Hino goes retro for Team 18 on the Goldie

“Hino is renowned for our track record with Hino Team Sugawara racing trucks in the grueling Dakar Rally,” said Richard Emery, Vice President Brand and Franchise Development for Hino Australia.

“But this striking red livery is actually inspired by our brief, little-known foray into car racing in the 1960s,” he continued.

Following a 1-2 finish on debut in 1966 at California’s Riverside Raceway in front of 100,000 fans with a race version of the 1300cc Hino Contessas, the famous American automotive designer Peter Brock created a Hino 'Team Samurai' prototype, which he intended to enter in the 1967 Japanese Grand Prix and Le Mans.

“It was a hailed a ‘styling triumph’ featuring in several magazines and displayed at motor shows, but ultimately it didn’t compete in the Japanese Grand Prix due to a steward’s ruling that it had insufficient ground clearance,” said Mr Emery.

“A merger with Toyota in 1967 ended Hino’s production of cars and racing program, and the ‘Team Samurai’ prototype remained just that, a prototype.”

Hino has over 80 years of global experience in design and innovation, predominantly in trucks, and has been supplying the Australian market with quality trucks and buses for almost 60 years.

“The story of our involvement in car production is one that is rarely told,” said Mr Emery.

“In 1953 Hino became a private car manufacturer, initially assembling another brand’s car under licence.”

This evolved into Hino introducing its own four-door rear-engine saloon, a Hino Contessa 900 PC in 1961.

“The range was imported into various markets including Australia – the racing program with Peter Brock was a marketing exercise to promote Hino to the American market.”

“Similarly, our long-standing involvement in Supercars including our partnership with Team 18 is a brand-building one that continues to reap rewards for us – this is the fifth time the Hino #20 Camaro will hit the track this year, we wanted it to truly stand out in front of one of the biggest Supercars spectator events this year,” concluded Mr Emery.

Team 18 Team Owner Charlie Schwerkolt said: "It's a tremendous honour for Team 18 to showcase Hino's historic Samurai livery on Scott Pye's Camaro at the Gold Coast 500.

“This unique design pays homage to Hino's short but remarkable history in car racing, a story that's often overlooked.

"Our Hino #20 Camaro is set to shine on the streets of Surfers Paradise, and we’re looking forward to racing with the spirit and heritage of Hino by our side as we race in front of the thousands of fans at the Gold Coast.”

The 2023 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 will take place from 27 to 29 October 2023 on the streets of Surfers Paradise.