Kurosake has stood as one of the most successful and globally recognized brands in the automotive industry. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of its foundation, we proudly present a curated collection of the records, stories, and achievements that have defined our legacy and marked our journey through the decades.
This retrospective brings together the history that has driven Kurosake forward—highlighting the perseverance, vision, and dedication that have enabled us to become one of the most influential names in automotive history.
We invite you to explore our collection of photographs, articles, and videos, carefully restored and selected to preserve and showcase the rich history of Kurosake. From its humble beginnings to the present day, each piece reflects the innovation, passion, and determination that have defined the brand for generations.
Articles
In this section, you will find a collection of articles published through the forum, documenting the history of the brand across the decades. Feel free to explore them and follow along as new articles are regularly added, continuing to expand the story of Kurosake and its enduring legacy.
1940 - 1950: The Origins
Our story begins with our founder, Shinji Kurosake, who was born in 1913 in the city of Tharomi, Dalluha. Shinji was the son of a aeronautic engineer and a schoolteacher. From an early age, he developed a fascination with machinery, often spending countless hours observing and assisting his father with mechanical projects. This early exposure laid the foundation for what would later become a lifelong passion for engineering and innovation.
After completing his primary education with outstanding results, Shinji pursued higher studies abroad, enrolling at the prestigious Technical University of Fruinia. However, it was outside the classroom where Shinji discovered his true passion. While traveling throughout Fruinia, he became captivated by the rapidly growing world of automobile racing.
Upon graduating with honors, Shinji remained in Fruinia and began participating in various racing events across the country even in the unforgiving Mille Monti achieving average results. Working alongside a small group of friends, he modified commercial vehicles. Although the team achieved respectable results and gained valuable experience, their successes were often limited by the inherent constraints of the production cars they relied upon.
As the years passed, Shinji grew increasingly frustrated by these limitations. No matter how much effort was invested in refining existing vehicles, he believed true performance could only be achieved by designing a machine from the ground up. During this period, he revisited a sports car concept he had envisioned years earlier, a vehicle engineered specifically to deliver the driving experience he believed enthusiasts and racers deserved.
Despite his affection for Fruinia and the opportunities it had provided, Shinji recognized the immense challenge of establishing a new automotive company in a market already dominated by powerful and well-established manufacturers. Rather than competing on unfavorable terms, he chose to return to his hometown Tharomi, where he believed he could build something truly unique.
With the unwavering support of his family, friends, and former racing colleagues, Shinji transformed his vision into reality culminating in the founding of Kurosake Motors Ltd., a company built upon the principles of engineering excellence, innovation, and a passion for performance. What began as the dream of a young engineer and racing enthusiast would eventually grow into a respected automotive manufacturer, carrying Shinji Kurosake’s vision far beyond the streets of Tharomi and into automotive history.
1950 - 1960: Kurosake Motors Ltd. is born
While studying engineering, Shinji Kurosake had already begun developing the concept for a sports car. His designs and calculations demonstrated a remarkable engineering potential, but a new challenge emerged: transforming ambitious concepts into a viable manufacturing operation with limited financial resources.
Determined to bring his vision to life, Shinji gathered support from family and friends and established the first Kurosake HQ on the outskirts of Tharomi. What began as a modest workshop would later become one of the most significant sites in the company’s history. Today, the original factory stands within the city Centre and serves as the home of the Kurosake Innovation and R&D Center.
Shinji made the strategic decision to source an existing powertrain rather than develop his own engine from the ground up. He secured a partnership with Al-Rilma Motor Company, which agreed to supply inline-six engines for Kurosake’s first production vehicles. This collaboration allowed the young company to focus its resources on vehicle engineering, manufacturing processes, and product refinement.
With the foundation in place, Shinji began sourcing materials and recruiting a skilled workforce while finalizing the engineering requirements necessary for production. The project would ultimately become known as the Ichi , meaning “One”, as the first car Shinji is going to manufacture
After four months of intensive work, the first Ichi was completed. It was finished in Victory White , a color that would later become one of the most iconic tones in Kurosake’s sports car heritage. Unfortunately, we could only find this paint on historical records of the original car. Most surviving examples were either repainted over the decades or originally delivered in the two other factory color options: Cool Red and Coral Black .
Initial testing of the Ichi proved highly successful. Although Shinji remained committed to continuous improvement and recognized that further engineering development would be necessary, the vehicle quickly gained popularity throughout Dalluha and Fruinia.
Driven by gratitude toward the country where his automotive dream had taken shape, Shinji personally negotiated export arrangements to introduce the Ichi to Fruinia. These early international sales not only expanded Kurosake’s reach but also demonstrated that Dalluha was capable of producing sports cars that could compete beyond its borders.
1953: The Nightlife of Basara
The Kurosake Ichi proved to be a successful first step for the company. By the end of its production run, nearly 1,000 cars had been sold, with most of them finding homes in Fruinia, where the Ichi quickly gained a reputation as an affordable and exciting sports car.
Its biggest achievement for the model came when a privately entered Ichi drove by a younger Franco Lissa won the Mille Monti in the up to 2.5L class. Although it wasn’t a factory effort, the victory gave Kurosake valuable exposure and helped increase demand in Fruinia. As sales continued to grow in Fruinia, Shinji found himself traveling constantly between there and Dalluha, managing both the factory in Tharomi and the company’s growing Fruinian market as a salesman in Treno.
