EV swapped Japanese classic '80s Nissan Bluebird

[@markstephen6216]

I worked in the plant making Bluebirds back in the 80's and was lucky enough to have a ZX Turbo version which was a pretty good car back in the day. I'm still there 34 years later and think its quite ironic we have a full EV battery only Bluebird BEFORE we have a full EV battery only Qashqai or Juke, which are both cars we currently make, but NOT available as full EV only yet !! Great way to update old / classic cars like this though and keep them running long into the future so well done for actually bothering to do it, and thanks to Jonny for not slating it - he seemed to genuinely enjoy driving it, taking it for what it is - well done...

[@EdgyNumber1]

ZX Turbo pretty good? They were crazy fast. Loved 'em 👍

[@markstephen6216]

@@EdgyNumber1 Yeah it was pretty nippy and faster than my 1.3 Escort thats for sure !! G 959 RTN a dark grey 4 door was mine - I remember it went to 125 in 4th gear then into 5th would nearly show 130 then started to slow down as 5th was an overdrive. And coming from a ford escort mk3 it was like getting into an aeroplane - i had never seen so many buttons and switches and things moving electrically - it even had 2 trip meters on the dash !! Had some fun in it before I sold it - Happy Days !!

[@stevezodiac491]

I have a 2016 30 kwhr leaf Teckna 6.6 charger, made at Sunderland. It has already lost 2 battery bars and about 20 % capacity and equivalent range loss due to poor battery design, with the omission of a battery temperature management control system.

[@EdgyNumber1]

@@stevezodiac491 Did you charge it up every day?

[@markstephen6216]

@@stevezodiac491 To be honest, baring in mind the car is 6 years old this year, I think if it still has 80% battery left and has only lost 2 bars thats not too bad really, depending on its mileage and how often its been charged - almost certainly better than the equivalent mobile phone. And most manufacturers gave around a 3 to 6 year warranty on the battery at that time which would nearly be up anyway. Don't forget Nissan were at the forefront of usable daily electric cars at this time but still learning and as you say didn't have a battery heater available then, something that Tesla has only just added last year on the Model 3. I think 80% left after 6 years would be as good as most other EV makers if not better, personally I would try and have an EV always under warranty If I could afford to as the battery longevity on any make of EV would also be my primary concern. I hope it hasn't spoiled your view of Nissan too much, our current Leaf has fell behind the rest of the market a bit, but we have great plans for new models shortly that will be market leading again hopefully....

[@jasonphillips3865]

Loved my Bluebird. Electric everything but woefully underpowered 🥺 Probably because it was built like a tank and heavier than my ex misses. 😆

[@michaelarchangel1163]

I had one too, a 1.6 hatchback and wish I'd gone for a 2 litre or the 1.8 turbo. That said, a pal had the booted 1.6 version which did 300,000 miles before he scrapped it.

[@richardsedorski1206]

Funny still laughing

[@Zeem4]

My mother-in-law had one that I once borrowed. It looked great because it was fitted with cross-spoke alloy wheels and an original Nissan bodykit (spoilers, sideskirts etc), but it was unbelievably gutless.

[@jonathanfrankel6787]

Lol, I had the 1.6. You had to write the engine a letter to get it to accelerate !

[@terbennett]

Here in the US, that car was called the Stanza. US models had the 2.4 liter engine from the Nissan Truck. The car was not powerful, because the car was a heavy. It's great to see any example still on the road because they were extremely reliable. Adding an EV drivetrain is simply brilliant.

[@JD-eo7dr]

The Stanza and Bluebird are 2 completely different models we had em both. Not many Stanzas compared to the bluebird. The Bluebird ZX turbo was the one to have. Ca18det power

[@terbennett]

@@JD-eo7dr Here in the US, what you see in the video was the Nissan Stanza 5 door hatchback. There was a 4 door Stanza sedan, the Stanza wagon and 3 door Stanza hatchback version as well. As for you having both the Bluebird and Stanza nameplates, the names depended on the market. The CA18DET was never available in the US, the single cam CA18ET was available from 1984-1986 on the 200SX Turbo. The non-turbo CA18DE was offered on the 1988-89 Nissan Pulsar SE ( called the EXA in other markets). I actually owned one and it is still one of my favorite cars that I've owned. As for your options, we usually don't get a lot of the cool stuff offered in other countries here in the US. I worked at Nissan Motor Corp in the early to mid 1990's...back when the second gen Stanza was in production and I saw the introduction of the third gen called the Stanza Altima (later called just Altima). This one was built here in the US.

