Many of the most prominent automotive technical colleges in Japan are associated with OEMs. The students who graduate funnel directly into those companies or service centers of that particular brand. However, there are less known schools that are also doing cool things like the Saitama Automobile College, which is currently restoring a B310 Nissan Sunny.
The car is a pale yellow 1980 Nissan Sunny, the fourth-generation B310 chassis, donated to the school by the All Japan Datsun Club. The students, all in their early 20s, have enjoyed working on the 45-year-old-car that is twice as old as they are.
According to Response, they’ve enjoyed the novelty of driving a stick shift and wrenching on a car with little to no electronics. The students have worked on newer cars but some have no experience rebuilding a carburetor. They also marveled at the Shuto receipts found in the car, when the toll price was a mere ¥500. Today, it costs ¥1950 for a standard passenger car.
The restoration of the Sunny is being conducted outside of regular class hours. The students working on bringing it back are doing it outside of class hours as part of the school’s Classic Car Club.
The Sunny isn’t the first car Saitama Automobile College’s Classic Car Club has restored. Past projects, completed by former students, have included a Toyota Celica Liftback and an Isuzu 117 Coupé. If the past work is any indication of how the Sunny will progress it looks to be in good hands.
Students also get to bring the cars to local meets and shows, a rewarding experience for a job well done. The Sunny was aged and sat dormant for many years, but at least it was garaged so most of the bodywork has remained in tact.
Saitama Automobile College may not receive the spotlight of schools like the Honda Technical College or Nissan Technical College, but it’s heartwarming to see projects like this Sunny are still being undertaken without fanfare.
Images: Saitama Automobile College
