0
0
« Jay Leno and Don Prudhomme Check Out the Hot Wheels ‘Cuda CarDomain Blog Home Hemmings Find of the Day – 1933 Diamond T »
December 16, 2009
Interesting Piece of JDM x Italian Supercar History
By Ben Schaffer
The Real JDM
During my past trip to Japan I had dinner with one of my friends who is a famous aero parts designer. In the course of the evening’s conversation on design he schooled me on something that I should have known but never did…and it blew my mind!
Did you all know that the Lamborghini Diablo uses Z32 300ZX (Fairlady Z) headlights? I consider myself to be a bit of a car nerd and I had no idea of this fascinating fact, which looking back is quite an embarrassment because I should know things like this!!!
Continue reading after the jump!
Anyway, its a pretty fascinating story. The Lambo uses the exact OEM Nissan headlight with no modifications. The headlight even says Nissan on it, although Lamborghini put a carbon fiber strip over the Nissan markings to save face with Lamborghini clientele who just paid a hell of a lot of money for Z32 parts bin headlights.
Our discussion reached this topic when we were discussing just how expensive it is to produce custom headlights. The example given to me was that even well established car companies like Lamborghini often will use existing products to keep development costs reasonable on their cars.
Another example he gave me was the Lotus Esprit using AE86 Corolla/Levin tail lights. I’ve later found that the Saleen S7 and Pagani Zonda use the same tail lights. I suspect there are dozens of stories like this, so feel free to share if you have more to add!
I apologize to those of you who already knew this, but IMO this is must know information for any car nut out there. I wish someone would have told me these cool facts earlier! I was truly in disbelief at the idea of a Lamborghini using Z32 headlights, its amazing they pulled it off without getting more heat from the press and their customers!
Comments
Post a comment
Please login to CarDomain to post a comment.
retroman
Dec 18, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Wanna hear something really messed up?? The humble Ford Festiva was designed by Mazda, built by Kia, and sold by Ford. Talk about an identity crisis!!
Katakuna
Dec 18, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Did you know that the wheels made for M-series BMWs are made in Frankfort, Kentucky? They make all sorts of different OEM wheels for BMWs in that factory.
Katakuna
Dec 18, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Oh my god… I actually never realized it.
-
Another example would be the Lincoln Mark IV which uses the grille of the Rolls-Royce sedan whose name fails me right now.
-
The Tucker Torpedo used tons of parts lifted straight from other makes and models.
kbevere
Dec 18, 2009 at 12:15 pm
whatever no big deal im sure there a lot more of that going on with all car makers.
IGGY12003
Dec 18, 2009 at 11:58 am
oh yeah!! did u know that the same beans we use in our carne asada burritos are the same beans they use in mexico and the cost 3/4 less out there!!! ohh snaps bet u didnt know that one!! 2 points for me
Vuurwa
Dec 18, 2009 at 11:32 am
I did`nt know all these facts!..thanks for the info!….it did`nt change a single thing though!!..it stays my DREAM CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LONG LIVE THE LAMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MagicSpin
Dec 18, 2009 at 10:48 am
The Lamborghini Murcielago (250.000 €) and a Volkswagen Golf (23.000 €) both are equipped with the same powered window button. The spare part for the Lambo goes for about 85 € and the same part for the Golf for 25 €. But both have the same VW parts number on it!
nissan versa
Dec 18, 2009 at 9:29 am
[...] Interesting Piece of JDM x Italian Supercar History ? CarDomain Blog [...]
T_aten_the_shit
Dec 17, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Hummer uses the same interior air vents as the Pontiac Aztek
kylestlouis
Dec 17, 2009 at 4:10 pm
idk what its called but one of the chevy crossovers uses the 2010 camaro tail lights. i know it the same company but still.lol
Spyider
Dec 17, 2009 at 9:43 am
Geo Prizm parts and toyota Corolla are all interchangeable bassicly.
GTwildfire
Dec 17, 2009 at 9:42 am
The Durango used inverted Dodge Caravan tail lights. There must be thousands, if not more examples of auto makers going next door for a cup of sugar…
edub25
Dec 17, 2009 at 9:14 am
wow…never noticed that
Mbeezy3405
Dec 17, 2009 at 9:04 am
“trh1987:Lamborghini’s wheels are manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio by a company called Alcoa and shipped to Italy for final assembly.”
Somebody was watching ultimate factories recently
merriam
Dec 17, 2009 at 8:22 am
Harley Davidson’s proud V-twin engine created in Japan.
trh1987
Dec 16, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Lamborghini’s wheels are manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio by a company called Alcoa and shipped to Italy for final assembly.
HotHeadRacing
Dec 16, 2009 at 6:05 pm
if you look at the SSC Ultimate Aero it uses 1st gen Focus HIDs
magus2222
Dec 16, 2009 at 6:02 pm
makes sense with the ae86 and the esprit, seeing as toyota owns lotus……….
harvak3
Dec 16, 2009 at 6:01 pm
well this is not the only time things are borrowed from someoneelse and it will not be the last
ILLUDE-U
Dec 16, 2009 at 4:44 pm
the headlights on a 89-97 hardbody,toyota pickup88-96,chevorlet c10 89-93,78-80 volvo 24dl,and the 86-97 jeep cherokee use the same headlights….h5064s..Oh and it looks like the lights on a 2009 kia sedan and the 2004-07 acura tl lights are the same except the tls are black Im not sure on this.. but they look alike.
XTZTwinTurbo
Dec 16, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I knew this. But I thought it was just for the kit cars. I was under the impression that the headlights looked similar on the Lambo, to the Z32, but I did not know they were one in the same. Some 99 jspecs would look nice. I have a pair on mine
_Engineer
Dec 16, 2009 at 3:46 pm
The Diablo also shares the same taillights as the Zonda and the Saleen. Most buses in France also have those taillights!!
Apparently the Miura and the DeTomaso Pantera shares the taillights from the Fiat 850…
Bourkemaster
Dec 16, 2009 at 11:32 am
Fun fact: Volvo used to use 13″ stadium light canisters in their late 70′s to early 80′s vehicles. Also, the dome light in the Nissan Versa is borrowed from AMG.
retroman
Dec 16, 2009 at 11:20 am
Hmmm… Interesting. I’d be interested in seeing a followup on this. You could even use it for the “6 Degrees of Seperation” blog if need be.