[@JD-eo7dr]

@@terbennett the Stanza and Bluebird are still 2 sperate models have a look on KZbin what a stanza looks like it ain't this

[@JonathanPorterfield]

Loved this episode Jonny , great that they saw 'The late brake show' as the platform to show it off ! 😀 Brilliant 👏

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Cheers Mr P. I really enjoyed driving it. Obviously not a cheap conversion, but a well thought through one. Merry Christmas to you and Ursula.

[@ceb19900]

Reminds me of every private hire cab in my childhood!

[@Lot76CARS]

Great initiative by Nissan. Loved the way it’s been done sympathetically, thanks for bringing it to us.

[@markydh3]

Great cars, a local taxi driver had one (UK) for donkey's years (probably over a decade), a darker blue than this one. Clocked up 625,000 miles before he sold it to a private buyer (but still driving without fault). A privilege to be driven home in after a night out!

[@lew7676]

Well, great episode (as per usual), and quite a touching memory for me, as the Nissan Bluebird was the first car I drove after passing my driving test. I was 17 years old, and was in my second year of my motor vehicle apprenticeship when my manage threw me the keys to a customers black 2.0 Bluebird, and told me take it up the road to the windscreen company. I felt I was living a dream, as car insurance was horrifically expensive in the early nineties, and here I was cruising in a 2.0 litre B’Bird. Such a dependable car, sadly forgotten by many, but doing things like conversion to EV will mean they won’t be lost to time. Great memories revived! Thanks Jonny.

[@JJonCars]

Well, I want one. The Bluebird was my first car, and an electric version would suit it really well I think. They're pretty quiet and fairly refined anyway for what they are, and with an electric motor I bet it's really well suited. All credit to Nissan for taking the effort (as you said Johnny) to actually build it! Reminds me, In 2016 I went up to Washington for the 30th anniversary of the factory/British Bluebird, and they were kind enough to show a group of us (Bluebird owners) around the factory and even provide bacon butties :)

[@markstephen6216]

I remember seeing those cars parked outside main reception in a line when I came in for a shift that day. About 6 or 7 there but I noticed there was no ZX turbo version like I had as I know how rare they had become. I had a quick walk round them as it took me back to when they were getting built and going down the line literally just inside the doors they were parked outside of One of them was pretty rough so not a show car but was still going obviously. We had a feature and photos on our online intranet about it and the pictures just brought the 80's straight back, when they were parked all over the plant - I still remember the last line of about 30 white bluebirds in the compound waiting to be shipped somewhere when the rest of the compound was full of new fangled Primera's !! There was also one bluebird used as an onsite pool car which went on to live driving about for a good 15 years before it was finally replaced !! Happy Days !!!

[@JJonCars]

​@@markstephen6216 Amazing Mark, thanks for sharing that. I remember when I was there, a bloke who had been working there since day one, had a southern accent (London?) that's why I remember him as it seemed out of place! I'd love to have a time machine and see all those new 'birds :D I quite liked the new fangled Primera that came after, but not as much as the Bluebird!

[@SD-tj5dh]

I always loved the idea of getting an old 80's coupe with pop up headlights, give it a full retro EV makeover, and replace the dash dials with digital dials and small CRT monitors with all the in car entertainment/driving animations done in c64 style graphics. Lots of Tron-Style Neon Edging decals too. Maybe a cheeky Knight rider grille.

[@mick5862]

Like the Mitsubishi in cannonball kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2nUcp6Ldp2NfJI

[@SD-tj5dh]

@@mick5862 that'll do it!

