MR3: Hakosuka
MOONRCKT:
1972 NISSAN 2000GT-X
OWNER:
Mike Beaumont
location:
EDMONTON, Alberta
By Eldon Kymson
MOONRCKT first found Mike and his JDM classic at the 780Tuners 2019 season opener in Edmonton. I was so captivated by his Skyline that days later I was in touch, hoping to do a story. Thankfully, he was more than willing, and I was no less than giddy.
On shoot day, Andy and I met Mike near Edmonton’s old city centre airport. As I began testing shots, Mike began to tell us, in great detail, about his experience and dedication to his Hakosuka, or “box Skyline”.
He says that he’s always been drawn to rare and different vehicles, and that he likes imports. Mike discovered his GT-X on YouTube and flew to Japan to get it. He told us that he would have loved to have purchased a GT-R, but the GT-R engine isn’t very Canada-friendly. To put it in perspective, there are only two licensed shops in all of Japan that work on them. All that said, Mike didn’t settle. He has a passion for rare cars, and with great determination he found it—his GT-X is one of only eight in all of Canada.
His Skyline has been a labour of love—we’re talking hundreds of hours—and although he’s kept it close to its roots (which we very much admire), it’s far from stock. There were pieces missing or in need of replacing, and it took more than one trip to Japan and a whole lot of Google translating to find the parts he wanted. Mike even went so far as to sign up for Toyo’s race program to get the RA1 track tires that would fit his wheels.
If you ask Mike what he loves most about his Skyline, he might pause to answer—there’s a lot of aspects he likes, and I’m right there with him. Let’s start with the shoes. The wheels are his own vision—custom yet period correct, and crafted by Work Wheels out of Japan. The mirrors are quite different from the original chrome-plated ones, but the carbon fibre complements everything while giving the car a modern touch. Then there’s the rear fender flares. Mike’s friend and owner of CarbonSignal in Dubai crafted them especially for his ride. These are the guys who did the carbon and interior work for Sung Kang’s FuguZ.
And what about this Skyline gets me? Well, everything aforementioned, along with the Nissan comp steering wheel blazoned with the Prince emblem, as well as that gorgeous surf line that sweeps from the door to the tail lights. And then there’s the paint. It matches one of the original colours offered in 1972, and it’s gorgeous. It’s a silver-gold metallic that glistened that evening with a stylish warmth. And as we moved from one locale to the next, the smooth, low rumble of the motor mixed with the smell of carbureted fuel was like a drug. These words do it little justice, I know. All I can say is that it was otherworldly.
However, the thing that really gets me is the boxy body style that gives it its nickname, Hakosuka. I’ve always loved the look. There are so many angles to this car, none of them bad. Going through the many shots afterwards was a challenge, not to find the images with good angles, but to whittle it down to a reasonable selection for this story.
Some might consider the 240Z to have a sportier look in this era and maker, but there’s just something about the lines of this car that make it so unique and desirable. It confirms why this particular ride has gained so many awards and so much recognition.
“This car is me, and I am this car.”
Mike’s utmost satisfaction comes from the fact that he built this car with his own two hands. From pulling the motor to dropping the transmission, everything done to this car is his own hard work. He knows every nut and bolt, and has been up to his elbows in coolant and oil. “This car is me, and I am this car.”
He has literally made history as he continues to tinker on his 1972 Nissan. And rest assured, his story carries on in those he shares this wonderful piece of automotive history with.