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In the late 1960's, the CanAm Series was all the rage in America. Can-Am started out as a race series for Group 7 sports racers with two races in Canada (Can) and four races in the United States of America (Am). The series was initially sponsored by Johnson Wax. The Series was governed by rules called out under the FIA Group 7 category with unrestricted engine capacity and few other technical restrictions.

In Japan, Nissan built several cars to Group-7 specifications - most notably, the Nissan R381. Originally to be powered with a V12, the car competed with a Chevrolet 5.5L V8 during the 1968 running of the Japanese Grand Prix where three of the cars competed and placed in the top 6. Also borrowing from CanAm, most notably Chaparral, dual large rear wings were used side by side and were driven by hydraulics that would move either the left or right wing up or down in order to increase cornering ability.

While it never competed with the CanAm legends in the USA, it makes a very cool addition to this field. It utilizes a Slot.it Chaparral chassis for motivation. You simply trim a few areas like the valance and it fits like a glove!

I have a limited number of these kits WITH decals for $45. Just the kit is $35.00 plus $8.00 S&H in the USA, $14.00 S&H worldwide. I will combine orders.

Impressive, David. I never heard of that car and I still want it! Oh no. This will start another whole box of CanAms. Woe is me.

Why you sneaky....this is just great work.

That "Dual Wing" set is realy the Cat's Posterior! I think I may gave seen pictures of that car with a light blue colored wing as well. Any chance we can see the car TANGO UNIFORM for a better view of the chassis?

Looks like a Japanese Chaparral.

Bob - That is a very good description.

Looks wonderful on the track, hope you sell plenty!

Looks great Dave, good to see something new from you again.

Looks awesome. I've been working on a Toyota 7 and now this will give me some motivation to get it done and build one of these kits.

Dave,
Well done. I have the original wind up also, to make into a Can Am car someday. I think it was from a series of kits made by Bandai and marketed also by AHM. I have the Ferrari P-4, a couple Chaparral kits, the Ford J car (like the Strombecker version) and am intending to build the full set.

But seeing what you have done, I suspect I am going to have to have one of your kits, just because.........lovely work!

Dave,

I was excited until I found out it was the R381, and not the R382 (just kidding - I didn't know anything about either one):

http://www.earlydatsun.com/nissanr382.html

Actually, I would like to see the Nissan Cube Can Am version (with aero package).

If you're going to do Japanese Can Ams, you need to do what everyone thinks of as the premier maker of Can Am cars - Isuzu, and their 1969 R7 model:

http://minkara.carview.co.jp/image.aspx ... ed7940ca7a

Although it looks like your model has a rear tailgate too, Dave, and I'm sure it "hauls" like an Isuzu!

Good work, my friend.

You are nuts, you know that? I'll have to look into that. Where do I put the cargo though...?