[@chrishinchliffe2512]

I have a 94 Volvo 480 es which I'm currently investigating the possibility of doing a full retro Ev makeover to 🤔

[@echo9911]

can't forget making it sound like a washing machine 😂

[@dougzirkle5951]

Loved seeing this one, especially seeing my old “Stanza”, your Bluebird. One of my favorite cars. Took it from Virginia out to Baja California and return. It was the one where it had two sparks per cylinder. Wonderful to see it EV’d!!

[@jctheU.G.SafariBigGamecat]

Ohh yeah I forgot about the "Stanza" nice reminder ahh ole Nissan's

[@dougzirkle5951]

@@jctheU.G.SafariBigGamecat I had the 2.0 l version. Really good running.

[@doranchesters7507]

Excellent video, my childhood family car was a 1.8 SLX bluebird on a C reg. My dad garaged it every night, it was immaculate. My dad always used to rave about the fact that it had disc brakes all round. Used to do many family adventures towing caravans, taking bikes and boats on the roof. Never missed a beat!

[@royster211085]

I think we need more of this kind of thinking and recycling. Kits would really boost the take-up of evs. Not in love with the gear dial, I'd prefer the auto stick, but that's just me

[@JSchroederee]

There are conversion kits out there for various car. VW was even officially working to put out a few kits to put out an e-up driveline conversions for classic Super Beetles.

[@echo9911]

seems a bit pointless converting classics to be honest, take what is a highlight of a classic car and make it more inline with a modern car, honestly don't see the point

[@forsh3546]

Great Vid and great conversion by Ed Byrnes!

[@easyrider75]

What I love about this is there isn’t any touch screens or fancy stuff. Everything feels very analogue and basic. Absolutely love it, completely agree that as part prices come down, taking old cars in excellent condition and converting them makes complete sense.

[@JohnnyZenith]

I wish I could get it done on a Mk1 Mx5/Eunos.

[@johnnywinstone]

Great episode. A mixture of nostalgia and progression! Great job.

[@RichieRouge206]

I absolutely love this. 80s with a modern twist. Perfect

[@sircompo]

I remember as a kid being out with my Dad looking for a used car. I saw a silver Bluebird amongst the cars and begged him to get it. Ten years later, it became my first car when he upgraded to a nasty Primera. I now own a 2012 Nissan Leaf, and feeling nostalgic for my old Bluebird I checked KZbin. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect video to pop up. Thanks Johnny.

[@mswain844]

My dad had a bluebird when I was a kid, and then a sunny after that, always have a soft spot for them.

[@TimInertiatic]

That's fantastic. I tend to skip over supercars as they are just dull, but an EV Bluebird is right up my street. Cars like this have character If I had the money, I'd end up with garages full of interesting EVd tat!

[@arachnenet2244]

I hadn't seen one of these before. One quick google search later and I've fallen in love with the estate variant. It's beautiful!

[@foisted]

I absolutely adore Bluebirds, have done since I was a kid (yes I'm weird). This would be my dream car.

[@FK2VtecTurbo]

Brings back memories of my old black Bluebird ZX Turbo D166 DJF loved that car

[@paulriggers1558]

how many clutches did you burn out?

[@FK2VtecTurbo]

@@paulriggers1558 ran it for nearly 2 years and replaced one clutch it was the rust on the sills and in the boot that condemned it. Engine was still going strong and almost ended up in a Cherry Turbo until life got in the way.

[@paulriggers1558]

@@FK2VtecTurbo yes, got a garage full of 32 valve v8 freelander myself, life in the way as well....

[@iainmarshall2514]

Great to see the Bluebird getting some fame. Used to be loads used as Taxis and my Father in laws Taxi retired with around 300,000 mls . Replaced with another low mileage Bluebird. long live the T72

[@bicyclist2]

I love the 80's paint scheme. I'm also glad to see a car updated instead of being scraped. I hope many more people do this to older cars. Thank you.

