When you hear someone say “GTR”. Most peoples ears perk up! “Ummm, did someone say GTR?”.

Today we have a special one. I think it’s fair to say we have alot of special and unique cars with us! Today we have a little chat with Avikash, he’s going to be telling us abit about himself and the wonders of owning a GTR.

 

How’d you end up getting into cars?

 

From when I was really young. It was before my 5th birthday that my Aunty gifted me a Playstation 1. I was so excited and the only game on there was Ridge racer. I would play for hours. After that I started playing Gran Turismo 2 on PS1. I remember my favorite cars there were the Dodge Viper and the R33 & R34 GTRs. Back then I didn’t have a memory card so I couldn’t save my progress, I had to keep the PS1 running for weeks without my parents noticing haha. It just carried on from there, buying every racing game for each console and spending 100s of hours with friends and family. 

 

Fun fact about me, I haven’t watched any of the Fast and Furious movies (Paul Walker who?) except for Tokyo drift. My friends find it really weird but I never really watched movies while growing up, but I did watch all the BBC Top Gear episodes which carried passion for cars to this day. I think it was because of Top Gear and the famous trio that hosted it, that’s what really got me excited. 

 

The first sports car I ever sat in was my cousin’s R33 Nissan Skyline, I was so excited. I would ask him to pick me up from school in it, and I would stay over at his house just so we could go for rides. After he upgraded to a R33 GTR it made me appreciate the skylines even more, this was the first GTR that I sat in and ultimately drove. I even got him to take me to my high school ball in it. This is when I fell in love with the R33 Skyline.

 

 

 

 

What is your history with cars?

 

I’ve owned lots of cars over the course of the last 12 years. 

While I was working part time and still in high school I had:

• 92 EG civic (first car)
• 94 Nissan Skyline 20e Auto R33

I got so much crap from school mates about not having a manual car, even though I worked and saved to buy it on my own. This made me feel really low, then my dad said if I get my grades up he will help me purchase a manual car. 

So I sold the R33 and with Dad’s help bought another R33, but this one was manual and turbo. I was only 16! 

Funny fact, I didn’t know how to drive a manual so my dad picked it up and I followed him back home.

As mentioned before, I have only seen Tokyo Drift out of the FnF series, this made me really want a 350z. During uni and over summer working 7 days a week, I managed to save up and buy one. I spent a lot of time and money modifying this car. Even though I really enjoyed owning this, I couldn’t help but miss my Skylines, so I eventually sold the Z and decided to go back to a Skyline. 

 

Here is the list of the rest of the cars I have owned since then:

• 99 Yellow Nissan skyline R34 GTT (First car i did a forged rebuild, and repainted pearl white)
• 98 Nissan skyline R34 GTT 
• 2000 Nissan Skyline R34 GTT NZ New
• 94 FXGT Toyota corolla 
• 1976 Austin Mini
• 1977 Datsun 180B
• 2010 Nissan GTR R35
• 96 Nissan Skyline GTR R33 
• 94 Nissan Skyline GTR R32
• 90 Nissan Skyline GTR R32

As you can see I love my Nissans, haha

Currently I own, 61 Morris Oxford, 91 EG Civic track car and my current 95 R33 GTR.

 

 

 

When did you decide on buying a GTR?

 

I have loved Skylines since I was young, so owning a GTR was a dream. I am lucky enough to have owned quite a few and learnt a lot about them. I was really torn between a R32 & R33 GTR. After owning both, I realized the R33 was the one for me. The interior is much nicer and I love how wide it is, and clearly I have a bias towards 33s. This made me go on the hunt for an immaculate one as there are lots of GTRs around with dodgy import history, you really need to do your research before handing over the money.

I turned down lots of GTRs before I landed on my current one. Genuine V-Spec with Japanese history including an auction sheet with photos before it was imported. It has documented mileage, rare KN6 color code with only 240 made in Vspec. 

 

 

 

 

What modifications have been done?

