brand at the company's exhibition titled 'HonHai Tech Day 2021' held recently in Taipei. The "Foxtron" brand electric-powered vehicles are the collaboration result between Hon Hai with several other companies such a compatriot car maker named Yulon Motors, and Pininfarina, an Italian world' famous automotive design house.
Those three EV prototypes consist of two passenger cars (such the SUV and sedan), and a bus. Those three were given almost similar names to the Tesla's electric cars, namely the Foxtron Model C for the SUV, the Foxtron Model E for the luxury sedan, and the Foxtron Model T for the electric bus. Let's take a look one by one;
1. Foxtron Model C
The Foxtron Model C is the first model to be built on the HonHai's electric vehicle platform and is positioned as an optimized fully electric powered SUV. The EV design isn't only has a minimalist look, but also significantly minimizes the mechanical components space used, while maximizing seating space for the driver and passengers.
The Foxtron Model C is the first model to be built on the HonHai's electric vehicle platform and is positioned as an optimized fully electric powered SUV. (Picture from: MotorTrend)
Dimensionally, this Model C electric car measures 4.64 meters in length with a wheelbase of 2.86 meters, and offers comfortable seating for 5-2 people and plenty of storage space, making it easy to navigate into the urban areas crowded while still enjoying yourself inside the spacious luxury car.
As for the technical specifications, the Taiwanese company claims that the Model C can accelerate from rest to 100 kph in just 3.8 seconds and can drive up to 700 km on a single charge. Later, the Foxtron Model C will be marketed under the Yulon brands and to be ready for sale in 2023.
2. Foxtron Model E
In the development of the Foxtron Model E, the Taiwanese company collaborated with a well-known Italian coachbuilder company Pininfarina. It was further stated that the Foxtron Model E was designed as a luxury vehicle, with strong and bold lines, as well as elegant lighting characteristics with innovative technology that can meet the needs of middle and upper class consumers, especially business people.
The Foxtron Model E was designed as a luxury vehicle, with strong and bold lines, as well as elegant lighting characteristics with innovative technology that can meet the needs of middle and upper class consumers. (Picture from: MotorTrend)
This can be seen in the figure of an electric car that has a striking exterior design with a "smart surface" on the front and rear fascia, as well as the doors. On the inside, an elegant wrap-around design extends from the front door, through the pillars, to the rear door. While inside the cabin, its back seat space can transform into an integrated office with personal mobile devices seamlessly connecting to passenger cars, enabling a range of smart applications such as facial recognition door opening as you approach. In addition, this car is also equipped with advanced features that allow it to interact with its surroundings.
The Italian coachbuilder company further mentioned that the Foxtron Model E is driven by a series of electric motors capable of producing around 750 horsepower (559 kilowatts), and can accelerate from rest to 62 mph (100 kph) in 2.8 seconds, and offers a range of about 750 km (435 miles) on a single battery charge.
3. Foxtron Model T
The next electric vehicle is the Foxtron Model T which is projected as a smart urban transportation solution that has a rigid and high body design and protection that meets the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations and standards. This Taiwanese company claims that their electric bus has a range of up to 400 kilometers per single charge, and is capable of traveling up to a maximum speed of up to 120 kph.
The Foxtron Model T is a electric-powered bus and projected as a smart urban transportation solution that has a rigid and high body design and protection that meets the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations and standards. (Picture from: MotorTrend)
To date, the Foxtron Model T has completed an acceleration endurance test of 200,000 km and more than 1,000 hours of rigid strength testing at the Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC), a Taiwanese government funded non-profit automotive research facility located in Lukang. The testing is intended to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. This is not surprising because from the outset this electric bus was projected to be sold first in Taiwan, which is said to be used as a local transportation service in Southern Taiwan.
Chairman of HonHai, Young Liu, said that the company targets annual revenue from the electric vehicle sector to reach 1 trillion Taiwan dollars or equivalent to US $35 billion (Rp. 501 trillion) by 2026. It is not known exactly when this Foxtron-branded electric vehicle will be mass-produced. What is clear, Foxconn has been actively making deals to smooth the company's steps into the EV industry.
For example, Foxconn bought the Ohio-based factory Lordstown Motor's for US $230 million. While in August, the company also bought a chip factory somewhere in Taiwan in an effort to maintain a steady supply of automobile semiconductor chips. Reportedly also that the Taiwanese company will be partnered with the other EV maker Fisker in electric vehicles producing by 2023.
