For me it all started back when I was 18. My cousin brought over a PlayStation with Gran Turismo and I got completely hooked on the game. Once I discovered the Skyline GTR it quickly became my favourite car and the rest is all history.
I have been lusting after one for the past 13 years never thinking I would really own one. This year I decided to get an inexpensive toy for the track. Was going to go with a Miata (gocart) and throw a turbo on it... something in the 300 RHP range with a basic water/meth setup. Anyways, I spent the year looking at cars, Miatas mainly, but also keeping an eye out for RX-7's, Supras and the occasional Skyline. Countless hours were spent on forums, Craigslists, Kijiji and various local and international auction pages. I have not watched any TV this year, its been work and car hunting all year.
I finally found a great deal on a single turbo conversion BNR32 that was available about 600 Kms from where I live. I watched this for sale thread for a few months, was not much interest on it so I was going to wait for some reductions. Was reduced by a small bit twice and the seller eventually stopped bumping the thread. I assumed it had sold as I did not get a reply and kept on spending all my free time working on my mission.
I then found a sweet deal on a Miata locally, was crashed 3 times and the seller did not know this. I expected to bring the 3 reports and get a sweet deal for a car I would only track anyways. The seller did not budge on the price in light of the 3 crashes so I left with my wad of cash. I was really bummed out at this time as the end of the summer was on me.
So I got home and checked out all the usual Craigslist and Kijiji listings that I was also frequenting daily. Low and behold that Skyline I saw for sale 600Kms is on Kijiji with a much more attractive price, what I was actually hoping to get it for. I sent a whack load of questions over to the seller and he got back to me this time, so I arranged to go see it.
It was a long drive to to Quebec from where I live in Ontario. I left with some friends and we got there at noon. Met the seller and immediately I was a bit less then impressed with the paint job, I was told it was mint, but at that price it was honestly too good to be true. Not a "bad" paint job, but it there is over spray on some gaskets and one spot where the tape did not pull off clean as well as a couple of very small dents/scratches on the roof from something small falling on it.
I decided to press the issue of the car not being exactly as advertised and ended up throwing out my initial offer which was border line low ball. I asked a bunch of my friends with cars like these about the offer I planned to make before I left for the trip. Told them what I was planning to which they said, it is not a TOTAL kick in the balls, its low... but I would work with that rather then want to spit in your face. Sounds good to me!
So armed with my new found knowledge of the mind of a car enthusiast that actually owns a car that they can be enthusiastic about I make my offer. Was told that more then that was put into the engine alone... etc, etc. Long story short if did not take much talking on my part but the seller eventually took my initial offer.
When he eventually accepted I thought maybe there was something off with the car, it was almost too easy. The seller agreed to drive it over to the shop where I had the truck and trailer and his buddy came in a company truck. Turned out that the truck belonged to the seller's dad, who owned something like 35 stores across Canada so I guess money is not of much concern in the family and that explained the easy price... or did it?
I hauled it home on a trailer, it was a very long day driving there and back and I was very tired on the trip back. Lots of stress watching the trailer to make sure it was under control as I did not have a goose-neck hitch and it was all insanely old. When I finally got it off the trailer and into my garage I could not believe it. My dream car was now in my garage! I can't even stand the though of the fact that I almost ended up in something else, like a Miata... Very fun cars and cheap to run, so don't get me wrong, but its not my dream car, far from it. The GTR is just... I'm at a loss for words... it puts a smile on my face every time I see it.
Back to the low price and questions about the car... Being paranoid, even though I saw the company truck from the store chain, I still had my doubts. I finally got a hold of the shop that build the engine and car about a week after I bought it. I called them before making the trip and every day after and finally got a hold of someone and it was the owner! Gave him the seller's full name and was happy to hear a story about how they put it together for him. He listed the parts that were on it and confirmed the power the seller told me it was making at 17.8 PSI. I was stoked!
PICS:
I purchased the completely rust free 1990 Skyline GTR with the following:
Acl bearing
Wiseco piston 87mm
Eagle H beam rod
Cometic 1.2mm head gasket
Arp head + main stud
Borg warner s364 turbo (750hp)
Xs manifold renforci
Tomei gasket kit
Aem ems stand alone
Nismo 2 way diff (arriere)
Tial 44mm v band wastegate
Blitz ss blow off x2
4 inch intercooler + brand new piping
os giken 2 plate clutch (65%)
nismo fork pivot
nismo eurethane motor mount
aeromotive fuel pump
surge fuel tank setup ( 2 pump)
haste moshimoto 3 row radiator
samco coolant line
aem uego wideband
rc 1000cc injector
awd/2wd switch
stern 18x9 wheel
azenis 255/40/r18 x4
tein monoflex coil over
Brembo rear disc
Dba front disc
Hawk hp pads
Seibon tt hood
Candy blue paint (sick)
Momo steering wheel
Nismo leather boots
Nismo knob
Carbon valve cover
R34 ornament plate
Shop confirmed 502 AWHP / 433 lbs torque @ 17.8 PSI
Allegedly it is now making 620 AWHP @ 25 PSI as per the seller. I have not confirmed this as the clutch is slipping at high load so I can't get it tested. The builder I spoke to tuned it @ 17.8 PSI not 25 PSI.
A month later, I am still stoked! (If not also a bit paranoid because I ended up in the most expensive setup out of all my options)
Thank You for reading my wall-o-text and Thank You for having me on this fine forum.