Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, Supercar Fest Sale of Iconic and Classic Cars 2024 on Saturday the 18th of May, Sywell Aerodrome, Sywell, Northampton, NN6 0BN. Offered directly from ‘The Well Timed' Collection.
The Skyline R34 GT-R is highly revered by all, whether a JDM aficionado or not, one cannot deny their presence and popularity in the car world. Standing as arguably the most iconic Japanese performance car in history. Whilst many of the PlayStation generation may have first experienced the drama of the R34 GT-R V-Spec through Gran Turismo, it was its appearance in the Fast and Furious franchise that led to an explosion in global popularity for the R34 GT-R, with the late Paul Walker driving one in 2 Fast 2 Furious, enhancing its almost cult status.
But it was in the 'real' world where the R34 GT-R V-Spec would cement its reputation. Described by Evo magazine as 'A warrior-class performer' in its 2007 road test, where a standard R34 GT-R was pitted against the likes of the McLaren F1, Pagani Zonda, Ferrari F40 and Bugatti Veyron, the GT-R’s reputation as a class act remained intact. While the R34 may not be able to claim the original 'Godzilla' title, as that remains with the R32 GT-R, the newcomer certainly carried the torch, and arguably the R34 GT-R has become the most iconic and most recognised car ever to emerge from Japan, especially in their late 1990s golden era. The R33 GT-R was a very good car, but many found it to be too bulky in design and too heavy to be a worthy successor to the R32 GT-R, which the R34 sought to rectify and did so with flying colours. Released with a shorter, sharper design and the performance to match, it’s safe to say the bite truly matches the bark.
The car featured aggressive new styling, a stiffer bodyshell and a reworked version of the bulletproof and highly modifiable RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-six under the bonnet, mated to an all-new Getrag 6-speed gearbox and transfer case, although the electronically-controlled Super HICAS rear-wheel steering system was retained. Unlike some other performance cars of the 1990s, Nissan did not neglect the braking system and fitted Brembo brakes with 300mm vented discs. For a car released in 1999, the R34 came crammed full of technology meaning it was well ahead of its time. It featured a 5. 8" LCD multifunction display in the dashboard, showing seven different live readings of engine and vehicle statistics such as boost pressure, oil/ water temperature and throttle percentage among others.
The V-Spec was introduced in October 1999, just nine months after the launch of the R34 Series I, making it an almost immediate upgrade over the standard car. While the Series I was a fantastic car, the improvements were thorough and ensured the V-Spec and V-Spec II cars are even more desirable. Changes for the V-Spec included an improved suspension system, featuring stiffer springs and dampers, Brembo brakes as standard, lighter forged aluminium wheels allowing wider tires, an active Limited Slip Differential, and an improved aero package with a front lip spoiler and carbon fibre rear wing.
Arguably the black sheep of 'The Well Timed' Collection, this R34 is simply phenomenal. Of the 11, 578 R34 GT-Rs produced, just 1, 238 of them were Bayside Blue (TV2) V-Spec Is, and this is surely one of the finest examples to reach the open market.
This R34 GT-R V-Spec I presents in simply exceptional condition and has been maintained religiously throughout its eight-year UK ownership. Within the history file there is every MOT since its 2015 import and a whole host of Japanese paperwork including the original service pack, featuring an abundance of rarely kept Japanese maintenance paperwork, original Skyline instruction manual and three sets of keys. Additionally, there is paperwork documenting its upgrades whilst in Japan including the ¥915, 000 (c.£5, 000) sheet of fitted JDM upgrades including HKS, NISMO and Apexi parts amongst others, as well as their accompanying sales sheets. The bulk of the UK servicing has been undertaken by J A Kit & Customs, as well as by our enthusiast vendor.
Our vendor wanted the car to be the best of the best, whilst retaining OEM/ OEM+ aesthetics and fitted a host of upgrades including bronze Rays CE28 wheels, electronically adjustable Tein coil-over suspension, NISMO sway bars, an HKS turbo timer, new turbos, a Link G4 ECU and a host of undetectable mechanical upgrades (summary sheet provided in history file), which allowed marque specialist tuner, Martin Battye, to extract well over 500bhp from the wonderful RB26.
With the way that R34 GT-R prices have skyrocketed comfortably into the six-figure department in recent years, this cherished, uprated, Bayside Blue example is surely the last chance to acquire such a desirable car for reasonable money, especially considering the 25-year import rule has now legalised the import of this car into the USA.
Sympathetically upgraded to OEM+ specification, this GT-R looks, drives and is exactly what you’d wish a GT-R to be. They say don’t meet your heroes, but if you’re going to, you’d struggle to find a better R34 GT-R hero than this one, and we cannot recommend it highly enough.