Although many details were lacked on the car's features, what the Taiwanese company has shown so far looks impressive. The Foxtron Model E and two other electric vehicles are scheduled to go on sale sometime in 2023. As quoted from Id.Motor1, which believes that one or even all three will not be shipped to overseas markets, they will most likely be made exclusively from Taiwan. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HONHAI | VOA | ID.MOTOR1 | MOTORTREND ]
When The Legend Born You certainly already know the Toyota Celica, one of the car models made by the Japanese automotive giant Toyota. As we all know, this 2-door coupe was produced by the Japanese manufacturer from 1970 to 2006. It was also had used as a formidable racing car that fought to represent the Toyota brand in the World Rally Championship (WRC) from 1972 to 1986 by the rear wheels driven variant. And continued with the Celica GT-Four with 4WD at the WRC event from 1988 to 1999.
1969 Toyota EX-1 Prototype is debuted at the 1969 Tokyo Auto Show and known as the Celica forerunner. (Picture from: Club4Ag)
Alright, maybe some of you don't know the ancestors of Celica. As quoted of MotorTrend, the development of the legendary Toyota Celica car was started since 1969 by this Japanese manufacturer when they launched a unique prototype model called the Toyota EX-1 Concept with the highly raked front glass, long snout featured with the glass louvers in the front grill, and also stylized retracting door handles.
1969 Toyota EX-1 Prototype's design is so lithe and well-proportioned that viewers could mistake it for Italian descent. (Picture from: ToyHeadAuto)
When it first shown by Toyota, the prototype was said to pack a lot of high-tech goodies, such as an electrically raised and lowered rear deck spoiler, but never mentioned about its engine at all. It is only mentioned that the car was made by Toyota's research engineers to accommodate the front engine drive train. While the interior of the Toyota's 2-seater sports coupe features a driver-centric wraparound dash and instrument panel design, and there are other advanced electronic features.
1969 Toyota EX-1 Prototype is featured with the
highly raked front glass, long snout featured with the glass louvers in
the front grill, and also stylized retracting door handles. (Picture from: ToyHeadAuto)
The EX-1's design is so lithe and well-proportioned that viewers could mistake it for Italian descent, and we wouldn't be at all surprised if it wore an Alfa Romeo badge, and it could be that the Toyota's engineers were inspired by the Italian-made sports cars. You certainly remember that two years before Toyota launched its first legendary sports car, the Toyota 2000GT.
1969 Toyota EX-1 Prototypehas a unique roof mounted spoiler was raised and lowered electrically to increase stability at high speed. (Picture from: ToyHeadAuto)
This Toyota EX-1 Concept made its debut at the 1969 Tokyo Auto Show and, according to the Jap company's press release that came with this photograph mentioned that it is styled specifically for long-distance driving at high speed. So indeed since the first it was planned as the high-speed rally purposed vehicle and put convenience aside for styling priorities.
The
interior of the Toyota's 2-seater sports coupe features a
driver-centric wraparound dash and instrument panel design, and there
are other advanced electronic features. (Picture from: ToyHeadAuto)
Besides has a unique roof mounted spoiler was raised and lowered electrically to increase stability at high speed, in appearance the car has an almost similar design to the Celica model that was born about 2 years later, so it is not surprising that many people call it the forerunner of the Toyota Celica.
Since the beginning, 1969 Toyota EX-1 Prototype was planned as the high-speed rally purposed vehicle and put convenience aside for styling priorities. (Picture from: ToyHeadAuto)
Well, indeed the Toyota EX-1 prototype needed a lot of refinement to match the Japanese road regulations and dimensions, and the results only appeared on the first pre-production Toyota A20 Celica in 1971. After that the Celica became the choice of many families in Japan as their first sports car, because it has a much cheaper price than other cars that have existed before such as the Nissan Fairlady Z and others.
Because of that, the Celica skyrocketed and gained instant popularity as an affordable stylish coupe. So after that the Toyota Celica model continued to be developed up to 7 generations which were produced until 2006. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SORCES | TOYHEADAUTO | CLUB4AG | MOTORTREND | CARSTYLING.RU ]
Seasick The unique and unusual object shapes are usually used as the inspiration sources for automotive designers in designing motorized vehicles. But of the many forms, a vehicle with the boat-inspired design may rarely be made, but that's not made it has never been done. As you can be seen here in a concept car made by the Italian automotive giant back in the 1993 named the Fiat Scia Concept.
