Nissan Technical College students build a modern Kenmeri Skyline, U11 Bluebird, and Z wagon for Tokyo Auto Salon

It’s almost time for the Tokyo Auto Salon, and that means wild vehicular creations are afoot. The Nissan Technical Colleges around Japan have completed three custom cars that they plan to display at the show, which include a modern Kenmeri Skyline, a Z wagon, and U11 Bluebird. Here’s a preview before the arrive at Makuhari Messe.

The NEO Skyline was created by students at the Nissan Kyoto Technical College over a period of six months. It’s a tribute to the C110 Nissan Skyline of Ken & Mary fame, but based on a modern V35 Skyline (Infiniti G35 to Americans) Coupe. According to the students, NEO stands for Nostalgia, Enthrallment, and Originality.

The Kenmeri commercials gave Japanese people a sense of freedom of the open road, and featured a non GT-R coupe in a bright blue hero color. Students recreated that color with a hue called Tomoaki Blue, which builds upon the Kenmeri’s blue metallic but with added pearl. The recessed headlights, split grille, and round taillights all point to the beloved C110, as does the signature surf line over the rear wheel arch.

The Z Lealia also hails from the Nissan Kyoto Technical College, taking six months to complete. It was created by grafting the nose of the new Z onto a widened Nissan Leaf rear. It’s described as a “sports station wagon for family journeys” and “a vehicle for fathers who love sports cars and aspire to own a Fairlady Z, while allowing them to enjoy driving with their families.” Lealia combines the word “lead” with the Latin “familia” for family.

The students did an admirable job of not only putting the Z’s nose on the car, but integrating its Z32-inspired taillights onto the tailgate. This reminds us of the Stagea, which is a good thing. Wagons are sorely missed in the modern marketplace, and we’d love to see the return of a sports-oriented example.

The Bluebird Kiwami is the brain child of students at the Nissan Aichi Technical College. Kiwami means “ultimate” in Japanese, and to us the car evokes the Super Silhouette Bluebirds of the 80s. Those cars were based on the rear-wheel-drive 910 Bluebirds, but the foundation for the Kiwami is the front-drive U11 Bluebird that followed. They both feature nearly identical boxy lines, so the Group 5-style tribute flares work here. The color is called Aurora Flare Blue Pearl, and this car is our personal favorite of the trio.

The Tokyo Auto Salon will be held January 13-15. Attendees will be able to see all three cars on display in person there.