There and Back Again: The 180 of Many Faces
Probably the most recognizable car in the import scene is a Nissan S-chassis. Literally most everyone I know has owned one at some point, and Ben, or Phoenexius, is no exception.
This, is his interpretation.
Unlike most S-chassis's with Japanese badging in the United States, this one is a legitimate import from the land of the Rising Sun, and arrived in the US only a few months ago.
Something I somewhat enjoy about this car, is that it doesn't belong to any specific style. Well yes, I do enjoy cars that adhere to certain styles as well, it's always nice to see someone say "Screw your rules! I do what I want!"
As the exhaust photo, and this one of course, demonstrate, the powerhouse under the Spirit Rei hood isn't the SR20 or CA18 this car may have left the factory with.
Under the hood is not a 2JZ, not a RB, not a LS, not a !JZ, but, rather, a bastard child of the two JZs.
Since the mod list is Super Smash Brothers fanfiction tiers of length, I'll just copy the mod list given to me.
Engine is a 1.5JZ-GTE; stock 2JZ engine block, crank,con-rods and pistons, 1JZ Cylinder head, 1JZ GReddy camshafts, 2JZ Twin turbo header modified to fit 1JZ head and factory 2JZ twin turbos.
WELD valve covers, HKS Fuel rail, EXEDY Clutch oil catch tank and hoses, Nissan FS5R30A Transmission, GReddy oil filer,cooler and turbo intercooler, GReddy crankshaft and alternator belt.
Displacement : 3500cc (3.5l),no tune, turbo pressure same as on a factory 2JZ-GTE, producing around 300hp.
A'PEX-i exhaust system, from the headers to the bumper.
While it's not the massive amounts of power you see in TX2K and the like, it's still respectable in it's own right.
And, in my own opinion, if it can do this:
Then it's alright in my book.
Even the biggest S-chassis fans may have difficulties putting a name to that body kit the car's wearing.
It's possibly because the kit is relatively rare in the States, or whatever reason.
Painted in a factory purple color meant for the TVR Cebera Speed 12, Benny's RPS13 wears a full Spirit Rei kit, the only exceptions on the frame being the Bundoki front lip, the roof spoiler, and the massive custom-moulded rear spoiler that comes close to the spoiler my FC had.
"Hey Nick, what brakes and such does Benny's 180 run?"
Glad you asked!
On the front and rear, the RPS13 runs OE 2000 Cobra R brakes, yes, the ones by Brembo.
330 millimeter discs in the front, paired with 295 millimeter discs in the back, is nothing to laugh at.
The wheels, of course, are SSR EX-C Meshes in 17 inches tall, wrapped in none other than Toyo Proxes R888s.
The interior has seen it's fair share of modifications as well, yet I neglected to take any photos of that, as I was more scared of getting caught when we were shooting our action shots.
Like this one.
Inside the former drift missle now resides front and rear Zenki seats, and a full LHD conversion similar to the one in Harrison's R33 Skyline, which you can read about here.
Additionally, the car had lost it's original rear lighting in various bangs and crashes in it's former life, and as such was given fully red Zenki rear lights, with a black Zenki center panel. Notable additions include the shaved trunk door, as well as the removal of the third brake light.
As a first with my run of Speedhunters features, I included a ten question Q & A session with the owner of this car, and this will be reoccurring in the future.