Roadkill “Rotsun”

The Rotsun was (is) a project car built from Motortrend’s Road Kill TV show. Motortrend is one of the original car magazines from the US that started its life way back in 1949! This was also the first year that they named a Car of the Year (Cadillac). At the time, the award was given to the manufacturer, and not a specific vehicle – how times have changed. Fast forward several decades, and Motortrend TV came to life in 2002, originally, as part of Discovery HD Theater. A decade later, in 2012, Motortrend TV aired Roadkill as a web series (that means, the Internet).

A Rotsun in a diorama

The Rotsun started its life as a 1971 Datsun 240Z. The team retained the crusty body of the donor car, and the engine was  swapped with a 4.3L V6 Chevy engine. In the rebuilds that followed, it eventually got a 5.0L Turbocharged Ford V8 engine. This is the final build of the car, and this is what the Hot Wheels car was based on. The Hot Wheels was designed by Mark Jones and was a promotional vehicle by Motortrend and Roadkill. The original promotion was actually a pair of Datsun 240Zs. One rusty 240Z, basically, the base car. And one Rotsun, the final product of the show.

Roadkill’s Rotsun

The vehicle that I have is actually the re-issue that came out from Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture. There are significant differences between this and the original promo car. The original car had more details on the engine, the decals, and even the wheels. The Car Culture version is still based on the original casting, though. It is just the lesser car. You will still love that overgrown engine popping out the front of the car. Intake, exhaust, and all. The wheels are grey RR10SPs on the front and a pair of RRMags on the back. The body is still rusty and crusty. Overall, it is still a great casting, just less shiny. You can still add some detail yourself if you choose to do so. I love this car. Both for what it is and what it represents in real life.

Fast Rewind: Nissan Fairlady Z

The Fairlady Z is the third Nissan in this set and the best one at that in my opinion. The stellar 240Z in markets outside of Japan, it also pranced around under the Datsun brand. The original 240Z was sold from 1969 with the Japanese version strutting a 2.0L SOHC L20A straight-six making about 130 HP. The US 240Z on the other hand got a 2.4L L24 Inline-six making 151 HP. I have no idea why this is, but that was just how they started. The Fairlady Z was a beautiful car. And in my opinion, this S30 was the best looking of the bunch even beside the current generation 370Z. It was a Jaguar E-type wearing a Japanese Kimono. The long bonnet and fastback profile made it look fast and elegant. And while the Skylines became Nissan’s halo cars, the Fairlady was sitting alongside the Sylvias. Great cars, but a gear behind the GT-Rs.

Fast Rewind: Nissan Fairlady Z

The 350Z in the franchise of the movie was from Tokyo Drift. The grey 350Z with a half tattoo livery looked pretty menacing. And while the bulging lines of the 350Z lent a graceful demeanor to the otherwise villainous role of the car, it’s iteration on a 240Z looks even more evil. The Fairlady Z casting used by Hot Wheels is the design by Jun Imai from 2016. It features an aero kit with the G-nose, a rear spoiler, wide body fenders, and comes in right-hand drive. The livery on this casting makes it look like a Yakuza. It rides on dark grey C4SPRR Real Rider wheels which complements the base grey color of the car nicely. When you see this iteration of the car, you immediately know that this is the anti-hero car. And it does a great job being bad.

Fast Rewind: Nissan Fairlady Z

The Fairlady Z has a soft spot in my heart in the same way as the Corolla AE86. While the AE86 had imprinted itself on me because of its role as a drift machine in the anime/manga of Initial D, the Fairlady Z has its role as a top speed machine from Wangan Midnight. Wangan Midnight is of course, another manga/anime with its story revolving around cars. This time around, the premise is building the fastest street car to drive in the Wangan. Japan’s notorious public expressway loop.

To answer the question then, yes, this car is worth keeping and be on display as part of a collection. Whether you buy it because you like The Fast and The Furious, or you buy it because of your love for JDM cars, it is a car that will look great on your wall.

Fast Rewind: Nissan Fairlady Z