Dome Zero
Encyclopedia
The was a prototype sportscar from DOME Co. Ltd that was exhibited at the 48th Geneva Auto Show. The 'Dome Project', started by Minoru Hayashi in 1975, had the goal of producing small volume sports cars using knowledge gained from his racing exploits. The Dome Zero was the first of such low volume sportscars, and after failed attempts at getting Japan
ese domestic homologation their efforts were concentrated on overseas homologation. The project would never be completed.
, a prospect that had full support from his employees. Getting funds to be able to compete at Le Mans became a top priority, and being able to sell some low volume sportscars would help, too.
The Dome Zero prototype was completed in time for the 48th Geneva Auto Show in 1978 where it was the hit of the show and had received a lot of attention from various investors and interested buyers, but as mentioned earlier, Japanese homologation was discouraged. This led to more energy being committed to a second prototype road car and the Le Mans endeavour, which began the following year from 1979 until 1986.
It is not entirely clear exactly why the Dome Zero (structurally) failed to achieve Japanese homologation for such a successful concept car, but what is clear is that homologation rules were very strict at that time in Japan
, and DOME did not have the funds to go through with the costly homologation procedure - which Japanese mainstream auto makers with their giant budgets had no trouble doing.
Failure to achieve Japanese homologation led to the development of the Dome Zero P2, a car made specifically for the international market.
The P2 had unsightly large front and rear bumpers added (for the US market) and various other structural strengthening. Even so, the car was shown at the Chicago
and Los Angeles
motor shows in 1979 and had rave reviews from the US Road and Track magazine. It was at this point, Hayashi realized a high profile could be had by making a Dome Zero racing car dubbed the 'RL'. The RL was raced at the 24 hours of Le Mans
motor race in 1979 but failed to finish, and only managed a last place finish in 1980. It was at this time that DOME dropped the Zero road and race car projects altogether and continued contesting the 24 hours of Le Mans
motor race with other cars until 1986.
The Dome Zero was not really a supercar by today's standards, but for Japanese privateer carmakers at the time, it was an incredible step forward. It was by no means powerful with its 2.8L L28 SOHC inline six cylinder engine producing 145 PS (105 kW), but it only had to propel a 920 kg (2,028 lb) chassis. With this engine, the Dome Zero offered a power-to-weight ratio that closely matched Porsches of the day. http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/07/the-japanese-supercar-that-almost-was-the-dome-zero/
The Dome Zero P2 was to sell for around 400,000 Japanese Yen or 32,820 American Dollars.
A silver Zero also features as a special prize car in the Xbox game SEGA GT 2002
and drivable from the start of SEGA GT Online.
It also makes an appearance in Gran Turismo 4
as a prize for getting all gold in the International A license.
The DOME-ZERO CONCEPT ’78 (Standard) is also won as a prize for completing the Supercar Nostalgia Cup in Gran Turismo 5
for PlayStation 3. The car has also appeared in an episode of Yatterman
, an anime.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese domestic homologation their efforts were concentrated on overseas homologation. The project would never be completed.
Genesis of the Dome Zero
The initial design of the Zero started in 1976 with most of the work done on the prototype done by the end of the following year. It was at this time that Hayashi first had the idea to be able to compete at 24 hours of Le Mans24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, a prospect that had full support from his employees. Getting funds to be able to compete at Le Mans became a top priority, and being able to sell some low volume sportscars would help, too.
The Dome Zero prototype was completed in time for the 48th Geneva Auto Show in 1978 where it was the hit of the show and had received a lot of attention from various investors and interested buyers, but as mentioned earlier, Japanese homologation was discouraged. This led to more energy being committed to a second prototype road car and the Le Mans endeavour, which began the following year from 1979 until 1986.
It is not entirely clear exactly why the Dome Zero (structurally) failed to achieve Japanese homologation for such a successful concept car, but what is clear is that homologation rules were very strict at that time in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and DOME did not have the funds to go through with the costly homologation procedure - which Japanese mainstream auto makers with their giant budgets had no trouble doing.
Zero P2 and racing at Le Mans
The P2 had unsightly large front and rear bumpers added (for the US market) and various other structural strengthening. Even so, the car was shown at the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
motor shows in 1979 and had rave reviews from the US Road and Track magazine. It was at this point, Hayashi realized a high profile could be had by making a Dome Zero racing car dubbed the 'RL'. The RL was raced at the 24 hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
motor race in 1979 but failed to finish, and only managed a last place finish in 1980. It was at this time that DOME dropped the Zero road and race car projects altogether and continued contesting the 24 hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
motor race with other cars until 1986.
The Dome Zero was not really a supercar by today's standards, but for Japanese privateer carmakers at the time, it was an incredible step forward. It was by no means powerful with its 2.8L L28 SOHC inline six cylinder engine producing 145 PS (105 kW), but it only had to propel a 920 kg (2,028 lb) chassis. With this engine, the Dome Zero offered a power-to-weight ratio that closely matched Porsches of the day. http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/07/the-japanese-supercar-that-almost-was-the-dome-zero/
The Dome Zero P2 was to sell for around 400,000 Japanese Yen or 32,820 American Dollars.
In Pop Culture
The Dome Zero was the inspiration behind the Transformers Classics series figure of Transformers Generation 1 character Hot Rod. It was made into a toy in 2006, labeled with the character's alternate name Rodimus due to trademark issues with "Hot Rod".A silver Zero also features as a special prize car in the Xbox game SEGA GT 2002
Sega GT 2002
Sega GT 2002 is the sequel to Wow Entertainment's Racing Game Sega GT, released in Japan late in 2002 as a competitor to the PlayStation 2's highly successful Gran Turismo 3. The game was originally intended to be released for the Dreamcast, but when the Dreamcast was discontinued in 2001, the game...
and drivable from the start of SEGA GT Online.
It also makes an appearance in Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4
is a racing simulator for the Sony PlayStation 2 which was developed by Polyphony Digital. It was released on December 28, 2004 in Japan and Hong Kong , February 22, 2005 in North America , and March 9, 2005 in Europe , and has since been re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line...
as a prize for getting all gold in the International A license.
The DOME-ZERO CONCEPT ’78 (Standard) is also won as a prize for completing the Supercar Nostalgia Cup in Gran Turismo 5
Gran Turismo 5
is the fifth edition of the Gran Turismo racing video game series. Developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was released for PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010...
for PlayStation 3. The car has also appeared in an episode of Yatterman
Yatterman
is a Japanese anime television series broadcast from January 1, 1977 to January 27, 1979, comprising 108 episodes. It is the second and longest show in the Time Bokan series by Tatsunoko Productions...
, an anime.
Specifications
- Chassis: MR - (mid engine rear wheel drive)
- Engine: straight-6Straight-6The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
Nissan L28Nissan L engineThe Nissan L series of automobile engines ranged from 1.3 L to 2.8 L in both straight-4 and straight-6 configurations and were produced from 1967 through 1986. This was the engine of the Datsun 240Z sports car as well as the Datsun 510 and the first Nissan Maxima. These engines are known for their... - Capacity: 2753 cc
- Power: 145 PS
- Torque: 23 kgm
- Transmission: 5 speed MT
- Weight: 920 kg (2,028 lb)
- Brakes: Ventilated disks/solid disks
- Suspension: Double wishbone/coils
- Tyre: 185/60/VR13 Front, 255/55/VR14 Rear
External links
- This Japanese webpage features several great photographs of the Dome Zero supercar.
- Dome Zero Car Museum