interesting read

[REDGTT]

http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_pa...5E21822,00.html

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Graham Tawse with his GT-R

1994 R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R

Owner: Graham Tawse

Purchase Price: $66,000

Build Price: $150,000

Engine: 2.6-litre single turbo; 671kW with race fuel, 633kW with pump fuel

Paint: Metallic black

Interior Features: DEFI gauges, Recaro interior, MOMO steering wheel

Exterior features: Autostyle quad headlights, carbon-fibre bonnet and boot lid

Monster muscle on track

Jaedene Hudson

28aug04

The new Skyline GT-R is still on track, assures Nissan Australia.

The return of the company's all-wheel-drive muscle car was announced last year at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show and Nissan says the 2007 deadline has not changed.

The new GT-R will share the same platform as the company's two-door sports coupe – the 350Z.

Nissan says the new GT-R may not look a lot like concept designs that have been seen but can't confirm if the car will be revealed at next year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The company is sticking to its guns saying the car will be a global build which means production of both left and right-hand drives, which is good news for Aussie fans.

Whether it will end up here has still not been decided, Nissan saying that provided the business case is accepted it will be full steam ahead.

A big factor in the decision about whether the car will hit our shores will be its price.

It is expected to be well above $100,000 and if that is the case, well above other high performance all-wheel-drives in the market.

The classic "Godzilla" was expected to be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.

It was also expected the car would be back in the showrooms by 2005 but Nissan boss Carlos Gohsn says he wanted to launch the car in Tokyo and as the show is bi-yearly, it only left 2005 or 2007.

The company's 2003/04 revival program placed too much pressure on engineering resources to push the GT-R ahead to a 2005 deadline.

He is, however, also adamant that the GT-R would be a global car.

"The previous car was just a Japanese car – this one is for the world."

Reach for the sky

It has a hood full of horses, but this hot GT-R has such good manners that a little old lady could drive it.

It might have more than 670kW and more gauges than you can poke a stick at, but this 1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R is so easy to drive, your grandma could take it to the shops.

Graham Tawse bought the car just three weeks ago from friend Dominique Russo – the owner of performance car modifying company Autostyle – and says it may be difficult to believe but this Nissan is easier to drive than a standard GT-R.

"As unbelievable as it may sound, with the power and handling that it has, it is so much smoother than a standard GT-R," he says. "A little old lady could drive it. It is that easy."

Tawse paid $66,000 for the car, trading in a standard GT-R.

Originally he thought of modifying his own GT-R but says: "You can't beat buying one that is already done."

Getting the car to a standard where it is so easy to drive was not easy.

Russo says it has taken many years to be able to tune and refine a car with so much power and still make it driveable.

But they have mastered it and were able to implement it on the GT-R. The whole car was transformed in just a few months.

"It has probably only been over the past three years that we have been able to tweak and tune a car so that it is so easy to drive," Russo says. "More than three years ago it was not possible to do."

Russo has owned Autostyle for about 10 years and everything from BMWs and Porsches to Ferraris and Hondas have been through the workshop, all with one aim in mind – more power and more individualism.

Tawse's GT-R is an R34. The engine was built in Japan and is worth more than $60,000 itself.

The GT-R was originally built by Russo as a promotional car and has been featured in many magazines and competitions.

The car has been chosen as one of six Australian finalists in the Need For Speed Global Max Challenge.

The competition, to celebrate the release of the Need For Speed Underground II virtual racing game later this year, is being run to find the best performance street car in the world.

Under the GT-R's bonnet is a 2.6-litre engine with a T88-34D single turbo and a mix of TRUST and HKS parts, which gives the car 671kW with racing fuel or 633kW with pump fuel. The car features a hi-tech clutch system that has three plates, giving a greater surface area without a lot of force on the pedal. Inside, the standard GT-R seats have been retrimmed with blue Recaro leather. The car features a Momo steering wheel and TRUST gear knob but what strikes you is the enormous DEFI gauges that stare you in the face from the dash.

The four gauges are worth close to $3000. They monitor engine temperature, oil temperature, boost and fuel pressure. They record all data, which can be played back.

The glovebox houses more high-tech gadgetry – the launch computer and a box that records how fast the injectors are working.

The interior would not be complete without a pumping stereo, an Alpine unit with twin Alpine V12 amps and Boston speakers doing the trick.

Russo says the car, which is worth more than $150,000, is "the pinnacle of modification and refinement ... it gets better fuel economy than a standard GT-R on pump fuel."

The car was resprayed in metallic black paint, a Nissan colour, and sits on 19-inch Traffic Star rims.

The front bumper was modified to incorporate the large intercooler and features Autostyle quad headlight conversion.

Nismo side-skirts have been added while the carbon-fibre bonnet and boot lip complete the exterior transformation.

Tawse says that while he would like to take it on the track at least once, it won't be used for racing. It will still be a feature at many car shows and has already been entered in the dyno comp at next year's Summernats.

Owning such a car has not yet sunk in for Tawse, who admits he still goes out to the garage "just to have a look".

The car came fourth in AutoSalon magazine's Street Car of the Year competition, hampered by a slipping clutch.

Autostyle's maroon GT-R "Daredevil" won.

[2rismo]

Tawse's GT-R is an R34.

Certainly not from the picture ?!?!?

Adrian

[GT-R32]

Certainly not from the picture ?!?!?

Adrian

I *think* they were referring to the motor? Maybe it was just a typo. Either that or they have no idea and have miss understood what the owner has told to them...

[Abo Bob]

1994...

I love all the stuff about driveability and economy. I suppose that's because it doesn't make decent boost until 5k....

[GT-R32]

Certainly not from the picture ?!?!?

Adrian

I *think* they were referring to the motor? Maybe it was just a typo. Either that or they have no idea and have miss understood what the owner has told to them...

[GT-R32]

I *think* they were referring to the motor? Maybe it was just a typo. Either that or they have no idea and have miss understood what the owner has told to them...

[Abo Bob]

Gotcha

[GTR032]

That was in saturdays paper some good photos of it too..

[Blitz]

Another media screwup. Im yet to see any publication that can write a complete article on a car without messing up some small detail.

Thats one gorgeous R32 GTR though.

[BU5TER]

mmm damn nice but where's the gearbox or driveline upgrades??? hahaha

[Duncan]

Been a while minh

[GTR R35]

I have a Video of that car from FDD1 doing a burnout while driving at over 120km/h up and over the bridge at Oran park. I think it had FLYBYE as its number plate. It was the most amazing car I have ever see drift.

[ido09s]

671kW with race fuel, 633kW with pump fuel

I love that comment...... doesnt Keir Wilsons car make 650ish kilowatts with its twin T67's.... could this pottentially be Australia's fastest GTR if it was set up for it :D:D and its also great to see that race fuel makes sod all of a difference in such an engine.... and pump fuel can make so much power as well..... wonder where he fuels up as i wouldnt mind using that servo from now on :D

[fatz]

yea that car does some great smoke shows

id get a compression test if i was the owner though

[BU5TER]

hahaha Pete you talking about all the oil throught out the engine bay at drift day?

[ido09s]

hahaha Pete you talking about all the oil throught out the engine bay at drift day?

have a read of the street car of the year story in Auto Salon magazine Brett.... apparently the engine that was/or still is in the car has a bad blow by problem and was spewing oil every where....

[BU5TER]

ok will do

I had blow by aswell, my ringland had gone byby