If there’s one factor that will get automotive collectors, automotive photographers and JDM fanboys extra excited than a common Nissan Skyline GT-R, it’s attempting to find the elusive variants. It’s a bit like vehicle Pokémon.
Roaming the Elite GT-R show contained in the 2023 PRP GT-R Competition at Sydney Motorsport Park final weekend, I used to be smacked within the face by a kaleidoscope of various badges. ‘What’s this?’ I believed. Then being the man-child I’m, ‘Why don’t I flip this right into a sport?’ Growth! The delivery of GT-R Bingo.
And we’re in luck as a result of Nissan, ceaselessly attempting to one-up themselves, has blessed us with a staggering variety of GT-R variants. Spoiler alert: there are quite a bit!
Identical Identical, However Completely different
Within the jungle of RB-powered GT-R variants, issues can get a bit wild. From the R32 to the R34 sequence, the numbers and names grow to be a blur of pace and energy.
The R32 sequence birthed the GT-R Nismo with a mere 560 items. However wait, there’s extra – a sprinkle of 1,396 V⋅specs and 1,306 V⋅spec IIs, not forgetting the rare-as-hen’s-teeth GT-R N1, which was restricted to 245 items throughout all sequence.
Within the R33 sequence, the GT-R V⋅spec N1 stood restricted with 87 items, making it a real uncommon gem.
Then we now have the GT-R LM Restricted with solely 188 items, and the distinguished GT-R Nismo 400R capped at simply 44 items.
The R34 took issues a step additional with the unique GT-R V⋅spec II Nür – 718 items. And possibly probably the most well-known variant of all, the GT-R Z-tune, clocking in with only a mere 19 automobiles. Severely, that’s the stuff of unicorn tales.
Now, most individuals will let you know the Z-tune is the rarest of all GT-Rs, however as is very often the case, the vast majority of individuals are unsuitable.
Subsequent time you hear this truth, or want a random get together truth to share, otherwise you’re operating out of easy strains to select up your dream date on the dance flooring, woo them by whispering seductively that absolutely the rarest official manufacturing facility variant is the GT-R V⋅spec II N1. Manufacturing was capped at an astonishingly scant 18 items.
That’s proper, one lower than the legendary Z-tune. In the event that they’re not immediately impressed and able to go away the membership, they’re clearly not for you. Irrespective of although, since you’ll have loads of alone time to proceed delving down this fascinating rabbit gap. If you happen to’re a fellow data-lover, GT-R-Registry is the one place to start your deep dive.
Are you not happy? We haven’t even lined chasing the uncommon paint codes or particular engine packages.
And lastly, let’s not neglect that each aftermarket firm has about 11,000 particular makes and restricted fashions that we may use to delve deeper if the compulsion ever struck. See, there’s loads of scope!
And whereas we’re specializing in GT-R land, most of those ideas will apply to virtually all fashionable marques. Get searching!
The Final Assortment
I obtained to fulfill one proprietor on the GT-R Competition who took this hunt to the subsequent stage and has devoted a big portion of his life turning the dream GT-R checklist into his actuality. Think about having a storage that homes not only one, however a complete sequence of uncommon Nissan Skyline GT-R N1s.
Andrew’s assortment is nothing wanting extraordinary. It contains the R32 V⋅spec II N1, the R33 V⋅spec N1 S1 which he’s decked out to reflect a 400R, an R34 V⋅spec N1, an R34 V⋅spec II N1, and the über-rare R33 V⋅spec N1 Sequence 3.
Not simply any N1, thoughts you. It’s construct plate #00, Nissan’s prototype for what the R33 S3 N1 may and ought to be. Speak about a showstopper!
Particularly when you realise that N1 variants have been by no means truly bought to the general public. N1 glory was reserved completely for Nissan race groups and a handful of Nissan executives.
The intriguing half is, Andrew holds a private reference to every one among these beasts. He didn’t simply purchase them off a dealership; he tracked them down, every automotive holding a singular backstory and a definite reminiscence of a distinct chapter in his life. This assortment is sort of a timeline of his journey with GT-Rs.
Why GT-Rs, you would possibly ask? Properly, as a result of this collector as soon as was similar to any of us, a younger boy of the PlayStation era who spent hours on finish taking part in racing video games, all the time awestruck by these attractive machines.
Impressed by the collectors he regarded as much as, from a younger age Andrew aspired to grow to be one himself, specializing in the automobiles he liked most – Skyline GT-Rs. So, he started educating himself about the assorted fashions, diving deep into the specifics that make these automobiles so particular.
Monitoring down these automobiles wasn’t a stroll within the park, however Andrew admits he was super-fortunate. Finally, each GT-R N1 variant serendipitously fell into his lap.
Some wanted full restoration, some only a little bit of a tidy up, however all of them demanded a contact of persona, one thing Andrew was more than pleased to supply.
Quiz him about his favorite and Andrew hesitates. All of them maintain a particular place in his coronary heart, however the underrated R33 V⋅spec S3 N1 – one of many solely 11 ever made – has a attraction of its personal. After which there’s the R34 V⋅spec II N1, a automotive Andrew as soon as raced on digital tracks, now part of his actuality.
Creating this assortment wasn’t an in a single day activity. A few of these automobiles took 4 or 5 years to drag collectively, others solely six months. And Andrew’s most bold undertaking, the 400R construct, was a decade-long chase for components and a five-year meeting marathon.
So, the subsequent time you’re out Speedhunting, why not spice it up with a sport of Badge Bingo with no matter different make and mannequin you’re hooked on. It’s positive so as to add an additional jolt of pleasure to your quest.
In any case, who doesn’t love the joys of the chase?
Matthew Everingham
Instagram: matthew_everingham
matt@mattheweveringham.com