[@echo9911]

it's not like the petrol motor put it in any more risk of being scrapped though

[@manolete8441]

I would never buy a Nissan Leaf. But I would realy realy realy love to buy a Newbird!

[@alastairkippax]

Fantastic! Thanks for this episode Jonny. My dad had a 2.0 estate, I think it was a GS spec, he loved it and, on the back of that he bought Nissan Cabstar vans for work which were fabulous. Better times. Bravo Nissan. Bravo Kinghorn 👏🏻

[@ralfhedstrom]

That car is definitely one of the unsung heroes and also up here in Scandinavia (at that timne, in Sweden) we were talking about that car as a reliable car. A bit boring....but it was kind of a japanes Volvo 240 model :) and I distinctly remember it in a dark blue color (metallic I think it was). A really attractive package.

[@tritonsyc]

Great walk down memory lane Jonny, I worked at the plant march 1986 to sept 2018, so have fond memory's of the "Bluey". well done Kinghorn on a quality conversion.

[@markpirateuk]

I had both a saloon & hatchback Bluebirds, both cost less than £200, I had the hatchback for five years, the only outlay was a new battery, it never let me down, everything worked perfectly. Not the most desirable looking car, but comfortable & well built with bullet proof mechanicals.

[@DanielDrives]

Loved this video, Jonny. Big fan of the ol' Bluebird, so this EV version really does appeal to me. I hope we get to see more of these EV restomods as time marches on. Hope you had a lovely Christmas.

[@71MWhite]

Mate of mine had one back in the day- I remember being really impressed with the ride quality and the fact that everything was electric including the sunroof!

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

Man! If they do this car in the massive production and sell it for 20k. Than it will be super populair. A real affordable family car. Cheap because the ride already exists but with the latest technology! I would buy it without thinkong! Nissan this the way!

[@drawwithdan5821]

I saw this car today! Heading towards my village near Durham. I gave a thumbs up to the driver. If that was you, hello!

[@dg115]

As a Nissan leaf owner, I've had 3 of them all in different colours. I also love retro cars I'm going to love this lol.

[@HK.Builds]

This is amazing. The engineering gone into this is absolutely astounding, especially converting the signals to work with the gauges.

[@nr5494]

Was consulting for a London based co back in the 80’s and worked for 6 months at Waterford Crystal. Hired a Bluebird at Dublin airport and caned it down the backroads every Sunday night to Waterford. Great fun skating and slithering over bumpy roads at 80, in the dark & the rain. The car was totally predictable and dependable. Would love one of those.

[@kevinslitt]

My grandparents had 2l auto estate, in royal blue. Loved that car. Great vid.

[@Theoriginalramjammer]

The bluebird was a very much underrated car of its era as was its brilliant successor the Primera. I owned a Mk1 Primera 2.0 eGT hatch back in the day. It had a fantastic 150bhp twin cam red top motor that coupled with fantastic steering, a slick gear change and class leading handling made it a real ‘Q’ car. So good it was used as the platform for a fantastic BTCC campaign, and served as the benchmark for Ford used for the Mk1 Mondeo..

[@davekennedy6315]

A Bluebird that wasn't rusted away to nothing? I am impressed! My dad had a Bluebird estate as a company car. He has always looked after his company cars and used to clean and wax it. It was the only company car he owned that was already rusting before he got a new car (every 3 years I believe) I am not talking about a little tiny bit of rust, the Bluebird had rusting arches all round, rust on the tailgate, bonnet etc. He said it was a decent car to drive but no car should be rusting at 3 years old!

[@tdp2612]

Sounds like a Metro

[@1973miniclubman]

Would have been worth more standard. There’s no boot space and 130mile range 🤣 who in there right mind would go tho all this effort to create a car so useless. Rip bluebird

[@radioactivepotato2068]

My elderly neighbours had one. Cream. Been gone three or four years, but they had it as long as I can remember. Maybe 1987. The car for it's whole life came out of its garage, from under blankets, once a week, for shopping. Thing was immaculate. Sounded like a sewing machine given its age. Not my sort of car, but the Bluebird feels part of me.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

I now want to find that car!