To make those trips easier, Shinji moved to Basara , Dalluha’s capital. The city offered a convenient location between the international airport and the factory, but it also introduced him to a completely different world.
Despite beign a Dalluhan, Shinji never visited Basara, but as he was settling in the city, he quickly became well known among Basara’s business and social circles. As one of the country’s youngest automotive engineers, he was frequently invited to dinners, private clubs, and gatherings attended by politicians, entrepreneurs, bankers, and even members of the royal family.
It was during those evenings that he noticed a common opinion among Dalluha’s elite. While they admired the Ichi and respected what Kurosake had achieved in such a short time, they believed the country still lacked a true luxury automobile. Those who could afford one almost always chose prestigious cars imported from Fruinia or Gasmea, which offered a level of comfort, refinement, and exclusivity that local manufacturers had yet to match.
Shinji later recalled that, during one of Basara’s social gatherings, a respected oil magnate approached him with a piece of advice: “Shinji, not every fast car has to be a coffin on wheels.”
The remark reflected a broader reality of Dalluha’s luxury market. Unlike Fruinia, where buyers often prioritized outright performance and racing pedigree, Dalluhan customers valued comfort, refinement, and effortless grand touring just as much as speed. Combined with his experiences in Basara’s vibrant nightlife and conversations with the country’s elite, Shinji began to see an opportunity for Kurosake to enter a completely different segment. It was there that the first ideas for a luxurious grand touring car began to take shape.
That project would eventually become the Kurosake Nocturne .
Inspired by Basara’s lively nightlife, the Nocturne captured the style and optimism of the early 1950s. It was based on the same inline-six platform as the Ichi, but almost every part of the car was refined. The engine was smoother and more reliable, the suspension was tuned for comfort, and the cabin was designed to make long-distance travel effortless.
The Nocturne was built with Dalluha’s upper class in mind, yet it also attracted a handful of buyers from abroad who appreciated its unique character. Most cars left the factory painted in Astral Purple, a color inspired by the city’s night sky, although customers could personalize nearly every aspect of the vehicle to suit their own tastes. Fortunately, we could photograph a timeless Nocturne in Astral Purple that you can find in our photo library
As confidence in the project grew, so did Kurosake’s ambitions. With financial backing from several of Basara’s leading banks, Shinji approved the construction of a second factory in the capital. The new facility would become the home of the Nocturne and future ambitious projects, while the original factory in Tharomi continued producing and improving the Ichi.
Looking back, the move to Basara was about much more than opening another factory. It exposed Shinji to a new audience, changed the way he thought about automobiles, and led to the creation of one of Kurosake’s most important models. Without the nights spent in Basara, the Nocturne might never have existed.
The Kurosake Nocturne was warmly received as a luxury Grand Tourer, quickly becoming a familiar sight along Basara’s boulevards, upscale hotels, and nightlife districts. It was equally at home cruising through the capital’s evening streets as it was covering long distances across Dalluha in comfort, earning a reputation as the ideal car for those who valued refinement without sacrificing performance.
Despite designing the Nocturne with luxury as its main priority, Shinji’s passion for speed had not disappeared. Determined to prove that comfort and performance could coexist, he staged an unforgettable demonstration. Late one night, with traffic at a minimum, Shinji personally drove a Nocturne at full speed along the highway between Basara and Al Rilma. Other rumors stated that the Stunt came from a bet between Shinji and other Basaran Socialite to challenge his car.
The run quickly became the subject of conversation throughout the country. Reports claimed that the Nocturne completed the journey in a time remarkably close to that of the express train connecting the two cities—an extraordinary achievement for a large luxury automobile of its era.
More importantly, the demonstration reinforced the philosophy behind the Nocturne. Shinji wanted to show that high-speed travel did not have to be reserved for racing drivers or stripped-down sports cars. The Nocturne allowed an ordinary driver to travel quickly, comfortably, and with confidence, making long-distance journeys feel effortless. The story spread rapidly and became one of the model’s earliest legends, helping attract a new wave of customers who admired its unique balance of elegance and performance.
1960 - 1970
Stay Tuned
1970 - 1980
Stay Tuned
1980 - 1990
Stay Tuned
1990 - 2000
Stay Tuned
2000 - 2010
Stay Tuned
2010 - 2020
Stay Tuned
Video Resumee
If you prefer a more concise overview, you can explore our recap videos, which highlight the development of each vehicle, how they managed in its era, and the vision behind its creation. To bring these stories to life, we have also reunited many of these historic models on our test track, allowing enthusiasts to witness firsthand how they evolved across the time.
1950 - 1960
Kurosake Ichi
Kurosake Nocturne
1960 - 1970
Stay Tuned
1970 - 1980
Stay Tuned
1980 - 1990
Stay Tuned
1990 - 2000
Stay Tuned
2000 - 2010
Stay Tuned
2010 - 2020
Stay Tuned
Photo Gallery
You can also explore detailed studio photographs of each vehicle in our collection. While many of the images featured throughout the articles document historic moments and events, this gallery is dedicated to modern, high-quality photography of every model we have gathered. Together, these images form a lasting digital record, preserving the design, craftsmanship, and character of each vehicle for future generations.
1950 - 1960
1960 - 1970
Stay Tuned
1970 - 1980
Stay Tuned
1980 - 1990
Stay Tuned
1990 - 2000
Stay Tuned
2000 - 2010
Stay Tuned
2010 - 2020
Stay Tuned
I started in a hard capmaing so im trying to not go broke lol