1997 Nissan Skyline GTS-T Type M

Description

• Only used in the summer months
• Less than 73,000 warranted miles (116k km)
• 1 UK Owner
• Extensive history file
• New MOT

The Nissan R33 Skyline was introduced in August 1993. Slightly heavier than the R32, it was available in coupe and sedan body configurations. The R33 was the safest of the models, the airbag system and internal crash bars made this vehicle significantly safer than previous models. Also now using a serious quick six-cylinder engine.

With a curb weight of 1380 kgs, the R33 Skyline GTS25t Type M has a turbocharged Inline six-cylinder engine, petrol motor, with the engine code RB25DET.
This engine produces a maximum power of 247 bhp at 6400 rpm and a maximum torque of 294.0 Nm at 6400 rpm. The power is transmitted to the road by the rear wheel drive (RWD) with a 5 speed Manual gearbox.

This particular 1997 Nissan R33 Skyline comes with two keys and was imported in 2012 by our vendor and has been set up for UK roads.  Our vendor commissioned JM-Imports to source and deal with the importation, UK taxes and the UK registration of the vehicle, he even commissioned them to underseal the R33 and make the alterations allowing it to be driven on UK roads.

Accompanying this GTS-T are an original Japanese owner’s manual, service log and export certificate. Also present are an English-language handbook and a file of paperwork dating back to 2008 when the car was imported, all the UK MOT certificates, with the newest expiring in April 2023, will be supplied to the winning bidder which, with the Japanese full service history, warrant the 116km (72k mileage).  The vendor is even leaving the personalised number on the car.

Exterior

Where do we start with this stunning exterior, the stunning blue on silver paintwork? The aggressive stance and aesthetics? Maybe the fantastic condition that it is still in for a 25-year-old car?

We suggest the best place is the beginning, when the R33 was introduced, it superseded the R32 which had already broken the mould and introduced, what is now known as, a proper Japanese supercar to the market.

Longer and lower than its predecessor, the new Skyline embraced sophisticated aerodynamics to improve handling. Engineers also made it their mission to reduce the cars bulk and formulate a better weight distribution ratio but best of all it moved towards a more aggressive and sporty look.

The Nissan R33 Skyline here has that in spades, the stunning original silver bodywork has a dose of Toyota blue lavished over it giving it the one-off design that lends a hint towards the famous Skyline that Paul Walker drove in 2 Fast 2 Furious, if you want to make a statement then there won’t be many that do that better than this spectacular R33.

Walking around the R33 you are taken aback by the astonishing designed paintwork and are left in awe with the fact that it is just that, paintwork, not the usual decals that fade and peel at the first sight of sun or poor weather.

On closer inspection you will appreciate the quality of the paintwork as anyone that knows paintwork will understand how difficult It is to create such quality in complicated designs like this, a truly talented painter was responsible for this work or art.

As you would expect from a vehicle that has been in Japan for half its life and has only seen the road during the summer months whilst residing in UK, it is remarkably clean and rust free. Probably owing to the underseal treatment it has received at importation. We should also mention that it has since been re-undersealed for a second time just to make sure it stays that way.  Obviously, our vendor is keen to keep it solid and rust free, probably overkill considering it is only driven in the summer months but let’s be honest, love has no bounds when it comes to a beloved chariot.

If you forensically inspect the car, you will find that the front jacking points have some slight damage, created by a lazy previous owner who obviously failed to line up the jack correctly when carrying out some of its extensive maintenance. Either way the damage has no bearing to the use and is only superficial.

The stunning bodywork has held up just as well and the underside, although you will find a few stone chips on the front bumper and a small area on the lower section under the indicators where it has caught a kerb, very common on cars fitted with body kits. All in all, it is extremely impressive for a 25-year-old car.

Interior

The interior is kept simple and clear. All instruments are well placed and easy to read. In line with the sporty layout of the whole car, the front seats offer good lateral support, without compromising comfort and the patterned grey cloth is in fantastic condition, The only blemish being a cigarette burn on the back seat that was there on collection from JM Imports, not a big deal as any good trim repair company could rectify that for a couple of hundred pounds, the interior could then be described as perfect.

