The build of the Nissan Skyline R32 GTR: History of my car collection..

Datsun 240z

When I was young I got obsessed with Japanese classic cars and especially with Nissan, or how it's used to be called in the export market "Datsun"

Being just a child, my father used to own a 240z. This was during his work in Saudi Arabia. When I was somewhat grownup (16), me and my brother were looking trough his pictures and discovered this car on one of his picture, not knowing what it was. It turns out it was a Datsun 240z, delivered new by Nissan.

Eventually my brother bought his first 240z 7 years later!
My impression of the car when i saw it for the first time in real life was overwhelming. Of course every young healthy boy dreams of a Ferrari or a Porsche, but not of a Datsun..... In my case it was something special. I sat in my brothers fresh purchased 240z until nightfall, making a plan to purchase one myself. Only problem I was 16 years old...

My brothers 1972 original Dutch 240z

A year later one crossed my road and I bought this one with some financial help from my parents. A nice red one from 1972. My first 240z.

My 240z with RS Watanabe wheels and L28et engine

My 240z with Watanabe wheels and L28et engine

Long story short, my brother liked mine better so we swapped cars. I took the car apart because it was very rusty, and finally bought myself a second 240z, this was in a reasonable condition and drive worthy so i had some fun in this car!

After a year 150hp got a little dull and after lots of reading about rebuilding engine's with Weber's or Mikuni triple carbs on a 2800cc straight six. I made a decision to make some decent horsepower for the best bang for a buck. The answer: turbocharge it...

So I needed the engine off a car that is almost not available in the Netherlands, the Datsun 280ZX Turbo. I searched half a year for a engine and finally bought a complete rust-bucket manual shifted 280ZXT en pulled the engine and gearbox to put them in my 240z.

Fresh L28et engine with B&W T5 for my 240z

Datsun Laurel C30

After owning the 240z for a couple of years, I came in contact with a formerly chief executive of the Datsun club Holland. During the nineties he had collected and organized a parts depot for Datsun Z enthusiast. Eventually after a few years he stopped and closed the club due to some arguing between members. I think the Zclub Holland can remember this all too well!
Eventually he sold all the parts and kept some for himself.
After a decade I came in contact with him and i could buy some nice stuff like L28et engine, gearbox and all kind of JDM stuff.
He even had a guinean Datsun 240z, sold to a Japanese businessman in Holland. It was a RHD 240z from 1969 with the rally clock and the L20 engine! That means that it was the first production date of the HS30. It was also confirmed because the production number stamped on the Vin said 000069, so number 69 of the HS30 (rhd)!
(Later on I could buy this car again for 600 dollar!! Sadly the buyer didn't pick up the phone anymore after our first call. Finally I found the car in Limburg were it was being restored. The guy wanted almost 15000 dollar for this car and I was shocked!)
So when I was talking to the guy who was selling the parts was showing me some pictures of cars he owned. There was also one particularly car which was getting my attention. It was a gold painted Datsun laurel C30 or Laurel 1800 what looks like a 4 door 510, but cooler. He had restored this car in the nineties but sold it to a Datsun dealer in Groningen. After a year I found this car for sale and I bought it. First I made it running and getting MOT so I could drive. Next step was getting a new engine with some more HP. After some searching I found a compete Nissan Silvia S12 with the infamous FJ20 engine. I pulled the engine, gearbox and rear diff and the other stuff was for the junkyard.
To make the story short, the engine never got in, I drove the car a few years and sold it to a Dutch Datsun enthusiast who is restoring it at the moment and putting a SR20de in it.

My Datsun Laurel c30

Notice the different dash from the 510

The Japanese Laurel c30

A nice 1800cc cross-flow engine from Prince Motor Company (PMC)

Nissan Skyline R32 GTS

Later on when I had some money and space I got the opportunity to buy a Nissan Skyline Gts RB25de with plates and documentation. Only problem was it got stolen and recovered so it had some damage like the door lock (they used a screwdriver to break into the car, only they choose the wrong side of the car! ) also the nicked the ECU and MAF sensor.
I bought the car and collected some parts to get it fixed. After some time I got very busy and hadn't any time left for the car so I sold it to someone who was going to break it for parts.

Nissan Skyline R32 GTR "Godzilla"

After some years I got a opportunity to buy a Nissan Skyline R32GTR or BNR32 from someone who had managed to spun a bearing and wasn't interested in repairing the car. The car was a Import from Japan, so very little rust, and had some nice aftermarket parts.

Greddy hardpipe kit
Greddy TI titanium exhaust system
Nismo downpipe
Performance clutch kit
Brembo R33gtr brakes in front
Tein pro suspension with EDFC inbound+outbound
Rota Torque wheels
Earthing kit

Bnr32 as arrived from Japan

I could buy it for a decent price so from now on I finally own a Nissan Skyline R32 GTR.
The idea is to do all the work myself, so rebuilding the engine and fitting all kinds of aftermarket items.
Unfortunately someone in the past wanted to make the car like an Beer R324. Problem was it wasn't finished so the put some old panel work at the car.