[@dannyc4871]

Interesting concept. I’m glad you referred to the Santa Pod Bluebird as the car has always stood out to me when I’ve been to the pod.

[@Hawx-Motorsport]

Great video! I work at Nissan in Sunderland and its cool to see a car built in the north east on the LBS!

[@antman5474]

I was given a Casio VL tone for Christmas when they were new, I'd forgotten all about it till now. That demo is now stuck in my head. It's some cheesy German folk song if my memory serves me well. I'm even whistling it now and probably will do for days. Cheers for that...

[@bikecommuter24]

Not to mention how many family memories these cars bring back, trips to the beach, to go see Gram and Grandad on Holiday, borrowing your parents car to go on a date, bringing the new babies home, you usually don't get those memories in a sports or exotic car, those are made for other types of memories.

[@YsanneOshea]

Drove a 2.0L diesel Bluebird as a cab. 380000 miles, minimal attention, totally reliable, as rough as you like, I'd buy another one tomorrow (but not with an internal combustion engine of course!)

[@jordiboadella83]

Hi jonny. First, as always great video. Second a wish for a 2022. 4K in your videos would be amazing!!!!

[@pkf4124]

This proves there is a potential market for old car EV conversions, in this country.

[@matthewwatson4970]

Great video as always Jonny and George is a really good guy, I sold him my old 24kWh LEAF and remember talking to him about this project.

[@joebrudenell9490]

Another brilliant video Jonny. God I want this. I had a 1.8 saloon. I’d pay through the nose for this !

[@151CHAVIN]

My first ever legal car had it for a few years best car i ever had never let me down!

[@kindtaeto]

This looks amazing!

[@jammyone100]

Took right down memory lane. Had 2 bluebirds. One a red auto 1.8 hatchback and 1 a blue saloon 1.6, great cars never let me down. Thanks for this one Johnny 👍

[@nickmassey9104]

Love it .the illuminated front badge I bet a good solicitor would say its legal after all remember wolseley had them fitted .Great video

[@user-ih7gc7dt9l]

Please next time point the camera at the thing the guy is referring too.

[@neilowen9468]

Another diverse and interesting video Jonny! Made me think of my school days where the deputy head had a dark blue metallic Bluebird saloon. It always looked great next to the bangers other teachers drove...!

[@stevenwhite5866]

Joined Nissan 1988 as we were preparing the left hand drive Bluebird. Amazing memories now..

[@stippolyte]

Another broadcast+ quality production from JS and TLBS.

[@neildaniel8232]

There's an old couple in Cardiff who bought each other new cars when they each retired: a '94 Nissan Micra and a '89 Nissan Bluebird. Both still in daily use now and both in immaculate condition. They're hardly used these days but always brings a smile to my face when I see them running around. Hopefully the next generation will be able to have the option of converting them to EV and keeping things like that going for years to come if ICE is ever banned from cities.

[@echo9911]

I highly doubt that they'll ban ICEs, they're already being phased out as is. currently just seems like a heavy, less efficient alternative honestly

[@jctheU.G.SafariBigGamecat]

My Grandad had 2 Bluebirds, his 2nd one was a nice beefy diesel in white with colour coded bumpers, such a quality motor. Good memories J nice throwback episode, much appreciated 🙂🎅☃️🎄⛄ I remember the bluebird was a very popular private taxi choice so you know they were reliable.

[@philspencelayh5464]

Interesting video. Worked for a company in the 80s that had a fleet of nissans mainly sunny's. Truly horrendous things, the longest any of them went before the rust bubbled up was three months so amazed to see that Blubird. Shows the Japanese ethos to see the improvement of the current production.

[@brilliantroads]

Love this, though I would've loved to see the original auto-shift-lever to be converted to work with the motors

[@energiewender143]

Beautiful visibility from inside.

[@vokstar]

Delayed watching this one a bit because didn't think I would enjoy the vid, but what a great thing it is. Jonny is spot on too, I don't understand why you would convert a sports car to electric. They are sports cars and compromised for daily commuting type use and people see them everywhere anyway, far better to find something old and interesting to convert to use for that like this Newbird.

