NISMO: The Ultimate Choice
Unique owners and their cars visit a tuning shop that specializes in the Nissan GT-R, Nissan’s leading sports car. CREWCH in Mie Prefecture is one such shop. Among the owners who visit CREWCH, we introduce Mr. Hisashi Ishimaru, who has a superb R35 GT-R NISMO with a mileage of just 5,000 km. What is the reason why he still owns his R33, which he could not let go of?
A distinct fun and attraction from the R33
His car life started with the first-generation Toyota MR2. After being awakened to the qualities of the Nissan Skyline with the next R32 GTS-t Type M, and then stepping up to the R33 GT-R, Mr. Ishimaru’s interest in the R35 GT-R was first piqued about six years ago. Thinking that if he were to buy one, it would be a NISMO, he went to the dealer, but was unable to purchase one due to the full quota of new cars.
Then he started looking for a used car and found a 2014 model with only 5000 km on the odometer. He visited the dealership to see the real thing, and when he saw a unit that looked like a new car, he decided to buy it.
“I was just amazed at the overwhelming speed and stability on the motorway, I was happy with the R33 too with the modifications to the intake and exhaust system, but now it’s on another level. The seats are also very supportive and I could seriously feel the difference between the generations. But in terms of appeal, it’s a different vector. At first, I thought about getting out of the R33, but you can’t get the feeling of being in control of a manual transmission in the R35. Also, I had a lot of affection for it after 20 years of driving it, so in the end I decided to cut the number off the R33 and keep it in my garage at home.”
The fact that it is a hobby car is no different from the R33, but the big change is that I now have friends who drive the same GT-R.
“When I drove the R33, I sometimes went out to the circuit, but basically I did everything alone. So as I got older, I spent more and more time in the garage, but after I switched to the R35, I was invited to the CREWCH-sponsored touring events, and now I regularly attend them. So I am grateful to CREWCH.”
Newfound Interest in Customization
He thought that the stock bike was sufficient in terms of performance and that there was nothing to be done to it. However, after taking part in a touring event and hearing the exhaust sound of a customized vehicle, he began to feel that he wanted to change it.
“The GT-R is fun to drive, but I think it’s a car that fills you up just by owning it. Just having it in the garage is a nice feeling. The R35 NISMO, in particular, is indescribably attractive, with its unique shape tailored for the ultimate in speed, such as the rear wing tips and the rear bumper with both sides of the rear extended slightly backward. It’s always cool to look at, and I fall in love with it.”
The warehouse where the R35 and R33 are stored was renovated with shutters at the same time as the R35 was purchased.
“When it was just an R33, I wasn’t concerned about it, but now I’m starting to worry about it,”
says Mr. Ishimaru. This is a sign of his growing desire to take better care of his GT-R. The R35, like the R33, will be loved for many years to come.
