If you’ve been following industry news you might have heard that, last week, Honda and Nissan not only strengthened their strategic partnership, but added Mitsubishi. The alliance is for fast-tracking electrification technologies — and to compete against the Toyota, Subaru, Mazda union — but one can fantasize about the Frankensteined monsters that could emerge. A sports car with a Nissan engine, Honda gearbox, and Mitsubishi turbo system? A lineup with FF Honda cars, FR Nissan luxury vehicles, and Mitsubishi SUVs? Combining resources to release a badge engineered Integra/Pulsar/Eclipse, S2000/Silvia/Starion, and NSX/GT-R/GTO sports car onslaught? The possibilities are endless!
What’s your Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi dream build?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What marque do you most often recommend?“.
We expected Toyota and Honda to be high on the list, but we were still surprised at how high. Nearly every response prioritized one of those two marques. BlitzPig‘s easily explains the T and H dominance. There were some variations as well. In addition to Toyota and Honda, Franxou threw in Hyundai/Kia, but definitely not Nissan. On the other hand, Mike made up for by including Nissan in the top three. Negishi no Keibajo would recommend Toyota or a Datsun, but not a Nissan. StreetSpirit tossed in Mazda and Volvo, while Taylor C. said it depends on the type of car while adding Mazda and Genesis into the mix. ra21benj not only recommended Toyota and Honda, but only those with manual transmission.
But if we had to pick just one, Toyota was the clear winner. Bryan Kitsune, Long Beach Mike, and Dillon all had Toyota as their number one choices. And if there was any doubt which one comes out on top, JJ, who drives a Honda still recommends Toyota above all else. No wonder Toyota is the biggest automaker in the world.
Alan was a bit more generous, saying any Japanese brand except Mitsubishi. The most egalitarian of all the respondents and the winner this week was Kevin in La Plata, is also a Toyota advocate, but gave reasons as to why he might suggest others:
It’s an interesting question as a car an be an extension of one’s personality. The standard answer ought to be Toyota as they offer a variety of models based on needs, desires and lifestyle. They are reliable, easy to own and have attractive styling that won’t seem dated if one is keeping the car for the duration. However, I’ve yet to buy a Toyota for my personal car. There’s no particular reason why except I always found a car I liked a little more than the Toyota. The current fleet includes a Honda Accord , a Subaru Outback , and a Subaru Legacy–all 6 cylinders. I’ve owned a 2004 Honda Accord EX, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler 300M a VW Jetta, a Mercury Tracer, a 1988 Honda Accord and an Infiniti G20.
My recommendation is usually based on the personality of the requestor. I am just as likely to recommend Mazda and Subaru before Toyota or Honda. To me Subaru is what Volvo was in the 1970s with safety while offering an outdoorsy lifestyle. Mazda offers sporty looks and attractive styling Toyota and Lexus offer the variety that General Motors once did with great reliability. I still include Honda in my recommendation but I feel they are being outflanked by the Hyundai/Kia when it comes to features. I understand Acura needs room but not everyone wants an Acura. I still include Nissan as a recommendation as I can see the appeal of certain models.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
Honda
I really enjoyed my 87 civic but it needed more of less(adjustable rear seat was pure decadence after all). If you ask me a Honda HAS to be light blue and that light blue really matches well with a set of starsharks or anything with polished lips and gold centers. Rework the suspension, rip out anything not needed for faster lap times and give it the kanjo racer treatment sans livery but include wider front fenders and dunk in the 1.8 from a 2nd gen prelude for good measure.
Mitsubishi
A while back I detailed my dream 70’s FTO so we’re going more high tech this time.
Early model 3000-gt, I’d like mine lavender metallic. Gonna put it on chrome 90’s US style three spokes in 17 inch, yank out as much weight as possible while retaining some comfort and put it on a set of good coilovers and that’s it.
Nissan
A white c130 laurel GT-R fantasy build on sakuras. I’m talking fender flares, ducktail and chin spoiler, all reasonably civil and a screaming s20 up front, build it like the car Nissan forgot to make in the early 70’s.
