I have studied car culture from around the world for years. In the late 70's and 80's, I remember seeing crazy custom cars driven on the street in Japanese car magazines. The cars resembled cartoon-style versions of race cars. The cars had wild spoilers, big fender flares, loud paint, lowered/cambered suspension, and crazy exhaust pipes.
I decided to build a slot car version of one of these Japanese custom cars. Aoshima brand makes model kits and diecasts of older Japanese cars.
I purchased a beautifully-built Ashima brand Nissan Skyline Kenmeri 4 door. The seller says it is a Grachen Tribe-style car. Others have called this style of car Bosozoku and Grachan style.
Some Background information on this Japanese car customizing scene from an unclesilvia 2013 post on Datsun and Nissan Owners Club site:
"Bosozoku" originates from the motorcycle gangs of the 1950s and the word Bosozoku actually translates into "Violent Running Tribe."
Often guys from these gangs ended up becoming part of the infamous Japanese Yakusa.
Bosozoku biker gangs often terrorized the city streets, riding recklessly and causing lots of noise and disturbance for thrills. This then spiraled into fighting with rival gangs etc etc.
In the late 60s and early 70s cars started to be used by the gangs, and, like the motorcycles previously, were often customized with bright paint, loud exhausts and race car-inspired accessories of the period.
Since this time, the style of cars has been popular because of the rebellion thinking behind them, however, the gangs that were behind it at the start have pretty much disappeared due to many new laws coming in in Japan. The custom bikes and cars now seen on Japan's roads of this style are now really part of an ongoing "scene" keeping this style of vehicle alive just for the interest and fun value of them.
Grachan Style:
Grachan or Garuchan comes from the 70s and 80s Grand Championships on Fuji Speedway. The Bosozoku used to have big meetings on the parking lots of these events, hence the name. These cars should also match the same bodyshape styling as the cars running on the circuits, with big wide fenders like used on the Super Silhouette styling. These are often the most mental of the Bosozoku cars!!
The Build:
The parts of the built curbside model were re-glued for slot car use. Much of the car was originally assembled with rubbery glue. The interior was sectioned to clear the slot car running gear. A Carrera driver figure was installed. Body posts are used to mount the body.
I wanted the car to have exaggerated wheel camber. The BRM brand NSU slot car has rear wheel camber. The camber is achieved with the addition of a brass universal joint to the rear axle. I shaved the uprights to increase the rear camber. In order to "camber" the front tires, the solid front axle was replaced with two stub axles and the uprights were angled. The chassis was lengthened by moving the front wheel chassis section forward and extending the guide location with a brass tongue.
I thought about installing a faster motor but was concerned about the life of the spur gear. So, the stock motor remains. This one is more show than go. We will see how it runs.
Camber on a slot car.
Giant front spoiler.
Universal joint on rear axle.
One to One scale.
1/64 Aoshima Grachan NISSAN SKYLINE KENMERI 4DR
Datsun 510 we ran in the 70's and early 80's. Originally B Sedan.