The Fiat Scia Concept is designed by John Kinsey and Darrin Caddes of Fiat Centro Stile in collaboration with Carrozzeria Maggiora as a try-out for the public of the upcoming barchetta (to be introduced 2 years later). . (Picture from: Fiat Barchetta)
The creation of the mentioned unique car stems from the successful event of a design competition held by Fiat in 1991 with the participant coming form several Italian well-known automotive design houses to remodel the appearance of a small Cinquecento (Fiat 500). And 2 years later, the Italian manufacturer again invited 9 automotive design houses including the Fiat's in-house studio to participate in similar event, in which now used the Fiat Punto 1st generation as the base model.
The Fiat Scia Concept is brought to life by Carrozzerria Maggiora under the direction of the Fiat Centro Stile to be presented for the first time at the 1994 Turin Auto Show. (Picture from: DrivenToWrite)
As the results, ranging from just plain ugly, the Giannini Punto 4x4 TL (Tempo Libero or Free Time), ridiculously six-wheeled weird vehicle, the Boneschi Doblone, or being simply forgettable concept of the Zagato Monomille, and many others. The most prominent of all design concepts at the time was the Fiat Scia Concept.
The Fiat Scia Concept's styling cues are shown to the unsuspecting audience, like the uprising mirrors, the three-dial dashboard and the cut-off windows. (Picture from: Fiat Barchetta)
In Italian, Scia translates as 'the wake of a boat', but the nautical theme also extends into the concept's unusual forms. Created within the Fiat Centro Stile by John Kinsey in collaboration with Carrozzeria Maggiora, with the body shaped like the hull of a yacht. A strong line flows around the car, splitting the upper half from the lower, which tucks dramatically underneath. A thin opening at the front creates a timeless face and hosts four tiny, round headlights while the long tapered rear deck suggests one you would find on a Riva yacht.
As a logical consequence of the roofless sportscar, so the Fiat Scia Concept's interior should be prepared to use waterproof materials. (Picture from: Fiat Barchetta)
On the empty deck, two pairs of taillights sit on each side of a dorsal fin, which runs along the centre of the car. Around the wheels, there's a little can be seen, only a dish, four holes, four inserts. They look good despite their simplicity but don't really seem to have been designed for the car (some said, it tends to weird and ugly). Finally, a cut-off wind deflector on top of the seed-like body dives into the doors to complete its ultimate barchetta ('little boat') look.
While in the Fiat Scia Concept's rear, there're two pairs of taillights sit on each side of a dorsal fin, which runs along the centre of the car. (Picture from: Fiat Barchetta)
The interior done by Darrin Caddes is very Spartan, with a simplistic dashboard only consisted by three gauges. The ultra-thin seats are fixed but the position could be adjusted by shifting the steering wheel and pedals to suit the driver, in addtion, as a logical consequence of the roofless sportscar, so the interior should be prepared to use waterproof materials.
This concept car was then brought to life by Carrozzerria Maggiora under the direction of the Fiat Centro Stile to be presented for the first time at the 1993 Turin Auto Show. The unique two-seater sports spyder still powered by the Fiat Punto's mechanical elements, and then aroused public curiosity and paved the clear way for the future Fiat barchetta which is launched 2 years later.
If You have spare time, don't forget to see the Bertone Barchetta an almost similar styled car as the Fiat Scia Concept, which is built based on the tiny Fiat Panda and is released in the 2007 to celebrate the coachbuilder company's 85th anniversary. We bet you got the same sensation in the Bertone-made roofless cutie car, as the Scia. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FIAT BARCHETTA | CARDESIGNNEWS | CARROZZIERI-ITALIANI | 2040-PARTS | DRIVENTOWRITE ]
~The Godzilla Ancestor~This is one of the first Japanese-made racing prototypes after the World War 2 ended. The racing car which became known as the Prince (Nissan) R380 was initially developed by Prince Motors, Ltd. before being merged with Nissan Motor Company, and it could be said also, that the car is the ancestor of today's Nissan Skyline GT-R aka 'Godzilla'.
