Australian Cars Issue 41

COLLECT ALL THE LEGENDARY AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC CARS

Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of Australian automotive engineering with the Nissan R31 Pintara GX Sedan, a genuine piece of locally built Japanese-Australian motoring history from 1986. At a time when the Australian car market was fiercely contested and the domestic industry was evolving rapidly, the Pintara arrived as a bold new challenger — and a statement of Nissan's deep commitment to building cars on Australian soil.

The first generation R31 Nissan Pintara was a compact family car built by Nissan Australia at its Clayton, Victoria assembly plant in Melbourne from mid-1986, based on the Nissan Skyline platform — giving it an engineering pedigree far beyond what its modest family car exterior suggested. Powered by a single overhead camshaft fuel-injected 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, it was intended to compete directly with the Mitsubishi Magna, and like the Australian-built six-cylinder R31 Skyline, it was offered in both sedan and station wagon form. The engine produced 78 kW at 5,200 rpm and 160 Nm of torque at 3,200 rpm — a willing, modern unit that rewarded the Pintara's front-wheel-drive layout with composed and efficient everyday performance. For GX sedans, a TRX bodykit package was available, featuring a front and rear air dam, rear spoiler, side skirts, grille cover, alloy wheels, and low profile tyres — adding a sportier edge to an already purposeful silhouette. One interesting distinction of this model was that it was front-wheel-drive at a time when Australia's cars were predominantly rear-wheel drive — a sign of the changing times the Pintara helped usher in.

This precise 1:43 scale replica captures the very essence of the Nissan R31 Pintara GX Sedan — a snapshot of mid-1980s Australian family motoring and a proud chapter in the story of local car manufacturing.

The Nissan R31 Pintara GX is meticulously reproduced in high-quality die-cast metal, with details faithful to the original that capture its clean, contemporary lines and period-correct GX specification trim. Rubber tires and swiveling wheels add a touch of realism to this slice of Australian motoring history.

Each piece comes accompanied by a captivating magazine filled with articles from that era, offering a fascinating glimpse into the history of Australian automotive, sourced from the archives of the renowned publication Wheels.

Features:

• Faithfully reproduced model at 1:43 scale
• High-quality die-cast metal for exceptional durability
• Precise detailing for maximum authenticity — including the signature R31 Pintara GX sedan body and period-correct trim
• Rubber tires and swiveling wheels for heightened realism

Relive the golden era of Australian-built family motoring with this distinctive model. Add the Nissan R31 Pintara GX Sedan to your Australian Cars collection today!