By Cam Tait \/ Wednesday, 29 November 2023 \/ Loading comments<\/p>\n
To folks of a certain age, the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R will always be the one that got away. Though on the expensive side at \u00a350,000ish when new back in 1999, used examples were selling for half of that only a decade ago. But given their status as a staple of the modified scene, finding a good stock example is becoming ever more difficult. When you do find one, it\u2019ll be accompanied by a price tag that\u2019ll double (if not triple) its original worth – and just wait until they\u2019re eligible for US import next year.<\/p>\n
So the days of the affordable R34 GT-R are, sadly, long gone. But if you\u2019re happy to spend big money on arguably the most iconic Japanese car of all time, then there\u2019s a whole world of Godzilla goodness to explore. Yes, you\u2019ll need to budget in excess of \u00a3150,000 (emphasis on the ‘excess’ bit), but with that sort of cash, you\u2019ll be looking at pristine examples like this Bayside Blue GT-R and those lightly breathed on by some of Japan\u2019s finest tuners such as this V-Spec II. A proper Nismo model is still out of reach (even with this very healthy budget), though it does get you this: a Tommykaira R-S. <\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve never played Gran Turismo, then the Tommykaira name may be unfamiliar to you. While the Japanese tuning firm doesn\u2019t seem to be particularly active these days, it was one of the major independent tuners of the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s, creating some of the wildest creations to come out of the country at the time. It didn\u2019t limit itself to one manufacturer, either, though it built up a reputation for being a Nissan specialist, which is where you\u2019ll find the outfit\u2019s properly crazy stuff – and it doesn\u2019t get much crazier than this.<\/p>\n
Tuning companies love chasing big horsepower numbers with R34s (think 1,000hp plus), though Tommykaira often took a more holistic approach with its projects. The RB26DETT in this GT-R received a slew of upgrades, including turbocharges from the N1 homologation special, in-house turbines, intercooler, exhaust system, radiator and a remap to bring power up to 435hp – decent by today\u2019s standards and positively rapid back in 2000. The suspension was also heavily upgraded with Tommykaira-spec Bilstein gas-filled dampers, 25mm lowering springs and a new strut brace. No, it\u2019s not the fastest R34 there is, but it should be one of the best to properly drive.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the way it looks. Tommykaira\u2019s bodykits can be a little bit Marmite (see this Micra M13), but the R-S certainly has the wow factor nailed. Both bumpers have been replaced with the company\u2019s own design, and if take a look underneath you\u2019ll see a vast carbon fibre diffuser at the rear. Whether it or the giant dual-layer wing makes any downforce is anyone\u2019s guess, but there\u2019s no denying it looks utterly bonkers. A complete contrast to the interior, though there are plenty of Tommykaira logos that serve as a reminder that this ain\u2019t no ordinary GT-R.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s reflected in the teeny production numbers, too. Only 100 Tommykaira R34s were produced, and it\u2019s believed only 34 of those were R-S tunes. Number 90 here has covered 47,795 miles since work was complete back in 2000 and, according to the ad, it\u2019s never been exposed to the UK\u2019s salty winter roads. It is a lot of money at \u00a3169,995, but it\u2019s far from the most expensive R34 and is nearly \u00a3100k cheaper than the equivalent Nismo version. Pocket the change, put some of it towards winter prep and have at it – just as TK intended. <\/p>\n