Two bucket seats and a half cage will suit me just fine for buzzing around the backroads.
Now onto the frankenbuild….
I’m feeling gullwing starion with s2000 underpinnings and an fj20 for motivation.
Paint it high gloss olive drab and powdercoat the stock starion wheels in bronze and I’m good.
On the other hand a 240rs replica on the same s2k underpinnings and a big mitsu V6…
If you need me I’m in the copart auctions planning my next move.
Let’s see now … I have FOUR I can talk about: 1981 Datsun 310 GX Coupe, 1972 Honda Z600 Sports Coupe, 1988 San Fu BIC Passenger Van and, of course, the 1989 Nissan S-Cargo.
The Datsun.
This was my first ever Japanese car It was pretty slick in silver over red. I put a sunroof in it and a Bose stereo plus sports slats on the rear window and, a set of driving lights. Drove all over Germany on it … nice car. Sold it before getting out and, in retrospect, should have paid it off and kept it.
The Honda.
I spotted this at a dealer at Ft. Jackson while waiting to out process from the Army. It was bright orange inside and out. I had it for over three years … redoing the interior in a less eye-boggling red cloth/black vinyl with white piping, a cheap stereo, painted 12″ mags in maroon and black with a maroon pinstripe on the hood (there as already a maroon racing stripe on the side with “SPORT” on it). Tinted windows and a “HONDA” banner completed it. A “Japanese Cadillac” license plate frame and bumper sticker “When I grow up, I want to be a Rolls Royce” and JA international oval completed it plus some mild mechanical work. Unfortunately, after being caught in a hailstorm, leaving it to look like a golf ball on a miniature golf course, the miles caught up with SYNARA and, I had to sell it for parts.
I still miss it.
The San Fu BIC Passenger Van.
A Chinese-built van, by Subaru (only 24 made) this was a neat little car that I had until I traded it in for a Buick Reatta. The license plate was “CHINAVAN” and, he also died on me.
The Nissan S-Cargo.
We have had him for over 5 years now. Ten trophies later, He still needs some work (front end, rear brakes, windshield washer, new tires, stereo and sunroof repairs) but, he’s also due a redo in the cargo area and, has had window tint as well as graphics and a repainted hood. His plate carries on the “SYNARA” name from the Honda and, has both a large Hot Wheels graphic and “Made In Japan” bar code graphic on the back.
This fall should see SYNARA redone and ready for next year’s show season. With 10 trophies, its more of having fun than accumulating.
That’s it … Our Japanese cars ran the gamut here, 3 of them being very rare cars.
Honda
First gen Accord hatchback in gold. Both my neighbors’ daughter and my uncle had one when I was a tyke. Custom fabricated chrome bumpers that tuck close to the body, stock JDM fender mirrors, 5-lug hubs, lowered on 15″ Bridgestone Aero Rounds, and a K24A2/6-speed under the hood.
Nissan
Kouki Z31 2+2 slicktop. Body swap with a newish (like made in the last 8 years) R35, wheelbase adjusted to fit. Full-length, full-carbon widebody inspired by the shape of the Newman-Sharp Trans-Am and IMSA racers to make up the track width difference. Delete the front driveline and crank the VR38 up to about 650 hp. And put it on gold mesh HREs (19s on the front and 20s on the back).
Mitsubishi
1981-’83 Dodge Challenger. Make it a riff on the ’70 Challenger T/A (Wild body color – maybe the A00 Mirage’s Kiwi Green or Plasma Purple? – with a scooped matte black hood, matte black wing, matte black side stripes, dual side pipes), maybe an inch below stock ride height on 15″ Speed Star F.1s. Power? Try an 8A80 out of a turn-of-the-century Proudia or Dignity turned 90°, breathing through ITBs and mated to a 6-speed stick (with a pistol grip shifter, naturally).
