Category: March-athon (Page 1 of 2)

Mitsuoka Viewt: for those who want to own a classic car but don't want to constantly fix it...

Retro-kitsch with the Mitsuoka Viewt – March-athon

April 21, 2024 / banpei / 0 Comments

Mitsuoka is a company that is known for it retro-kitsch cars and their March K11-based Viewt is no exception to this. Today we will continue the March-athon and we’re deep-diving into the Viewt-rabbit hole.

It's hard to believe the Mitsuoka Viewt K11 is based on the Nissan March K11 — It’s hard to believe the Mitsuoka Viewt K11 is based on the Nissan March K11

However, we need to ask ChatGPT first if it can come up with a joke about the Mitsuoka Viewt:
Why did the Mitsuoka Viewt challenge the Nissan March to a makeover contest?
Because it wanted to prove that even though it’s based on the humble March, it could still turn heads with its vintage-inspired style. But in the end, they both realized that whether classic or contemporary, they were both just “viewt”-iful in their own unique ways!
ChatGPT is as brilliant as ever!

History of the Mitsuoka Viewt

The K11-based Viewt was conceived in a period when Mitsuoka was still doing small on-demand conversions. In the mid- to late-1980s, they started to build Mercedes-Benz SSK and Porsche 356 lookalike kit cars. After this, Mitsuoka created the Le-Seyde which was a Panther-lookalike and based upon the Nissan Silvia S13. This Cruella DeVille retro kitsch mobile sold moderately well and near the end of the run, Mitsuoka decided to build a Jaguar Mark II inspired car based upon the humble underpinnings of the Nissan March K11.

Which one would you choose? Left or right? Impul March or Impul March Classic?

The impulsive Impul March K11 and Impul March Classic – March-athon

March 3, 2024 / banpei / 0 Comments

Today I’ll feature the Impul March and Impul March Classic variants of the Nissan March K11. As I mentioned in the previous post about the March-athon, I would step away from the factory variants like the Tango, Rumba, Bolero and Polka and move on to another variant. As the title suggests, we’re moving towards a company called Impul.

Introducing the Impul March and Impul March Classic Neo-Retro Sport

But before we dive into Impul and the March, I’ve asked ChatGPT if it could make a joke about the Impul March as well:
Why did the Impul March challenge the Nissan March White Limited to a race?
Because it wanted to see if its “impulsive” modifications could outpace the pure, pristine white beauty – but it quickly realized that even with all its upgrades, it couldn’t “march” past that classic elegance!
It’s scary it remembers that I asked it to make a joke about the Nissan March White Limited well over a month ago. At the same time it’s amazing how capable ChatGPT is in understanding what a Impul March is and how to incorporate this into a joke.

Hoshino Impul Co. Ltd.

For those less familiar with the Impul brand. Hoshino Impul Co. Ltd. was founded by racing driver Kazuyoshi Hoshino in 1980 and is often shortened to Impul. Hoshino was a famous Nissan works driver and he decided to hop on the aftermarket parts bandwagon.

Very last absolute final limited edition Nissan March White Limited – March-athon

February 13, 2024 / banpei / 0 Comments

In the previous post in the March-athon I promised there would be another final final limited edition. So here it is, the Nissan March White Limited! You may wonder what’s a Nissan March White Limited. In today’s post, I’ll tell you all about it!

Nissan March White Limited K11 - Front — Nissan March White Limited K11 – Front

But first, let’s see if ChatGPT can make a joke about it:
Why did the Nissan March White Limited get a job at the bakery?
Because it wanted to show off its dough-white exterior and prove that it could rise to the occasion – delivering freshness with every drive!

Yes, ChatGPT is a true stand-up comedian! Badum-tssh

What is a Nissan March White Limited?

I have no idea why this March Polka sits on a plate either

Nissan’s nearly last and final K11-swansong: the March Polka – March-athon

January 27, 2024 / banpei / 1 Comment

In the final year of Nissan March K11 production, the Nissan March Polka was introduced as a special version alongside the Bolero and Rumba. So today in the March-athon series we’re moving on to the fourth in the quartet: the Nissan March Polka! Naturally, I’ll compare the Polka against the other three musical dances: Tango, Bolero and Rumba.

But first, we need to verify if ChatGPT can outdo itself once more and make an even better joke about the March Polka:
What did the Nissan March Polka say when it won the dance competition?
“I may be small, but my polka moves are in a class of their own – the compact class, that is!”
That one was even better than the joke it made about the March Rumba!

Nissan March Rumba – March-athon

January 14, 2024 / banpei / 0 Comments

The Nissan March Rumba was sold alongside the Bolero. So today in the March-athon series we’re covering everything about the Rumba and comparing it against the Bolero. But first something else. I was wondering if ChatGPT could outdo itself and make an even better joke about the March Rumba:
Why did the Nissan March Rumba refuse to dance?
Because it didn’t want to “auto-mambo” and preferred to keep its moves in “park-ison!”
Yes, ChatGPT definitely outdid itself!

Front view of 1998 Nissan March Rumba K11

What’s a Nissan March Rumba?

As you may have guessed from the introduction and the photos, the Nissan March Rumba is a retro-styled variant of the Nissan March. It became available from November 1998 onwards and was, alongside the Bolero, for sale until the end of the K11. Similar to the Tango and the Bolero, the Rumba is also a musical style (and dance) and this fits in within the March’s musical note lineup.

Dancing Through Traffic: Nissan March Bolero – March-athon

January 7, 2024 / banpei / 1 Comment

I asked ChatGPT if it could make a joke about the Nissan March Bolero and this is what it came up with:
Q: Why did the Nissan March Bolero get invited to all the car parties?
A: Because it always knows how to “rev up” the atmosphere and drive everyone to the dance floor!
That’s just amazing! I couldn’t have made a more appropriate joke and let’s make sure this third posting in the March-athon isn’t a joke by itself!

Front view of 1997 Nissan March Bolero K11

What is the Nissan March Bolero?

As you may have guessed from the title and the first paragraph: the third posting is focussing on the Nissan March Bolero. Just like the March Tango, the March Bolero is another special car built by Nissan’s Autech division. It became available in October 1997, shortly after the facelifted March K11 was launched and it replaced the March Tango. Just like Tango, Bolero is both a musical and dance style. For Bolero the dance and music are completely unrelated, which makes it confusing what Nissan intended for the March Bolero to represent. Given the musical note system for the basic March models, I’d say it would be the musical style.