Readers' Photos # 112: R31 Skyline GTS Coupe

When it comes to Japanese performance sixes, Nissan is boss! And, sweet as Zs are, the Skyline is Nissan's ultimate expression of that dominance, with a long, long history of performance-orientated variants dating back to the mid-1960s when they were manufactured by Japan's Prince Motor Company.

For us Aussies, the performance Skyline thing didn't really begin until the seventh generation R31 in 1985. Our first offering - the 1970s' fourth generation C110 series, which didn't even go by the Skyline moniker, being badged here as a 240K - did come in sedan and coupe form. However, it ran a fairly benign 2.4 litre six and had no particular sporting pretensions. The fifth and sixth versions - the C210 and R30, respectively - did wear Skyline badges but again lacked a sporty variant Down Under.

That all changed with the introduction of the R31 with their 3.0 litre in-line six cylinder motors, although, to the best of my knowledge, the Australian market still missed out on a coupe version. The Aussie range consisted of sedans and station wagons of varying specs, from poverty-pack through to executive-level. From memory, the top three tiers were the Ti, followed by the luxo / sporty Silhouette and the performance-orientated Silhouette GTS.

The GTS version was produced in two batches: 200 Series 1, all in white, and 200 Series in red, plus six Tasmania Police specials finished in white. The police specials were identical to the regular GTSs, other than their colour and the ommission of the latter's Momo steering wheel and GTS badges. Their build plates clearly indicate that they are genuine GTSs. But I digress ... .

Today's car - an imported R31 GTS coupe, photographed in suburban Canberra - is multiple levels of awesome above the Aussie sedan-based GTS. Admittedly, the latter featured a brilliant locally tuned suspension set-up, along with Scheel seats, a Momo steering wheel and a tricked up motor, but I don't think it was really in the same league as these fully JDM-specced cars were.

Rather than talk out of my ar*e by requoting Wikipedia, I suggest that anyone wanting to know more about JDM Skylines should go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Skyline. See if you agree that in Japanese Six Cylinder World, Nissan is boss. The evidence is pretty strong, I reckon!

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Photos by the Canberra Correspondent.

EJ or EH Holden? (Up-dated December, 2022)

EJ or the later EH? Several years ago, I posed the question: Can somebody please explain the difference between an EJ and an EH Holden ute or van? The response at the time wasn't overwhelming, so I did a bit of Googling and ferreting through my photos and came up with my own rough guide to EJ and EH identification. Sedans and wagons are easy to tell apart ; the EH's vertical rectangular tail lights are a dead give-away. However, the workhorse versions of both models share the rear-end treatment of the earlier EJ, making it harder to identify one from the other. No super obvious hints here. Or here ... . It turns out that the main clues are in the placement of the front H O L D E N lettering and GMH lion emblems, the style of the radiator grille and the width of the vents in front of the windscreen, with all EJs - sedans, wagons, utes and vans - having one combination and the EH line-up having their own . So what exactly are those diffe

Vick Auto Prima Fiat X1/9 Brakes: An Owner’s Assessment

At the end of 2022, I fitted a set of Vick Autosport Prima front brakes to my mildly worked 1.5 litre Series 1 Fiat X1/9 . I was fortunate, having picked them up at a very, very reasonable price, brand new but surplus to the needs of a fellow X1/9 Australia member who had imported them from the US. The kit included: New single pot callipers , new vented rotors (standard X1/9 front rotors are smaller, non-vented items), DOT approved stainless steel brake hoses, and all the necessary mounting hardware. They are a value proposition, being particularly well priced compared to other manufacturers’ packages - even at RRP - with everyone I’ve spoken to saying they’re made to a high standard, too. Here's a link to a piece that I wrote about them at that time, including some costings: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-x19-gets-prima-brake-upgrade.html . Initial Assessment: I was a little underwhelmed by the brakes' performance, finding that although they had a tiny

Random # 301: Nanna-Spec KE36 Corolla

Once upon a time - six or seven years ago, actually - there was a lovely pale yellow GC Galant station wagon getting around Hobart. It was totally nanna-spec; its paint was umarked, the chrome work and hubcaps were immaculate, and its very original interior was pristine. Then someone stuck feathers in its dashboard. Next, the windows were adorned with Tibetan prayer flags. And a hubcap went missing. And the the rear bumper was pushed in, mangling the bodywork behind it. And a mudguard got dented. And rust set in. I fear for this sweet, innocent KE36 Corolla. Somebody please save it before it's too late. Nanna needs you to do it. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by GlamRock.

Upper Middle Petrol Head:

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