The original Prince (Nissan) R380 A-I with racing livery No.11 driven by Yoshikazu Sunakothat won its first race of the 3rd Japan GP at Fuji Speedway in 1966. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
As mentioned before, this race car was purposely made by Prince Motors following the defeat of its new S54 Skyline GTs powered by a G-7 straight-6 engine at the second Japanese Grand Prix held in 1964 from the Porsche 904 race car. After some major improvements were made, so Prince Motors launched the R380 with increasingly fierce performance, as the result at the third Japanese GP in 1966, the car was able to beat the defending champion Porsche 904.
The original Prince (Nissan) R380 A-I is powered by a mid-mounted 4-valve GR8 DOHC engine, which is a newly engine designed based on the G7 OHC at the time. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
All of that thanks to the Shinichiro Sakurai's magical hands touches, so that the car was so fierce while on the racing circuit. He is a brilliant engineer who initially worked for Prince Motors then moved to Nissan in 1966 (after Prince Motors was mergered with Nissan Motor Company) and is famous for the engineering of the Nissan Skyline generations.
The 1967 Nissan R380 A-II (in pictured as a speed test car) which for the aerodynamic factors has a total of 80 mm more length than the standard ones with body cover made of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). (Picture from: Pen-Online)
The original R380 racing car bodywork is aluminum-made, and mounted on the steel tubular frame structure similar to the Brabham BT8, and then is powered by a mid-mounted 4-valve GR8 DOHC engine, which is a newly engine designed based on the G7 OHC. Besides being known as the first Japanese racing car to use an aluminum bodywork, the R380 was equipped with double wishbone suspension on all its 4 wheels which was the most advanced technology at that time.
The 1967 Nissan R380 A-II (in pictured as a speed test car) bodywork is aluminum-made, and mounted on the steel tubular frame structure similar to the Brabham BT8. (Picture from: Pen-Online)
Unfortunately, the Japanese Grand Prix in 1965 was postponed, so Prince Motors switched to make a speed record in the Yatabe test track by using those racing car in October. At that time, the prepared Prince R380 A-I was managed to set the best time that surpassed the international record in its fourth attemps. But the car's achievement was remained set to be a domestic record considering that the Yatabe test track had not been officially recognized by the FIA.
The 1967 Nissan R380 A-II (in pictured as a speed test car) has a simple cockpit and functionally laid out of the operating system and instruments. (Picture from: Pen-Online)
This does not necessarily reduce the determination of the Prince Motors's crews to bring their R380 to be a champion. Then, it was like the wish came true, the R380 managed to beat the Porsche 906 and Toyota 2000GT at the third Japan Grand Prix in 1966, not one but two R380s managed to reach the finish line as the 1st and 2nd winner.
The 1967 Nissan R380 A-II (in pictured as a speed test car) featured much needed aerodynamic improvements, utilizing a much lower and sleeker bodystyle copied from rivals Porsche plus the gullwing-style doors which hinged upward. (Picture from: Pen-Online)
The R380 continued to be developed even after Prince Motors merged with Nissan in August 1966, and becoming a Nissan R380 A-II upgraded type in 1967. Although it lost in the race to the Porsche 906 at the Japanese Grand Prix that year, the car tried again to set the speed records. At the time, the Nissan R380 A-II managed to set seven international records at the Yatabe track which have been officially recognized by the FIA.
It doesn't stop there, in addition to the Nissan R380 A-III type with improved engines continue to play an active role in the racing circuit, this Japanese manufacturer continues to develop the R380 racing cars using larger engines, such as the 5.5L on the Nissan R381 variant of the 1968 and then the 6L on the Nissan R382 variant of the 1969 which also brought victory to Nissan. And all of that played out until the Japanese auto company stopped racing under the prototype engines in 1970. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NISSAN-GLOBAL | PEN-ONLINE | WIKIPEDIA | DRIVETRIBE ]
During its existence in Norway, this car ever had undergone a process of restoration by Nils Petter Weiberg Aurdal in the 1960s after it was found in a miserable condition and also experienced several times ownership changing. Since then, the existence of Almar's car became a mystery and nobody knows where is it now?😭 *** [EKA [05052020]| FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KUSTORAMA | CUSTOMRODDER | FLICKR]
