Exotic composite materials and billet aluminum would never be things one would associate with classic cars, but for Watanabe-san of Rocky Auto, these words are music to his ears. Forget your nostalgically restored old school rides, Rocky Auto does things its own way when it comes to fixing up classics, and the shop's latest creation raises the bar well over anything it has ever done before. Weight saving was a key objective on this dry-carbon-bodied S30 Fairlady Z, but it's what lies under its ultralight skin that will really leave you speechless.
Most of Watanabe's projects are financed by wealthy customers who want to create the classic car of their dreams, based on vehicles they lusted over during their teenage years. Using modern components - be it engines, brakes or suspension - Rocky Auto not only makes older cars more fun to drive, thanks to the additional performance, but also makes them safer by allowing them to handle better and stop more efficiently. This may be considered blasphemy for those who believe that vintage machinery should never be fettled with in these ways, but you really can't ignore the cool factor of cars of this caliber.
Exterior Rocky Auto dry-carbon front & rear bumpers, dry-carbon front lip spoiler, headlig
After the 600hp RB26-powered S30 Watanabe made for the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier in the year, he wanted to concentrate on using all of his company's expertise to create the ultimate driver's Fairlady Z. Balance was to take over outright power to help make a car that would tantalize the senses with just the right amount of performance. Weight saving came courtesy of custom-made carbon body parts that replace the thick steel panels of the 36-year-old S30. Watanabe didn't cut any corners by using cheaper wet carbon, he had every panel molded and subsequently formed in lightweight dry carbon, which for anyone who doesn't know, has to be vacuum-sealed and pressure-cooked in an autoclave to guarantee its rigidity.
Looking at the car head-on, there's nothing other than tantalizing composite fibers to see as the bumper, front splitter, hood and front fenders have all been replaced. Even the headlight bezels are dry carbon, finished off with slightly smoked acrylic covers shielding the Rocky Auto projectors. Even the riveted-on overfenders are carbon, as is the Rocky Auto dry carbon hatch, which joins the taillight and number plate panel at the rear.
The roof, doors and some of the rear end were left stock since they are an integral part of the chassis itself, but they've been wrapped in 3M carbon look vinyl to help the rear blend in with the real carbon front end. Rocky Auto carbon mirrors are the final pieces in the intricate exterior transformation, which has kept the S30 looking very standard - except for the actual material, that is. The wheel of the moment for any classic car was the natural choice for this project, a set of deeply dished Volk Racing TE37V, where the "V" stands for vintage. These were chosen in a15x9-inch size for the front and slightly wider 15x10 inches at the rear. The Toyo Trampio semi-slick tires are a great touch as they have a very classic design about them with an angular tread pattern and big chunky, rounded sidewalls when chosen in 205/50R15 front and 225/50R15 rear sizes.