If you have any interest in ever building a kit car I would encourage you to attend the build school offered by Factory Five, not only is it an educational experience but Factory Five offers a discount for their students on the purchase of a kit (dollar saved is dollar earned). During the Factory Five class I learned a significant amount about each of the kits offered by the company and received honest unbiased answers to questions about the advantages and disadvantages of the kits in regards to what my ultimate goal was if I were to undertake the task of a kit car. I decided if I was going to attempt a kit car I would benefit more from the Factory Five 818. I thought that was great to learn because my eyes had been on the GTM. The class is enjoyable to do whether you ever utilize the coupon or not if kit cars interest you. It is only a weekend and the area isn't bad at all. Why not do something different from your otherwise regular, journey lacking weekend?
Obtaining the R33 GTR V-Spec of my dreams begins...
Winter of 2014 one of my life long friends and I flew into Detroit, MI to attend the Factory Five Build School. I discovered Factory Five long ago and dreamed of putting together a GTM with a buddy of mine from the 101st Airborne. Ohhh how my friends and I dreamed, big kid legos. We envisioned a sinister LS7 or a LSX powered GTM build, forced induction included. Wooo baby steps sir! There wasn't a class offered building the GTM so we happily compromised for the '33 Hot Rod.
“Lord, make my words as sweet as honey for tomorrow I may have to eat them."
-- Unknown.
Being a bachelor at the time made it super easy for me, I was ready to go the next day if need be. Josh on the other hand has a career and family to take into consideration. Blast! I wasn't negotiating with just my old friend, I had to assist in convincing his wife to handle the family while we were out enjoying ourselves in Michigan. Now let me tell you what this agreement consist of. The first casualty of comfort is flying Spirit Airlines. It's not really too long of a flight, two hours and forty minutes, not bad. After the accepted and expected inconveniences of commercial flight that have become so "normal" we make it to the boarding area. We realize we have plenty of time before being loaded up into what would become one of the worst flights I have ever experienced, the flight back's misery is equally torturous. We decide to have a drink while we wait, why not? We are on an adventure!
The first call for boarding begins, we finish our drinks quickly and settle our bill as we hastily cram into line to be funnelled into the aircraft to be militarily seated for the next two hours and forty minutes. I will be excruciatingly crammed between two large men in the dreaded middle seat of flight as we make our way to the Detroit area.
Upon our arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport the sky is full of wind and snow welcoming us to Michigan. Thankfully Josh and I being a couple of the few well traveled Americans we each are properly prepared for the weather difference. We make our way to collect our bags and rent a vehicle for the weekend. Splitting the bill of the rental car, hotel and class leads to a pointless debate over what we shall rent for our transportation while in town. With my experience in areas of snow and ice I always find AWD to be the superior drive train to utilize. Even though he agrees with that, it costs a bit more money to rent. "Homey don't play that!" rings in my memory as he quickly decides we are rolling the next few days in a regular Impala. Needless to say compromises were made in order for this adventure to take place. We begin our way to Howell, Michigan to attend the Factory Five Build School at the Mott Community College Livingston Center.
We arrive at the hotel room as the sleet and snow continue to welcome us into town. It felt as if there was a mini blizzard taunting us of its possible arrival. Thankfully we both packed medium cold weather attire so we did not suffer too terribly given the situation, we both had experienced real Winters and were not new to the speed at which the environment can change its mind about which weather would be displayed in the sky. The first evening searching for dinner we stumbled upon Leo's Coney Island. The hike through the trenches between the hotel and that sweet, delicious coney island was a cold one, full of freshly fallen flakes and slumps of distarious dirty driven ice. We continued making the perilous journey to get inside the welcoming warmth of the loving Leo's Coney Island, simply to enjoy a dinner. I wasn't disappointed in the decision.
The first day of class we found our way to check in and are shown around the facility; we were seated in a classroom, briefed, and introductions were made similar to a new adult kindergarten, about go on recess in the field of dreams. The class is shown it's way to the automotive shop where the rest of class will take place. As we view the fellow students Josh and I speak telepathically to select seats next to the only other gentleman near our age range. This gent was in his late twenties and had come in from California. The fourth person at our table was a really cool cat that flew in from Australia for a business conference that was actually taking place across the border in Canada. This chap cleverly realized the date aligned with this class and attended. The other student seated at our table we learn is Mark who is attending the class to prepare to return back to Long Beach, California to build himself a '33 Roadster to enjoy along the beach.
