Repurposed 1991 Nissan 240SX Review (Part 2)

Nakamoto had no idea that being able to thoroughly enjoy his rear-wheel-drive coupe would be the sort of nuisance for the Hawaiian legislature that it’s become, though, when first learning that the 240SX was the car for him. “After seeing the 240 in person and drifting, I thought it was the coolest car,” he says of the first time he laid eyes on a friend’s newly bought S13. “I was determined to buy one as my first car, and after months of searching, I found one that was in my price range beat up, but the motor ran good.” Nakamoto goes on to outline a decade’s worth of modifications that culminate into a third paintjob, aero from BN Sports and Chargespeed and staggered 18-inch Work Meister S1 wheels. His 240 wasn’t always so refined, though, and, like many projects, began with entry-level parts and cheap-o wheels. “After purchasing [the car], my dad and I painted [it] a fire-engine red in our garage,” Nakamoto says. Once painted and with the SR engine in place, Nakamoto hit the shows. “That’s when I noticed that my car looked exactly the same as all the other 240s,” he says. “I decided to redo the whole exterior again, this time with a wider body kit and rims.” Two years later and Nakamoto started off on a four-year-long path of winning show after show.

After many phases of body and paintwork, Justin’s S13 has a “best of show” look with its BN Sports kit and Blueberry Magenta paint job

Nakamoto’s passage to the 240SX that he’d always wanted wasn’t easy. The government didn’t want him to do it, mainland retailers didn’t always want to ship to him, and the island’s only track was boarded up all because of the sounds and smells of roasted tires wafting about trade winds. He’s managed to find a way to enjoy his creation in his own way, though. “It was built for daily use and for the track, but since our only race track got shut down and because of strict laws, I ended up making it a show car.” Maybe this is no sob story after all but instead the story of a once part-time track car that’s been decommissioned and found new life turning heads at shows.

Intended originally for track days and drifting, this SR20 is built head to toe with upgraded internals, valvetrain and a Garrett GT2871R turbo

1991 Nissan 240SX steering wheel