1998 Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 V Spec - UK supplied

• The 42nd official, UK-supplied, R33 GT-R sold (#107). First registered 7/05/1998
• Supplied new by GT-R specialists Middlehurst Garage in Midnight Purple,
• Two owners from new, present for 16 years mainly in an air-conditioned garage
• In its current state of tune, the forged internals engine has been dyno’d on a rolling road with 486bhp at the wheels (approx 600bhp at the flywheel) at a modest 1.4 bar of boost
• Accompanied by the original service book, owners manuals and maintenance records
• Spec highlights include 1000cc Injectors, Tomei Fuel Rail, single T78 Turbo, Trust extra capacity oil sump, AEM Series 2 ECU, triple plate clutch, 19” Nismo carbon dipped alloy wheels, D2 fully adjustable suspension, D2 upgraded brake kit
• The registration 'N5 GTR' will stay with the car

Perhaps underrated, but quietly influential compared to its forbears, the R33 incarnation of the GT-R is still a pure sports car experience, but now aided by some of the most revolutionary handling technology to influence modern performance driving.

The new R33 Skyline GT-R was launched in January 1995 with a base GT-R and the V Spec model which offered a sportier suspension set-up resulting in lower ground clearance, and also featured the newer ATTESA E-TS Pro all-wheel drive system, which included an Active Limited-Slip Differential.

At the heart of the V-spec was the ATTESA-ETS Pro Electronic Torque Split System which, at the time, made it arguably the most technologically advanced production car in the world. The system was conceived in the 1990s for the JTCC to enable some 600bhp to be fed through the wheels and on to the racetrack efficiently. ETS Pro satisfied the purists by offering all the advantages of rear-wheel drive until the conditions dictated otherwise.

The V Spec also featured an active LSD on the rear axle which further aided traction by calculating the optimum torque-split between the left and right rear wheels, variable from fully locked to totally free.

Working along with ATTESA-ETS PRO, is the SUPER HICAS rear-wheel steering. This uses a series of sensors to monitor vehicle motion, rate of turn and the driver's action on the steering wheel. Complex software then compares this information to the computer predictions of the car's ideal turning characteristics, adjusting the angle of the rear wheels to reflect the driver's intentions. The result of this type of technology? Neutral steering and unrivalled cornering capabilities.

The engine in the R33 was nearly identical to the previous R32 using the same turbochargers and the same specification for the manual gearbox, although the synchros were made to be stronger.

The increased body rigidity and improved handling potential necessitated several specially designed cross members being incorporated into the monocoque and extra torsion bars were added to the multi-link suspension to further enhance stability. Working closely with Bridgestone technicians to perfect the Potenza tyres, Nissan put the prototype R33 GT-R through its paces in all weathers at the notorious Nürburgring, earning them a daring reputation amongst other manufacturers.

Tested in the wind tunnel and capable of around 175 mph, the Skyline GT-R's adjustable rear spoiler lets you find the best compromise between wind resistance and grip. To equalise front/rear weight distribution, the bonnet and front wings were made of aluminium instead of steel and the battery was fitted at the base of the car's boot, lowering the centre of gravity and further improving handling.

Inside the Skyline GT-R, form followed function. Mono-form bucket seats with integrated headrests that are lightweight yet immensely tough provided the ideal driving position and supported the body against the G-forces endured under hard acceleration and cornering.

The braking system was designed by Italy's famous Brembo Spa, suppliers to many of the world's Formula 1 teams at this time. Four-piston calipers were fitted on the front with two-piston calipers on the rear to bite into the discs with a diamond shaped ventilation bores which increased the surface area to aid heat dissipation. The GT-R's braking system utilises the same wheel rotation sensors used to control the ATTESA-ETS PRO, to activate the high-performance ABS, ensuring that the huge Brembo calipers always deliver optimum performance.

The car presented here is the 42nd official, UK-supplied, R33 GT-R sold (#107) and was first registered on the 7th May 1998. Supplied new by renowned GT-R specialists ‘Middlehurst Garage’ (in arguably the best ‘Godzilla’ colour of Midnight Purple) to its first owner, a Mr Craven, who bought it as a company car. He was quite obviously a genuine Japanese sports-car enthusiast, with an understanding of the associated culture, especially 20 or so years ago. To release the latent performance potential from this sort of machine, Mr Craven commissioned specialists ‘Abbey Motorsport’ of Surrey to carry out an engine conversion from 2.6-litre to 2.8-litre (not dissimilar to the specification of the ‘mythical’ UK trio of ‘500R’ R33s). Knowing the expertise of Abbey Motorsport and that this is a well-known route to performance amongst GT-R owners, our vendor subsequently leapt at the opportunity to buy the car and thus become the car’s 2nd owner, cherishing it for the last 16 years. Unsurprisingly, it is accompanied by the original service book, owners’ manuals, and maintenance records.

As a member of the GT-R Club and very much part of the owners’ community, our vendor is well-placed to understand and evaluate these special cars. His car is not only special due to its UK-supplied status and its amazing paint colour of Midnight Purple, but there have also been some choice enhancements added to it, something these cars thrive on and is regarded as the ‘done thing’. Hence, through his owners’ club connections, he sourced from another member a very sound RB26 2.6-litre engine, professionally installing it and setting about a raft of upgrades. In its current state of tune, the forged internals of this RB26 engine have been dyno’d on a rolling road with 486bhp at the wheels, at a modest 1.4 bar of boost which equates to about 600bhp at the flywheel. The engine can run at 2 bar, which would generate around 800bhp but would inevitably put additional strain on the components. Further spec details include 1000cc Injectors, Tomei Fuel Rail, single T78 Turbo, Trust extra capacity oil sump, AEM Series 2 ECU, competition triple plate clutch, 19” Nismo carbon dipped alloy wheels, D2 fully adjustable suspension, and D2 upgraded brake kit.

Potential bidders should not be deterred by the engine installation or modifications, there are very few standard-specification matching-numbers R33 examples out there and would certainly demand a £100,000-plus guide price. Knowledgeable ownership, the quality of the work carried out and maintenance are key to these cars.

Reassuringly solid on the underside (with most metal here having been preventatively powder-coated over the years) and inner wings, the known vulnerable area of a GT-R, the car has benefitted from such diligent improvements and ownership, plus regular servicing, and considerate storage - being garaged for the last 16 years in an air-conditioned facility.

The Japanese performance car market has woken-up, this is an opportunity to be part of it – a properly prepared, well-cared for, low-owner, UK-supplied ‘Godzilla’ – a beast of a machine. We welcome any inspection of this example; it will not disappoint.