Interesting things to know about OEM vehicles
For example, Daihatsu “Rocky” and Toyota “Raise” or Suzuki “Hustler” and Mazda “Flair Crossover” look like the same design, but the emblems of the manufacturers they are attached to and the names of the vehicles are different. Such vehicles are called OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) vehicles, which are vehicles developed and manufactured by one company and sold by another company as its brand vehicle. This time, we will tell the story of Mr. Kenta Nagaki, who searched for a 7-seater vehicle that could enjoy American specifications and ended up not with the Nissan NV200, but with the Mitsubishi Delica D:3, which is an OEM vehicle.
He sought an American-styled, 7-seater for his family
Mr. Kenta Nagaki’s car was thought to be a Nissan “NV200 Vanette” with a genuine US bumper, but it turned out to be a Mitsubishi “Delica D:3!
“My life in cars started with drifting, but many of my friends around me drove American-style cars, and many of them, including my wife, drove lowdowned and other dress-up cars. Because of this influence, I also became interested in dressing up to US specifications, and while drifting in an R32 Skyline 4-door, I also enjoyed US style in a Nissan Z12 Cube.”
“But as our family grew, we needed a vehicle that could accommodate a large number of people. I had been interested in the NV200 since it was first released, and I started thinking about the possibility of turning it into a family car, which is what led me to choose this vehicle.”
The Delica D:3 came fully equipped with the options he wanted
The NV200 is indeed sold in the US as the NV200 Compact Cargo, so it is quite possible to enjoy the US version in Japan. Moreover, the wagon is also available in a 7-seat configuration. However, at the time when we were looking for a vehicle, it was difficult to find the desired unit because the rear cooler and small rear window were optional settings at Nissan.
However, when he looked into the Delica D:3 from a different perspective, he discovered that it was sold as a 7-seat wagon, complete with the options that Mr. Nagaki wanted. This was a major reason for purchasing this unit.
The current specs include bumper and grille changes to the stock US version of the NV200. In addition, the suspension and wheels were changed to improve the looks. Moreover, the theme was not simply to make it low, but to make it moderately low for riding comfort.
For this reason, the RS-R front suspension from the beloved Cube was used, but the cartridge was changed to a cartridge for the Nissan Serena, as it did not have enough stroke. The rear suspension was also replaced with a new leaf in pursuit of a better balance between low profile and ride comfort. Mr. Nagaki has been enjoying drifting for many years, so he has no scruples in his pursuit of ride quality.
More opportunities to be approached because of the rarity of the event
“The thickness of the rear leaf suspension is different between a wagon and a van, so the ride seems to be somewhat different. We are experimenting with various rear settings, but we are not satisfied yet. Other than that, we are adding a sponge to the interior to make the cabin as quiet as possible, since the sound insulation is low due to the original van. The steering wheel position was uncomfortable, so I lowered the steering wheel by 2 cm downward, pursuing modifications that emphasize comfort over appearance.”
As he began to participate in events like this one, he was approached more and more often, partly because his base vehicle was so rare. Both his wife and children are happy to hear this, and the “NV200 Compact Cargo Van-style” Delica D:3 is now recognized as a fine family car for the Nagaki family.