[@JohnnyZenith]

I could listen to that guy talk all day. Lovely manner and voice. Johnny's alright too.

[@stevewaghorn2029]

Totally get this conversion. I have converted an Austin Metro to EV with the same Leaf drive train, why a Metro?... Because you can!.....

[@TestTest-eb8jr]

They could have called it the Green Bird... I've owned a turbo version for a couple of months back in the days and I'd happily go back to that with a 200 hp EV conversion.... I just love the 1980-s styling.... and I don't care for all the new fangled gadgetry at all (a working radio/mp3 player and a stand alone navi is good enough for me)

[@DuvJones]

Honestly when it comes to resto mods, there is an art when it comes to the gadgetty. I kind of like the fact that they left it relatively stock, like you had probably replaced that tape player with a small MP3 player or something but the old tech does leave in a kind of character that you just don't see anymore. It is neat.

[@themightywrighty]

Somebody near me had a bluebird just like that, up until a few years ago. I surprised how long it must have lasted.

[@matthewjenkins1161]

Ah the old Casio demo tune. Who wouldn't buy a Newbird today if available? Amazing conversion very well executed.

[@drewsteroriginals4564]

Great video, I think I had one of those keyboards! Such a sympathetic build, looks awesome!

[@kidnitr0]

I had 2 ZX turbos. One was a T12 and the other one was a T72. Both black. Lovely to drive and fairly quick for a larger family car.

[@Preske]

is it me, or is johnny's voice inside the cab slightly higher? almost sounds he did a puff of helium? Anyway, I would live to convert my current car. It's a w169 MB, so it's already prepared for it, as an electric test version already existed. If only the money was there.

[@matthewmason8982]

I thought that, too. Wondered if I’d accidentally pushed the high speed button.

[@MrOvershoot]

Yes I thought there was a sync issue where his voice was 1/16th faster almost like he had sat on his clacker sack?

[@winkcla]

I was thinking maybe the background noise removal or just regular audio cleanup messed up the audio during editing 🤔

[@paulpobsanderson6219]

I had a G reg Black Bluebird 1.8 GS. Absolutely loved it. George looks like Malcom Wilson of MSport.

[@charlesstuart5790]

I really enjoyed that! Many years ago I drove a taxi in Camberley and the first car I drove was a Nissan Bluebird. It was a really nice drive. I would love to have that electrified version, though about 50 more miles' range would be useful.

[@Rjhs001]

I had a 1.6 LS hatchback in that very blue colour. Fabulous, indestructible car but for the 0-60 time you needed a calendar.

[@SteveMorton]

Another great video. Seeing the Leaf parked next to the Bluebird/Newbird proves how much cars have got bigger over the years. Sadly here in France EV conversions have to go through a homologation process, so the models that are approved for this type of conversion is fairly limited at present. I would love to get my VW Touran converted from Diesel to EV... but not just yet..

[@zzhughesd]

Just loving this video. Decals. The very Britishness.

[@catmantech]

Very fitting for an episode just after Christmas... 🎶 Gone away has the bluebird, here to stay is the new bird... 🎶

[@markridgway8469]

♫ Gone away is the bluebird Here to stay is a new bird ♫ Very seasonal...

[@besenzon1]

Thank you Jonny for another great and informative video. Must have been a great project for Kinghorn EV. I guess they had a nice budget to play with ? George was definitely the right person for the job.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

A sizeable budget. George mentioned a conversion like this starts at £35k.

