Author: banpei (Page 13 of 318)

Merry Christmas with AI-generated AE86es

December 24, 2023 / banpei / 0 Comments

Tonight is Christmas Eve and that means spending time with family, eating dinner, opening gifts under the Christmas tree and family and I’m really looking forward to that! I’ll be offline for a few days and I wish you a Merry Christmas! But I didn’t want to leave you empty-handed and present you with a gift as well!

I thought the best way to express that was by looking at the current state of AI and generating some Christmassy pictures with an AE86. For all four images, I used the following term: “White Toyota Trueno AE86 with popup headlights, Christmas trees and snowy landscape”. I did two in comic/cartoon style and two in photo-realistic style.

Cartoon style

Iron Tail 1991 Honda CRX – Down on the Street

December 23, 2023 / banpei / 0 Comments

A second-generation Honda CRX was a common sight for a long time. I used to see one zipping by once or twice a day. However, over a very short period of time they have all disappeared! Well, all of them except this one! I encountered this one during a grocery run during the summer of last year. I quickly took two photos and forgot about it until I scrolled through my photo timeline a few days ago.

Specs

This second-generation Honda CRX was registered in late 1991, making it one of the final CRX-es to be sold and registered in the Netherlands. In 1992, Honda replaced the second generation with the newer CRX Del Sol. It appears to be well-used and worn down in every aspect. Even though it’s showing its age, the current owner seems to be using it well!

Epic road trip from Ireland to Poland in an AE86

Nightride to Poland in an Trueno AE86 – Friday Video

December 22, 2023 / banpei / 0 Comments

For those who aren’t subscribed to either the Juicebox and Nightride channels, the story is that Sam from Nightride wanted to buy a Trueno AE86 and asked Neil from Juicebox if there was one available in Ireland.

Nightride's Trueno AE86 at the Juicebox shed — Nightride’s Trueno AE86 at the Juicebox shed

Coincidentally a two-door Trueno just became available for sale, Sam agreed to buy it and Neil closed the deal. Neil also agreed to drive with Sam (and some other Nightride members) inside the Trueno from Ireland to Poland. That’s an epic journey of 2000 kilometres! Both Nightride and Juicebox posted their videos earlier this week, so check them out below!

The 1973 Nissan ESV had one thing in common with a sub: the periscope! — 1973 Nissan ESV with a periscope

Cutaway drawing of the 1973 Nissan ESV – Picture of the Week

December 21, 2023 / banpei / 0 Comments

I had never heard of the 1973 Nissan ESV before, but I accidentally bumped into a couple of photos on the Nissan Newsroom website. In the early 1970s, the Japanese government forced automakers to invest money and time into vehicle safety and Nissan announced in 1971 it would create the ESV. Apparently not only Volvo was doing experimental safety vehicles, but the whole of Japan. The result of that push can be seen in the two ESVs Nissan created.

The E2 was aimed more towards absorbing impact energy:

This cutaway drawing gives me more questions than answers. What is the deal with that Pedestrian Safety Device? Is that a bull bar to ensure pedestrians are flipped into the air over the car to ensure they don’t hit the windshield?

Nissan March K11 basics – March-athon

December 20, 2023 / banpei / 1 Comment

Earlier this week I kicked off the March-athon for the Nissan March K11 with the March Tango post. I guess I was a bit too enthusiastic after the Down on the Street post. Perhaps I should have calmly thought first about what would be the most logical starting point. In hindsight, I should have started with a posting about the basic K11 itself. So that’s what I’m doing today. I’ll keep this post limited to the Japanese March K11 and omit the export versions.

Nissan March K11 history

When the March K11 was launched in 1992, the previous generation March K10 had been in production for over 10 years! The K10 generation had been highly loved and popular. It received a (rounded-off) facelift in June 1985 which made it more up-to-date with the tastes of the mid-1980s. In 1989 it received its second facelift, making it even more rounded off but it was still getting more out of fashion every day it sold.

Black or White? MR-one or MR2? SW20 or SW20? – Family Album Treasures

December 19, 2023 / banpei / 0 Comments

Which one would you choose? The black Toyota MR2 SW20 or the white MR2 SW20? I would say it’s a tough choice…

Left or right? Black or white? MR-one or MR2?

Found at Instagram