This car was sold for a limited time from May to July 1996 and was a rare car with very few production units
Among the many wheel manufacturers, RAYS holds offline meetings (appreciation events) to connect makers and fans. The “RAYS Fan Meeting” held at Fuji Speedway in 2024, the third year of the event, was again filled with cars and owners wearing new and old RAYS wheels from all over Japan. Among the approximately 700 cars that participated in the event, we would like to introduce a long-time owner of a rare limited edition Nissan R33 “Skyline GT-R”.
The body color was inspired by French blue, the national color of France
Nissan’s previous “Skyline GT-R/GT-R” models have had several limited edition models. The R33 “LM Limited” in bright blue, which is Toshiki’s favorite car, is one of them. It was released from May to July 1996 to commemorate the car’s participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the world’s three major automobile races held every June in France.
The body color, named “Champion Blue,” was rumored to be a replica of the Calsonic Skyline (Calsonic Blue), the reigning absolute champion of touring cars at the time, but it was inspired by French blue, the national color of France. The car was designed to be a champion in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This was probably the thought of the development team.
The wheels are one-of-a-kind, custom-made in color and inset
“Before switching to this car, I was driving an R32 GT-R. I was very satisfied with it, but as it began to show problems over time, I was considering switching when the LM Limited was announced to me. I was tempted by the bright blue color that reminded me of the Calsonic Skyline, which was active in touring car racing at the time, and the limited-time offer, so I bought it half on the spur of the moment.”
As for the exterior, the only modifications were a late-model headlight unit (with film to prevent deterioration from UV rays) and a NISMO front lip. The suspension was casually lowered with a TEIN coilover kit, and VOLK RACING GTC wheels with a custom color and inset (10J x 18 in11) were chosen. The styling of the car is tailored to his taste, while not compromising the original.
Try to be proactive and try external parts to keep it maintained for a long time!
The interior was upgraded by covering the cluster panel and shift knob area with a carbon sheet to improve the quality feel, and the NISMO combination gauges were replaced. The seats were given a one-piece look with Altia headcaps.
The engine compartment was also coordinated in blue to match the body color, including the head cover, piping, and cooling panels. Only the boost-up and intake/exhaust systems were used for power, and the cooling systems such as the oil cooler and radiator were all replaced. With the necessary performance upgrades and engine protection, the environment for enjoying the GT-R has been prepared.
The stock air flow meter is expensive, so an inexpensive Chinese meter was installed as a temporary measure. It is not a problem in general driving, but it causes some breathing symptoms at high RPM, so we are considering replacing it with one for the R35 GT-R at some point. In addition to the airflow meter, he is also experimenting with external O2 sensors to maintain the car for a long time.
We hope to walk with them while trying not to be too overprotective!
“Because it is a solid blue color, it fades when stored outdoors, so garage storage is a must. It is rarely driven daily and is completely dedicated to events, with an annual mileage of about 5,000 km. I try not to be too overprotective, but like my car, I am getting older, so I want to keep it running as it is for a long time.
For Toshiki, the R33 GT-R is now a part of his life. It is no longer a question of “to drive or not to drive,” but rather, it is important to have it by your side.
translated by DeepL