by Next month at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Nissan will present three unique modified cars. Their special feature is that they were created not by experienced engineers, but by students from Nissan’s automotive colleges in Japan. These projects demonstrate a creative approach to the brand’s automotive heritage.
Student Projects at the Exhibition
These cars will not go into mass production, but that’s the whole point. Each one offers a new interpretation of Nissan’s classic models from the past, combining historical lines with modern customization trends. The result is technically sound and at the same time very lively and creative.
Retro Transformation of the March
The first of the three cars is based on the Nissan March, known in some markets as the Micra. Its exterior is altered to the point where the model is hard to recognize. A team of students from the Nissan Kyoto Automobile College, studying in the maintenance and customization department, transformed the compact hatchback, giving it the form factor of an early 1960s Bluebird.
The team’s goal was to create a car that would appeal to women. For this, the car was painted in a bright shade of Sky Mirage blue with a contrasting white roof. The original front end of the March has been completely replaced with a new hood, grille, headlights, and bumpers inspired by the classic Bluebird.
Powerful Datsun Sunny Coupe
The second team from the same Kyoto campus chose a different path. They took a Datsun Sunny Coupe as a base and radically reworked it. The car received wide wheel arches, a new set of wheels, and a bright red paint job that emphasizes its aggressive character.
The changes weren’t limited to the exterior. Under the hood, the standard engine was replaced with the famous twin-cam SR20 four-cylinder engine that gained fame in the S15-generation Silvia.
Aggressive Skyline R30
The third project was a customized Skyline R30. It was created by students studying the maintenance and bodywork course at the Nissan Aichi Automotive College. The team needed only two and a half months for the entire job, yet the result looks thoughtful and complete.
The Skyline now has a red-and-black paint scheme and a radical body kit. Among the most striking details are a massive front splitter and a tall rear wing, which give the car an incredibly aggressive look.
Such initiatives are of great importance to the automotive industry. They not only give students invaluable practical experience working with real cars but also serve as a bridge between the brand’s rich history and its future. The creative freedom given to young specialists allows fresh, unconventional ideas to be born, which can inspire the next generations of engineers and designers. Such projects remind us that a car is not just a means of transportation, but also a canvas for artistic expression and technical experimentation.
