R33 GT-R that he has been admiring since his school days
A unique owner and his car visit a tuning shop specializing in the GT-R, Nissan’s leading sports car. CREWCH in Mie Prefecture is one such shop. From among the owners who visit the shop, we introduce Mr. Satoshi Fukuda, who got his wish and acquired a BCNR33 in June 2023. What was the reason why he got a different unit from the one he had initially targeted?
When he was in middle school, he saw the magazine and was shocked
“I started to be interested in the GT-R when I was in junior high school. At the time, there were frequent maximum speed trials and 0-300 km/h acceleration tests with tuning cars on the Yatabe high-speed circuit by car magazines. I remember seeing these events in magazines and on film and being strongly attracted to them.”
recalls Mr. Fukuda. Among the many machines entered, the R33 “Skyline GT-R” boasted outstanding performance. It naturally became the object of admiration.
Before purchasing the GT-R, he owned a first-generation (GC8) Subaru Impreza WRX, but as soon as he started driving it, he realized that it was not a good match. When he was considering his next car, what popped into his mind was the R33 GT-R that had fascinated him in his youth. The idea came to me, and although it’s not always a good idea, I immediately started looking for an R33, and soon found one that suited my budget. The shop selling it was CREWCH.
In fact, Mr. Fukuda’s home is in Nagano Prefecture, and it is about 300 km to CREWCH in Mie Prefecture, but in the search for a second-generation GT-R, where the number of available units has dwindled, it is common to find the one you want at a distance. Mr. Fukuda also said that he could just about handle this distance, but a certain amount of effort is required to get a good quality unit.
Encounter with a great car, different from the original plan
Mr. Fukuda visited CREWCH to check out the R33 he had his eye on, but to his surprise, the car he actually bought was a different one.
“When I saw the stockyard, I had my eye on the car that would later become my favorite car, but the condition of the car was so good that I thought it was out of my reach and too high-end for me. But perhaps he saw right through me, because President Kuruuchi said to me: ‘Mr. Fukuda, why don’t you go for a gunmetal?’ At first, I said no, it’s too expensive, but in the end, he said enthusiastically, ‘I’ll work hard on the price, and so will you, Mr. Fukuda’, and I was so moved by that sentiment that I signed a contract.
When he actually saw the car, he could tell at a glance that the previous owner had put a lot of love and care into it, as there was nothing tired about its appearance. The styling is the standard late look, with the bonnet and front lip replaced by Car Shop F1. The interior, including the Robson leather upholstery, was tastefully decorated with black as the base color and red as an additional color. This is a car that can be driven as it is or used as a base for customization.
The positive outlook on finding trouble
However, the engine was found to be leaking oil before delivery, so an overhaul was carried out. Mr. Fukuda does not see this as a negative, but thinks that it has eliminated a source of anxiety for him to continue driving in the future.
“The car has done 4,000 km since delivery (at the time of the interview), so I feel like I’ve finally finished breaking it in. The engine has been fine-tuned by replacing the camshafts and changing the ECU to a fully controlled LINK control system, and the performance and feel of the engine are unquestionable. Also, since the car has been totally finished, I plan to face my car and add my personal touches to the parts that I feel are lacking.
The driver’s seat has already been replaced with a full bucket seat. Next, they have decided to install Okubo Factory side steps and change the suspension specifications. He also enjoys the time he spends thinking about what he should do and how he should do it.
Mr. Fukuda has started the GT-R life he dreamed of, having achieved his dream from his school days. It’s been less than a year since he bought it, but it has already become an irreplaceable and important part of his life.
translated by DeepL