A mix of the three
A Z33 chassis…with a K20C1…topped by a Chariot/Colt Vista shell. The levels of bystander confusion would be off the charts.
I think the ideal build would be Mitsubishi’s electronics, Nissan’s design language, and Honda’s mechanical engineering.
I think it depends on the era. In 2024, to be brutally honest, I don’t think I’d want to add anything from Nissan or Mitsubishi to a Honda. I certainly wouldn’t expect such a mash-up to be an improvement.
But further back in time, things get interesting. In the 70s, there’s all sorts of interesting ideas. Letting Honda’s F1-trained engineers play with the S20 and L24 could make them even tastier propositions as they get to re-work the the valvetrains and combustion chambers using their emphatically world-class experience. A 240Z that was as hard-hitting as a contemporary 911 Carrera RS? Yes please.
Or in the early 1990s, you could take the KA7 Acura Legend, and do a performance version with the turbo motor and AWD drivetrain from the 3000GT and engineering work from Nissan to make sure the motor is somewhat reliable. So, an Acura M5-slayer, with Mitsubishi parts and Nissan tuning for the turbos.
For a Mitsubishi dream build, I will keep things simple and put the whole Lancer Evolution I, II or III stuffings in the lightweight coupé body, like the Dodge Colt. This small car was so cute and unassuming, but it should be the same base as the Lancer underneath, there is potential to have the cutest Pulsar GTI-R competitor!
Nissan dream build, I have always been a fan of the Z31, and also the early Z-cars, and the Z32 and the early 90’s Maxima and the Q45 and the S13 of course! the S12 hatchback was nice too, the NX was a cool car but the MX-3 and CRX were so much better looking, the second gen Sentra sports coupé, a fastback-ish coupé and not the 2-doors sedan, was an amazing looker for its category too. And the F31 Leopard, and the Infiniti G20 as an Integra-fighter, and even the Infiniti J30 as a rwd sedan and the Nissan Cefiro A31, omg the A31 Cefiro! It essentially is the mash-up between of all the R32 and S13 goodness in a sleek and low 4-doors sedan… I’m a life-long fan of old-Nissan, just not new-Nissan. Where to start a dream build in this? If we look into the JDM offering, we can pretty much pinpoint our dream build right from the factory. I’d take a lowered Cefiro A31 with the RB25 and a manual please. Let’s weird people out by making it a ragtop longroof station wagon with a towing hitch, I like a useful car too.
Honda, what to say about you? Being a RWD die-hard, I was not a fan during my childhood or teenage, but life eventually gave me a simple 4 doors automatic Teal Civic from 1996, and I can say that I get it. I really get why people like these cars. Even the lowly base Civic was a blast to drive. So now I get it. But I am who I am so for a dream build? An early S-series roadster with just more oomph! If we could put a nice stock B16 in this shell, it would be a freaking blast to drive!
And now the cherry on top! For a modern dream build mash up, I’ll stretch things up once again for there still is the Renault-Nissan alliance! I am a sucker for a moderately powerful, lightweight sports car. I remember reading about or seeing videos of how to downstroke a K24 to something close to the K20’s displacement, but adding longer rods and stuff to make the ultimate high-revving Honda engine. So let’s spec the new Alpine A110 with this frankensteins’ monster K24-20. One one hand, it will be slower than the turbo 1.8 Alpine already has, but the engine’s NA responsiveness, and sound it will make, it will howl like you have never heard a piston engine howl before!
And I’ll add a Mitsubishi keyring, I guess.
An Overlanding setup 2007-2008 pre-facelifted Honda Element with the Nissan VR38 DETT 3.8L motor and the Mitsubishi Super-All Wheel Control AWD drivetrain.
I come to realize that current Honda makes very nice looking and quality interiors. Nissan used to in the old days. Mitsubishi were good with their designs and were a bit modern than any that Nissan could come up with. Nissan was a mass market company that the Japs respected a lot and they will be remembered for the GTR and for me the Patrol Y61. I think they should make a mass market product with a modern design, quality interior feel and a kick ass engine/motor. This should propel them to the top of the automotive ladder with good sales and good ratings.
