Nissan R383

The Nissan R383 was a race car that Nissan Motors built in 1970 and planned to use in the 1970 Japanese Grand Prix. It replaced the R382 and was the final racing sportscar Nissan built until the mid-1980s. Wanting to extend the R382's winning formula, Nissan borrowed heavily from the Can-Am cars of the North American Group 7 formula, keeping the GRX-3 5954 cc V12 but raising its power to 700 hp, and testing a turbocharged version of 900 hp. The nose venting was removed to flatten the whole front, the radiators moved to the sides with large vents in the doors, and the engine intake was redesigned below the rollbar and slightly off center so the driver's helmet would not block it. The Japanese Automobile Federation canceled the race after Nissan and Toyota withdrew, and Nissan then canceled the R380 program, so the R383 never raced. Nismo restored one to working condition in 2006.