Over the weekend Mark tells me he knows a guy that can import a Skyline. Yes, the magical Nissan Skyline GTR. Now I have heard this before, I have heard it all before. When I was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY I remember being told of the "magical guy" who can get absolutely any import car you want, except for a R33. He could get a R32, even a R34... but sorry, not a R33. Mark, a.k.a. California Dude, tells me his guy can import me a R33 to which I respond with great skepticism, "If you can find me a R33 GTR, I'll buy it" causing Mark and I to exchange information.
The bottomline is that I love the R33 Skyline GT-R!
Why a R33?
Now many ask "why a R33", to which there is no right or wrong response so I simply answer, why not? The next question I ask is "is it a GT-R or not"? I want ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system including an active limited slip differential, I am not a drifter that's a skill I never advanced in. That being said, this means I have no reason to request a rear wheel drive Skyline. Those are just my feelings on the matter. I also acknowledge the argument about the GT-R not being a true AWD vehicle, I get it, I know that it is more of a RWD vehicle that receives assistance from the front wheels as needed which is a very cool tidbit of information. I will refer to the Nissan Skyline GT-R as "GTR" interchangeably with "GT-R" throughout this blog. I will also call it AWD throughout this blog. I don't want any debate about miniscule difference, I just want to enjoy the car. Thank you to Jalopnik for an outstanding read about not only the R33 but the R33 V-Spec. All in all, I fell in love with the R33 because it is the black sheep, the overlooked generation of the legendary Nissan Skyline and I recognize the under appreciated Godzilla that the R33 Nissan Skyline is!
While in Howell, Michigan
When I'm away from home exploring the world, "carpe diem" is what they say, and I completely agree. One thing I enjoy doing while travelling is visiting micro or macro breweries, wineries, distilleries, and any other crafted alcoholic treasuries if you will. The main one that stuck out from this visit was Eternity Brewing. I still often wear the t-shirt I purchased upon my visit. I enjoyed the beer and conversations we were able to enjoy while visiting their location. If you are ever in the Howell, Michigan area you should check out Eternity Brewing. I don't want to lie and specifically recommend something off the top of my head, I can't. we were there about six years ago. I can only tell you that neither of us were disappointed with the experience.
Sometime later...
A few months later I receive a call from Mark telling me "the guy he knows" has located a couple R33's and would like to discuss making a sale. The kind of man I am... I realize I should stand by my word and see what's being brought to the table. Minutes later I find myself on the phone with Keni who is explaining to me how I can import a R33 under a specific statute and he would like to email me pictures of the available vehicles. After several emails and phone calls we stumble upon a white Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec... you read that correctly. R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec. I play off my response casually and place my order. Now the following time is a wild roller coaster of discussions that cost more and last longer than anyone I have ever met is capable of clinging onto their magical zen of carefree powers for. In hindsight I may have handled the situation differently. However, that moment has passed and I now own a 1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec, I own the car I lusted after for so many years.
Texas Foreign Evidence Checklist
Once you own a Skyline you are swallowed into an odd place in car ownership. There are so many different ways of obtaining an imported car. I am not talking about purchasing a Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW, Audi or similar at your standard down the road dealership. I am talking about purchasing one from a different country, bringing the car to the coast, having it inspected by customs then transferred to either a registered importer or to the Homeland Security Office so they can inspect and provide required paperwork needed when submitting your packet to receive registration in the United States Of America. If you perform the procedure enough you also learn that each state has different requirements so you should reach out to your local Department Of Motor Vehicles before undertaking the task.
Now that the door has been opened, a friend of mine from the 101st Airborne, a friend of mine from the 10th Mountain Division, and my oldest nephew all own R32 Skyline GTRs. The way you are noticed in a right hand drive (RHD) vehicle is different than how you are noticed in an envy inflicting vehicle such as an Audi R8 or 1974 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. Sometimes you will find the Lamborghini admiring the Skyline, also the people who acknowledge the Skyline are people who actually have an interest in motor vehicles, especially when they are aware of which generation you are cruising in. After a while you start picking up on the nuances. Needless to say, after much work and a few years I found myself the owner of a 1997 Nissan Skyline GTR V-Spec.
In hindsight I don't have enough regrets to resent the experience and purchase. I will make sure that I provide the warnings to anyone who asks...if you can do it without the help of a Registered Importer, do it and behold the basket of bullshit as it topples over.
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