The enthusiast market for classic R32, R33, and R34 Skyline GT-Rs is booming. Driven both by Nineties JDM nostalgia and the lapsing of the 25-year import restriction for the U.S. market, collectors are paying premiums for clean versions of these cars. And since so many have been beaten or bruised over their lives, Nissan has launched a bare-metal restoration program.
The program, operated by Nissan's in-house motorsports and performance division NISMO, strips the car down to its frame for a total restoration. Every bit of rust and damage is repaired. Even the sealing is reapplied to ensure it passes the body-in-white torsional stiffness test, confirming that it meets NISMO standards for body rigidity. Then the whole thing gets a factory-quality repaint, either in its original shade or in a new hue.
The engine also gets entirely torn down. The NISMO team replaces parts as needed to ensure new-car levels of balance and performance. They confirm it not just in static testing, but in actual lap-time track tests at their test facility. It hits the track at the hands of a trained NISMO driver, paint protected by gobs of tape. Customers can also optionally have their engine tuned to NISMO-spec performance. Finally, the team restores the interior by replacing any worn plastic, evaluating and repairing the electrical system, overhauling the climate system, and deep cleaning the upholstery.
If it's too far gone, though, upholstery is the one thing NISMO can't replace with original equipment. As noted by Japanese Nostalgic Car, the original fabric doesn't pass modern fire-retardant standards. So if a cleaning isn't enough, NISMO will replace the seat material with seat material from the R35 GT-R. NISMO also fits a special engraved plate reserved for restored cars and featuring the car's VIN.
The cost varies based on what needs to be done, but NISMO lists a reference price as 45 million yen, $432,578 at today's exchange rates. Don't worry, though: It comes with a one-year warranty.
Mack Hogan previously served as the reviews editor for Road & Track. He founded the automotive reviews section of CNBC during his sophomore year of college and has been writing about cars ever since.
