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We're going to dive into one of Japan's most incredible motorsport stories - the Prince R380, a race car that revolutionized Japanese racing in the 1960s. While Japan was known for making practical cars at the time, Prince Motor Company had bigger dreams. They wanted to prove that Japanese engineering could compete with the best in the world, and the R380 was their chance to do just that.
The story begins in 1964 when Prince's modified Skyline GTs faced off against a Porsche 904 at the Japanese Grand Prix. After losing to the superior mid-engine Porsche, Prince's brilliant engineers, led by Shinichiro Sakurai, decided to create Japan's first purpose-built race car. They studied a British Brabham BT8 chassis and combined what they learned with their own innovations to create something truly special.
The R380 was a masterpiece of engineering. Its lightweight aluminum body and aerodynamic design made it look like something from the future. Under the hood was the amazing GR-8 engine, an advanced 2-liter powerplant that produced over 200 horsepower - an incredible achievement for its time. The car was so advanced that it set five speed records at the Yatabe Test Track before it even entered its first race!
When the R380 finally got its chance at the 1966 Japanese Grand Prix, it made history. Driven by Yoshikazu Sunako, the R380 became the first Japanese car to win the Japanese Grand Prix, beating the mighty Porsches at their own game. This victory changed everything - it proved that Japan could build world-class racing machines.
After Prince merged with Nissan, the car evolved into the R380-II and continued its success story. It broke seven more speed records and even won races in Australia, showing the world that Japanese engineering was a force to be reckoned with. The technology developed for the R380 didn't just stay on the race track - it influenced famous road cars like the Skyline GT-R and Fairlady Z432.
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