THE STORY An extremely rare piece of Japanese automotive history that embodies the spirit of Japanese automotive innovation. The Prince Motor Company began after World War II as part of the aircraft manufacturer Tachikawa Aircraft Company and was named in honour of Crown Prince Akihito (later Emperor Akihito).
Using its strong aerospace-influenced design and technology, the manufacturer became quickly known for advanced engineering, luxury sedans and motorsport success.
The Prince A200GT S54 was and extremely rare experimental racing car developed by the company in the mid-1960s just prior to its merger with Nissan in 1966.
It featured a lightweight racing body, low aerodynamic profile, advanced chassis engineering and a prototype-oriented design.
The cars used a version of Prince’s GR-series engine, related to engines used in the development of the Skyline GT by Nissan. The engineering philosophy behind the A200GT directly influenced future Prince/Nissan performance development, including the Prince Skyline GT and the Nissan Skyline GT-R
Many former Prince engineers who worked on advanced racing projects later became central figures in Nissan motorsport engineering after the merger.
The A200GT S54 is a highly valued collector car as it is a combination of pre-merger Prince engineering and independence, early Japanese GT experimentation and the roots of Nissan’s performance culture.
THE CAR Fully restored by Marque Restorations in Adelaide, this is a very rare example of a genuine Nissan Prince A200GT S54.
Being a 1967 model, it was manufactured by Nissan shortly after the company merged with Prince. The car is powered by its original 2.0 litre “G-7” straight-6 engine with triple Weber carburettors. The original body tag indicated the engine puts out 127HP at 5,800 rpm.
Power is put to the road via a 5-speed manual transmission and a “Power-Lok” differential and thanks to its low body weight of 1,055 kgs, this vehicle is quick off the line and through the bends.
Finished in gleaming White paint with contrasting black vinyl-knit interior, this vehicle is in outstanding condition. All chrome and brightwork has been fully restored and presents extremely well. The dash, door cards, carpets and beautiful three-spoked wooden steering wheel are all in excellent condition.
Options include an automatic power arial, front disc brakes (rear drums), a radio, tachometer and clock. Sitting on 13-inch wheels, this car has its original hubcaps.
Copies of a Prince shop manual, parts list and original advertising brochure come with the car. Previously registered in NSW on historic registration.