Bearing in mind that these cars generally get modified all over, including the interior, it is refreshing to see that the only non-standard addition to this Nissan R33 Skyline is that the odometer is now, helpfully, in MPH not KPH. The originality clearly shows how well it has been treated since its production, it even still has the original Japanese card holder needed to travel around Japan, crossing bridges and so on.

The vendor has advised that all switches, knobs operate their ancillaries as they should and are in great condition.

Engine

Moving on to the pièce de resistance or Pīsu do rejisutansu as they say in Japan.  The mighty Skyline is powered by the RB25DET a serious piece of kit, in comparison to the previous top-of-the-line RB20DET, the 2.5l is way more flexible.

The turbo does not start working until about 3,500rpm, and thanks to the healthy displacement of 2498cc and a relatively high (for a turbo) compression ratio of 9.0:1, the engine does not suffer from too much lag below that. Thus, although the car has gained approximately 70 kg over the R32 GTS-t, the 250 turbocharged horses still make for a seriously quick 7.1 seconds from 0-60mph.

Another nod to its treatment over the years is that the engine, right down to its air filter unit is completely stock and standard apart from the vendor fitting a breather box for the cam covers.  It also benefits from a stainless-steel exhaust and a new catalytic convertor that was fitted last year.

If you are bidding on this to create an 800bhp monster, which many do and each to their own, then you are safe in the knowledge that you will be getting a totally unmolested engine and turbo that will be a perfect starting point for your project.  Let’s be honest it will be a pretty tough job to find another unmolested starting point like this fantastic example.

Wheels Tyres Suspension and other

The R33 Skyline has Coil springs, Multi-link, Anti-roll bar, front and rear suspension.  Stock tire sizes are 205 / 55 on 16-inch rims at the front, and 225 / 55 on 16-inch rims at the rear. For stopping power, the Nissan R33 Skyline GTS25t Type M braking system includes Vented Discs at the front.

Our particular R33 has a set of extremely rare and sought after SSR Alloys that were fully refurbished less than 12 months ago and are still in perfect condition. The tyres are also in great condition with plenty of tread available to keep the beast planted when utilising that famous “sticks like glue” handling from the impeccably engineered chassis.  Moving onto the suspension that we mentioned earlier our R33 here is almost standard apart from a couple of strut braces front and rear plus the coil springs being lowered to give that already impressive stance an even more aggressive look which is in keeping with the stunning paintwork.  Lastly the front bushes have been replaced with the highly improved polyurethane versions.

As with all supercars, they are tremendously powerful and quick and this superb example is no different, with the engineering around the car truly at the top of its game, not only of Nissan’s but of any manufacturers. The brakes have been engineered with the same high quality parts and design.  As previously mentioned the top-quality vented disks are impressive at doing their job but our vendor still saw fit to upgrade them to Brembo versions with matching pads, which provides even more impressive stopping power.

The last thing to mention before we wrap up is that the vendor recently replaced the fuel pump.

Our view 

Is the Nissan R33 Skyline the ultimate road car? Well, nothing else really comes close to it on the road, it really is in a different league to its peers, and let’s be honest many a supercar driver has looked across at a Skyline at the traffic lights and said to themselves it is probably not worth it!  A truly supercar beating car at a fraction of its price.

With this stunning example being loved cherished and maintained exceptionally it is ready to be driven right now as it is or can be a perfect example that can be modified to become a 600+ HP monster. Whatever the winning bidder has in his or her plans they will be firmly planted into that exclusive world of owning a truly iconic and arguably one best drivers’ car in the world.

 

Vehicle Location: North Yorkshire LS25 – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor

Have a question about this vehicle? Please contact the Evoke team at auction@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

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The ‘market’ decides and the old cliché that ‘cars are worth what someone wants to pay’ is no less true. So why kid everyone!

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