Today, the building site has become a hero Patrick Soliman with his 2000 Nissan Skyline GT-X 1973. Patrick and his work can be compared to Mary Shelli and established it almost 200 years ago Frankenstein.
To start with, Patrick got virtually written off the scrap car. «This Skyline has appeared in the US in 1980 — says Patrick. — Exotic car was in the container. In the 80 years Kenmeri Skyline cost about $ 500, and it was cheaper to leave it in the United States than to send the ship back. Though it is not were buyers, but the owners have kept it because of the high price. In the next 10 years, the car has gone through a lot, he repainted 3 or 4 times, it was established three different engine after someone bought it and forget about it for a dozen years. He just stood there in the weeds near the house of a builder. Windows were broken on the roof lay a brick, it looked abandoned. In the early 2000s, the owner decided to sell it and placed an ad on the internet. My friend saw a post about the sale and without hesitation has gained». In 2006, Skyline has undergone several changes and had an irregular transmission SR20DET with absolutely the factory settings.
Pat while working in Japan as a mechanic in the aviation structure of the US Navy. Despite his attempts, he could not get any Skyline from Japan. «I went to Japan for two years and that one of the main reasons was the desire to get a Skyline. It turns out that there is not accepted Skylines sell to anyone. I've talked on the phone, but the machine is not available.» In 2006, Patrick returned to the US and became the owner of the car, which will be discussed below. Her previous owner bought another Skyline, and this car was it unnecessary.
The surface was rust, and the transmission was not completed. But it did not matter to Patrick, who dreamed of a similar vehicle.
«I originally wanted to make a clone of the GT-R», — said Patrick. When the construction of a vehicle purchased in magnitude, he discovered his new skills and more happy.
«I love the modern engines in old cars», — says Pat. Patrick tried to use the engine SR20, but after the three times exploded, Pat began to look for a new solution: «I realized a great deal with my friend in my possession was the motor RB26DETT of the Nissan R33 GT-R. In addition to it I got mission RB25 ».
But then Patrick was expecting a nightmare, because he had to completely rebuild the car for the new engine and transmission. He had to make various body works, cut the trans-tunnels, as well as to build a space under the radiator. He established a limited-slip differential R200. Pat said that this needed more capacity for cars in the region of 700 horsepower, while his creation provides 552 «mares».
After that, a lot of attention was paid to the electrics. In the car, there was no wiring, resulting in all the lights and parts were taken from the Nissan Sentra 1989 and perfectly matched in size. Patrick does not understand the wiring, so these works helped him friend Paul, who made everything perfect.
Local shop Parts Pick-Your-Parts Pat became a second home.
He made thousands of trips there, but he was lucky that the details of the Datsun 510 and 280ZX ideally suited to his car. Amazing role played by the Internet, thanks to his friend Patrick learned that he builds the car. As a result, the rear window of the vehicle came to Fiji and mirrors sent him another friend from New Zealand. A headlamps Pat and all borrowed from the pickup truck Toyota. No one puts on Kenmeri coilovers, but Patrick and his friend took a chance and still did it, took the source parts for Camaro. And they found bush in a landfill, which has helped to save the budget. Most owners of these machines try to buy them in the Stock video and not often used because of their age. But Patrick a different opinion: «I'm used to a low car, so I took a chance with coilovers, but now I can drive a car all the time. Besides, I love to feel the road. Every week I drive more than 1,000 miles, I have to travel from Victorville to San Diego and back, and the way in one direction is about 250 kilometers. »
Now Pat took a break to save the budget and gain strength for new achievements, but he clearly knows what needs to be done with the car. «Brakes! Now they are too simple. After that, it will be necessary to work with the suspension, you adjust it to increase the possibilities for customization. Also, I am always looking for ways to add horsepower. And I very much would like to update the interior, but without the frills. Now I just set sports seats Sabelt. And put a quality stereo system, because even though I love the roar of the engine, but I like a nice low tone to the ear. »
It remains to believe that Patrick was able to finish his creation and talk about it in the future.
About Kenmeri Skyline
This modification of the Skyline, which has the code name C110, produced from 1972 to 1977 and was known as Ken & Mary (or Kenmeri) Skyline. He received a body which combines coupe, sedan, wagon and contradicts all the formal approach. He combined the best of the GT-R engine had 160 horsepower and 6-cylinder engine with 4 valves per cylinder. Version C110 GT-R has been limited: only 197 cars were built between September 1972 and March 1973. The vast majority were cars with engines of 1.6 or 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine; Only top-end modification of the GT-X received a design of the L-series and 6-cylinder engine.
For modern Americans Skyline is a reflection of how should look like a Japanese car, but when Kenmeri was introduced in Japan, it reflected the vision of the American car Nissan. All cars have tried to equip the only automatic transmission. Dimensions of the machine were not so characteristic of Japanese art: Skyline C110 was more than others Nissan, to sell at a time, giving in size only «Americans.» As for the features of the style, it was characterized by large, round taillights inspired by sport motives model Chevrolet, which were popular in the second half of the 1960s. The roof line is sent back to the Mustang, Fairlane and Firebird, but from the «American» This is a tremendous Skyline wheel skirt.
Advertising company finally gave its name to the car. On TV and in print Ken and Mary were characters representing an advertising campaign around the new Skyline. Kenmeri name was derived from combining the names of two characters. High and exotic Ken was played by actor Jimmy Zinn, half-Russian, half Japanese; Mary sang the role of charming teenager Diana Cray of the United States. Together they traveled the countryside in Japan on your favorite Skyline 2000 GT-X, showing «beautiful nature», it helps in the promotion of Nissan of their environmental program. Ken and Mary conquered Japan in late 1972. The main idea was to combine Japanese and American culture, and along with the attitude of the car.
By the way, playing with the names of Ken and Mary, you can get a combination of Mary Ken, consonant with the word «American».
Skyline actively exported, mainly to England and Australia, where it did not have to alter a drive on the left. Worldwide, it sold more than 670,000 vehicles of this particular generation.
