Extremely rare WRC homologation car

The Yaho Tenmangu Shrine Old Car Festival, held in Kunitachi, Tokyo, attracted around 190 classic cars, from pre-war cars to supercars. From this event, we spoke to the owner of a Nissan 240RS, an ultra-rare model that was once released overseas for homologation in the WRC.

Based on Silvia, only about 200 of these Group B cars were produced

In the precincts of Yaho Tenmangu Shrine, the first thing that caught our eye was a white Nissan 240RS (BS110 model). The 240RS was a homologation model developed to compete in the WRC (World Rally Championship) and was launched overseas in October 1982 (not released in Japan). It was based on the 3rd generation ‘240RS’. It was based on the third-generation Silvia (S110). It was developed as a competition car based on the Group B regulations of the time, and it is said that around 200 cars were produced, the minimum number required for Group B certification.

The third generation Silvia, which appeared in 1979, and its sister car, the Gazelle, were sports and specialty cars that could also be used as date cars, while the 240RS was a martial machine released to play an active role in motorsports. Incidentally, Silvia, one of Nissan’s leading sports and specialty cars of the past, also competed in Super Silhouette races during the era of the third-generation S110 model. Kazuyoshi Hoshino drove this car and fascinated fans with his hot driving.

“I also own a US110 Gazelle 2000RS, but I always had a longing for the 240RS. It was under these circumstances that I was given the information about the for sale overseas by the person who ran the website introducing the BS110 model, and I was able to buy it.”

According to the owner, Masaaki Honma, who told us, he bought his 1982 240RS 16 years ago and currently has a total of 31,000 km on the odometer; he drives his 240RS when attending various events, including owners’ meetings.

He also continues to love his Gazelle 2000RS, which he bought new in 1982

Mr Honma bought a Gazelle 2000RS in 1982, and the 240RS debuted soon after. He continued to admire it too and bought a 240RS that was for sale in a certain Asian country, judging its condition from only three photos.

Homma, who has owned an SR311 FAIRLADY and an S130 FAIRLADY Z in the past, is now a genuine Nissan fan with a 1973 S30 FAIRLADY Z in addition to his 240RS and Gazelle 2000RS.

This is the second time he has attended the Yaho Tenmangu Shrine Old Car Festival, and he also told us that he still wants to attend as it is a nearby event, so fans who want to see the martial details of motorsport homologation machines up close should try to visit the next Yaho Tenmangu Shrine Old Car Festival.

translated by DeepL