[@besenzon1]

@@TheLateBrakeShow shame its so expensive. Did you get my Messenger regarding Andy Saunders ? I'm Noel

[@Everything_Evan]

Lovely cars we had the Premium which was the absolute base model. Only downside to owning it was random people getting in the back thinking It was a taxi 🤣

[@knowledgebyte]

That’s what I live about the e-golf, old style with new styling and drive-chain. I regularly use the AACC, aka cruise control to tail Volvo XC 90 wedges and the like. I use the power meter to measure just how much tow and therefore drag these big wedges give off behind them. I keep at a safe distance mind you, but it’s amazing, cruising behind big motorway luggers doing 20-30MPG and doing 3.9 miles per KWH in the winter. I see more retro-mods like the Nissan becoming the norm. It makes far more sense to convert existing road-stock than replace with new. My heart is set on a Porsche Boxster 3.2S conversion as I’ve owned a couple of them and they are brilliant drivers cars.

[@apanda1662]

I had 2 blue birds, I loved them, really a quality car and very comfortable,

[@12uniflew]

This is amazing my respect for you has gone above and beyond now!! an EV Bluebird omg how i love bluebirds this made my entire year, thank you so much for saving this beauty and doing a restomod seriously incredible vid thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@teslafudge1585]

Had a 90 Acura Integra, this is the UK step cousin. Those gauges take me back. Mine also had manual door locks but a power sunroof. So good.

[@888johnmac]

acura was Honda , this is nissan .. not even distant cousins

[@christopherstorey8326]

Loved the video.my first car was a nissan sunny 1.4 G reg looked like the bluebird.mine was the saloon.i cried when I parted with it,but I got another nissan it was the micra.loved that one to.i also had one of those casio keyboards.Happy Days.

[@chrishumble8662]

Drive past the Nissan factory regularly and still have fond memories from a school trip that took us there in the early 90s. Memories include the Rear windows of 3 door K11 Micras being fitted with a rubber mallet, seeing how hard the cars were driven around the post production line test track and being told black top spec Primeras were built to be shipped back to Japan where they were a status symbols as they were built abroad.

[@StuTubed]

So that's why those windows are so hard to remove.

[@Ashfielder]

One of these days I’ll pick one of these up, seems like an affordable classic that can be used every day with ease.

[@philstpier3495]

Love it... I'd like an EV Silvia from that era

[@MarcCoteMusic]

Great episode, Jonny. Quick question... were you recording at different frame rates (24 and 25 fps, perhaps)? At 8:30 your voice pitches up a bit... Maybe you were excited about the drive. :-)

[@1one3_Racing]

The Bluebird was actually a pretty good car. It sold terribly here in Australia but they were unstoppable.

[@Getouttahere78]

A normal fuel gauge that actually shows the amount of charge left over 🤔 Now that is the kind of attention to detail that makes an EV stand out from others. This what an EV should be like. 👍👍 No overpriced Tesla for me

[@turningpoint4238]

Guess by the long waiting time for Tesla's to be available plenty of people think they aren't over priced. Give me a Tesla for traveling from A to B and something like a Super 7 for fun.

[@timbre7999]

Wonderful this Newbird and soooo nice to see Nissan Leaf material used, for once not stuff from you-know-what. This is great, we need more Japanese/British/German tech EVs and certainly more EV conversions like this one. Well done Nissan!

[@vanillacoffee]

Would love to see a video on your watch collection Mr Smith. Great subtle flexing with the digital in this video sir.

[@rockhouserenovation2264]

I.spotted that. I have the same one I think :)

[@sunderland97]

Nissan should drop the leaf and start making the newbird

[@drawwithdan5821]

Another great video Jonny. Just something i noticed - it might be me but your voice in this video seems to be slightly higher pitched? (mainly on the in-car driving shots) Not massively...but yeah. Anyone else noticed that?

[@gtametro]

My brother had a Gr reg 2 litre, metallic blue with blue velour interior. Lovely car

[@Zed_Zone]

Legendary cars...there were plenty of these in the family back in the 90s

[@mikeolly67]

I was selling Nissan at the time of the bluebird, I had a brand new 1.6LS saloon in white for a while, E500 EEO, even though it was a base spec, it had electric windows and sunroof which was pretty unheard of in the late 80’s. I actually grew fond of it.

[@whitemoor66]

Really like this and your original competitor comments got me thinking how nice a late Montego converted to electric would be, although that's probably just me!!