What they should not do is do what the Nissan’s of 2000s did.
When it comes to Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, there is a solid plethora of cool and unique cars. Even though i am a Toyota guy through and through, I have a large soft sport for Honda.
The classic S600, was just insane for already being able to rev to 8000+ rpm. IN THE 60’s! What a little car that had a great classic look, durable, and compact. I consider Honda to be the original compact car. However, the EK9 Type R and S2000 CR, are both very high on my list, and little more obtainable than the 600. I’d have a difficult time choosing. The Civic and S2k are just robust, reliable sports machines that don’t require much power to go fast and have a good time.
When it comes to Nissan, I am fan boy of the Wangan Midnight Devil Z. I’ve worked on enough R32 and R33 Skylines to know that i just never want one. But the 240z is again a timeless classic, and the original Japanese American Sports car. With Nissan teasing us with the new L series Twin cam, it makes for a quality modern powered build that speaks to the culture of having a capable classic cruiser. For me the clear winner is a Z car.
As for Mitsubishi, again, they have a plethora of cool cars, and I have enjoyed driving the EVO IV to the IX. All great cars. The 3000GT was full of cool tech, that sadly, just didn’t last, and may have been its downfall. However, going back to the time period i love the most, is the 80’s. So I would have to pick the Starion. The factory box fenders were aggressive and stylish, Turbo 4 cylinder with an engine bay with enough room to open up options for some cool swaps. To keep it Mitsu, I’d like to think I would put a 4G63 in there and stay rwd, but being a dream build, I may just go with a Toyota engine.
A facelifted Rover 400 (R8) sedan in racing green with a B18 thrown in with some Equip 01s a slight bodykit and brown velour seats :> (the R8 was a joint venture between Austin Rover and Honda and it had Concerto and MK4 Civic underpinnings, so I guess it counts? If it doesn’t, then I’d have the same done to a MK4 Civic 4 door, plus some round external fogs on the front bumper), though honestly IDK about the rest.
Easy, allow me to mash together previous build ideas from prior QOTW responses I’ve left….
and some fresh ideas….
Mitsubishi:
Take all the mechanicals of a Lancer EVO X and use the bodyshell and chassis of a JSDF Mitsubishi Jeep from the 1970s. Lower the stance and widen the track for good measure and apply a nice coat of matte olive drab. Add on the sides the motif of the shark mouth off the sides of a WWII P40 fighter plane and good as gold.
Nissan: 1973 Nissan Laurel SGX with a RB26DETT swap. Add bolt-on overfenders, BBS RS mesh wheels, hippari stretched tyres, Borg_warner T5 gearbox and to finish it off, a gorgeous metallic burgundy paint job.
Honda: This one is a tough one, but here goes….. Take a 1992 Honda Beat and swap out the engine for a Mitsubishi 4G63. Do an AWD conversion and chuck in a supercharger for good measure. Interior? Roll cage and racing seat with harness (No need for passenger seat, passengers do too much screaming). Finish it off in electron pearl blue, the colour made Iconic by the 1999-2000 Honda Civic Si and put it on some Enkei 8-spoke rims.
If one looks at automotive history. The independent automakers Packard, Nash, Hudson and Studebaker were struggling in the early 1950’s against the Big Three. George Mason of Nash tried to get the companies to merge together. Personalities within Packard balked at the idea. In 1954 Nash merged with Hudson to form American Motors. Packard then ran to Studebaker. Both fortunes were gone by 1965. American Motors survived until 1987 when Chrysler came knocking.
Looking at the current situation it makes sense. Although Mitsubishi is a global company into many different industries both Mitsubishi and Nissan are failing in the US. They will need a Hail Mary.
I think making the Mirage AWD and Turbo to compete with the Toyota GR as only Mitsubishi could would be great and I would be first in line to buy one.
Nissan needs to bring back the premium performance sedan and put more into quality and develop a premium transmission.