The Japanese Supercar That Made More Money As A Toy

The Japanese supercar that made more money as a toy recounts how Dome Co. pursued racing ambitions while its most accessible product became a scaled die-cast model. Dome was founded in 1975 by Minoru Hayashi, whose “child’s dream” theme matched the company’s goal to build a small-volume sports car using racing-derived technology. Hayashi had previously produced one-off racing cars, including Honda S600-based “Karasu” (1965) and S800-based “Macransa” three years later. Dome aimed to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and unveiled the Dome Zero at the Geneva Motor Show as a serious performance contender. The article cites the Dome Zero’s 2.8-liter straight-six and 143 hp, plus torque and estimated performance figures, while describing a low wedge design and mid-engine layout. The narrative frames the later toy connection as a contrast to the original racing funding challenge.