Loving the R33 and became a GT-R owner
In 2024, the third year of the “RAYS Fan Meeting,” the venue was again filled with cars with new and old RAYS wheels and their owners from all over Japan, who spent their time together under the fine weather, sharing their passion for the same brand. Among the approximately 700 cars that participated in the event, we would like to introduce the Nissan R33 “Skyline GT-R”, which has a strong presence.
Customized vehicles were chosen from the beginning
In 2015, Mr. Masyu switched to his dream car, a Nissan BCNR33 “Skyline GT-R”. After more than 10 years, he decided it was time for him to get a GT-R and started looking for one. He likes white body color, so he chose the same color for his GT-R.
“I also wanted something that was somewhat runnable from the start, so I looked around for something customized rather than original-oriented, and luckily I found a vehicle that was close to my ideal and decided on it. The only complaint I have is that they were not late model, but I was lucky that the previous owner had a stock of late model headlights and I was able to get them and the vehicle from him. Only the lenses were renewed before installation.”
The current specs are the front with the late-model bumper ducts and hood top molding, combined with a large lip spoiler that was found at an auction. The clear blinkers are the standard “180SX” style.
The rear bumper is a NISMO, and the now rare Ganador mirrors were transplanted from his former GTS. The wheels are VOLK RACING TE37 from RAYS, and the black color tightens up the entire white body. Many owners still admire this car, as it was said to be the iron plate when it was still in use.
The suspension was initially fitted with Ohlins, but they were worn out, so they were replaced immediately. The suspension has been freshened up twice so far and is now running HKS Hipermax.
The engine was originally spec’d for boost up, but not knowing what kind of specs to expect, a full HKS F-CON V Pro was thrown in. The engine was re-set to eliminate any concerns. The HKS Super Turbo muffler was chosen for the exhaust system. The goal was not to blindly seek power, but to create a vehicle that can be driven comfortably for a long time.
What he is concerned about now is that the weak point of the R33 (and R34 as well), the hood ledge (the upper suspension mounting point), is rusting. He says he is prepared to have to make a major repair at some point.
“I would like to see him pass it on to his children”
In the interior, the white NISMO combination meters and sub-meters and Defi pillar meters (boost gauge), which were one of the deciding factors in the purchase, have been installed since purchase. The center cluster panel of the previous model, which was prone to damage over time, has been freshened up with a DIY carbon sheet. The basic idea is to do what you can do yourself.
“I am satisfied with the current state of the engine specifications and interior, but the exterior, including the cracked lip, is starting to show signs of damage, so I would like to rework it. Since it is a large type of lip, it tends to make contact when the ride height is lowered. This will be the fourth one next. The other thing is security. Thefts are increasing due to the rising market price, so I consider it a top priority.”
He recently had a child old enough to get a driver’s license, and “Masyu” would like him to eventually inherit the R33, but he has seen how expensive it is to maintain, so he is hesitant to do so. It is a very serious problem, but the GT-R is a car worth spending money on. Once you give it away, it is a hurdle to buy it again, so I hope that parents and children will manage to get through this without regret.
