"You've been talking about this car since we were in middle school. You have to buy it," said Kurt's friend while standing at a Chicago Nissan dealership. "You're right, it'd be wrong not to buy it," Kurt replied almost more for his own benefit. The car in question was an immaculate 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R.
With roughly one hundred legally registered in the United States, the Skyline is definitely a rare find. Built for homologation purposes to compete in Super GT, the R32 was a technical marvel twenty years ago. With rear-biased all wheel drive, a four wheel steering system, and the traditional straight-six twin turbo RB26DETT engine, the car still puts most sports coupes to shame. Rated at 280hp but producing 320hp from the factory, turning in Nurburgring lap times as fast as the Porsche 911 GT2 and Ferraris of the same year, the car remains a tuner favorite today.

Since the Skyline GT-R became a popular car for street racing in Japan, it has led to countless appearances in video games, beginning with its debut in 1994 for the SNES game Zero 4 Champ R and most notably the Gran Turismo series, and in Need for Speed Underground as well as the occasional appearances in feature films, anime, and manga. As a result, Kurt says, the car is recognized by a younger crowd. "If you've ever wanted to meet more people, buy a Skyline.

That's the hardest part about owning this car. I once got pulled over because a state trooper just wanted to know where he could buy one."

As if owning a right hand drive Japanese super car wasn't enough, this particular Skyline had it's own unique racing heritage. It was imported from Tokyo to Quebec by a local tuner where it was intended for competition in Canada's Drift Mania circuit. After the addition of Weds Sport rims, Gannondor turboback exhaust, HKS intercooler piping, Keizen internals, and other JDM parts, the car was traded to Autobarn Nissan in Chicago as payment for a Nismo Z. There it made its own impressions on the staff.

"The day I picked the car up was like no other car buying experience. The dealership staff kept coming by, not to congratulate me, but to say goodbye to the car. Many of them took pictures with it. It was surreal." Today the car is well cared for but certainly not babied. "This is no trailer queen, it's driven daily. It's a true driver's car."

The car is currently under the strict watch of the THMotorsports staff, and the plan to build a monster is underway. The Skyline already is capable of handling of over 800+whp and the THMotorsports Crew plans to get it there safely on a near perfect tune! Stay tuned to see the project emerge..."