 

Engine:

• CNC ported cylinder head intake and exhaust
• HKS Forged Piston Kit – Step 2 86mm
• HKS Metal Head Gasket Kit 1.2mm
• HKS Air Flow Less Adapter
• HKS Piping Kit Intercooler
• HKS Intercooler Kit – R Type Super Size
• HKS Oil Cooler Kit – S Type
• HKS Fine Tune Timing Belt
• Brian Crower H beam conrods
• ARP head studs
• Borgwarner efr 8374 turbo 0.92A/R 2000’F ceramic coating
• Turbosmart BOV turbo blanking plate
• Turbosmart external wastegate plumbed back
• Turbo beanie
• Sinco top mount forward facing manifold
• Custom 4inch exhaust to Adrenaline R muffler
• Ross Racing trigger kit with damper
• LINK G4 Plus
• Blitz SUS Power Air Cleaner
• Sard Fuel Rail
• Sard Type-RJ Racing Fuel Reg
• Sard Fuel Injectors Set 900cc
• Nismo High Flow Fuel Pump kit
• Nismo Low Temp thermostat
• Nismo S-Tune Oil Filter
• Nismo Racing Radiator cap
• Tomei GReddy Type-R Racing Blow Off Valve
• Tomei engine oil baffle sump plate kit
• Tomei Camshafts Poncam
• Tomei Adjustable Cam Pulley
• Tomei Valve Springs Sheet 0.5mm
• Tomei Valve Springs Set Type-A
• TRUST Greddy Aluminium Radiator
• Okada Projects Plasma Direct Coil Packs
• N1 Oil pump
• N1 Water pump
• REIMAX Bearing Seals Set
• REiMAX Oil Pump Gear Kit 77mm
• Top Secret Oil Catch Can & overflow tank
• Garage Defend GT Cooling Panel Carbon

 

Body/Suspension:

• Nismo Yamaha performance damper Front
• Nismo Yamaha performance damper Rear
• Nismo Under-Floor Reinforcing bar front
• Nismo Under-Floor Reinforcing bar centre
• Nismo Reinforced Diff mount bush kit
• Nismo Reinforced Engine mount kit
• Nismo Tension Rod set 4wd
• Nismo Rear Member Brace set
• Nismo Rear Upper Link set
• Nismo Circuit Link Set
• Cusco Hicas Drag Rod
• Cusco sway bar front
• Cusco sway bar rear
• Nagisa Auto Gacchiri Front Inner Fender Braces
• Autoselect Billet Strut brace
• Ohlins DFV coil over suspension with stiffer spring
• Spoon Sports Subframe Front & Rear Rigid Collar Kit
• Ikeya Formula Rear Knuckle Pillow Ball Bushing Hicas

 

Wheels/Tyres:

• BBS LM 18 Inch forged wheels
• Dunlop Z2 star 265/35/18
• Rebuilt Brembos all round
• Project MU Rotors & Pads
• Braided brake lines
• Nismo Wheel Lug Nut Set

 

Driveline:

• Nismo Super Coppermix Twin Plate Competition Model Clutch
• Cusco Type MZ LSD Front Diff 1.5 way
• Factory VSpec Rear Diff
• Factory R33 GTR Gearbox

 

Exterior:

• Ganador side mirrors blue lens
• NISMO S-tune carbon rear wing side covers
• Nismo Carbon Pillar Garnish
• Nismo S-Tune side winker market set grey smoke type
• Nismo Cluster
• Nismo Gauges
• CUSCO Front License plate offset
• R33 GTR S3 Xenon Headlights

 

Interior:

• Defi-Link Meter ADVANCE ZD
• Defi Link Turbo Gauge Boost meter 60mm
• MOMO steering wheel

 

Tuned to 481 KW at all fours with 709 NM of torque at 27psi

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you have planned for the car in the future?

 

Power wise nothing as it’s the perfect streetcar in terms of drivability and power. Might do some subtle changes to the exterior next year. Watch this space.

 

Any events in particular you are looking forward to attending?

 

I’m looking forward to Clubfest in October with the NZFC fam. I’ve never driven on the Hampton Downs track, since I live in Wellington. It would be good to see how the GTR handles on the track. I also always enter Jamboree at Manfield.

 

Thank you Avikash, for taking the time out of your day to answer some of our questions! We can see now that why you have a soft spot for Skylines. We look forward to seeing you and the GTR at events and shows.

 

• Team NZFC

 

Photo Credit

• Boosted Kiwi