Nissan Skyline 1980 News

The R34 GTR, up until the R35’s release, was Nissan’s true performance flag ship car. A car that, to this day, fetches prices ranging up to a staggering $150,000 on the second hand market. Japan, and the rest of the world, just couldn’t get enough of this Skyline. Hundreds of them have been heavily modified with some pushing in excess of 1,000hp at the wheels. In the years following the final run of GTRs, in 2001 Nissan’s tuning arm, Nismo, even purchased quality second hand examples and rebuilt them into the now infamous Z-Tune GTR … with over 400kw from the factory. In celebration, Skyline Australia recently arranged a R34 cruise to Mount Wilson west of Sydney. This picturesque location at the top of Bells Line of Road presented a typical Japanese autumn photo-op for close to 100 Skylines that turned up. The view of an endless line of stove-top tail lights was truly as site to behold as the procession led its way up the mountain. A show and shine, Japanese sword skill demonstration, and traditional Kimono wearing grid-girls were all part of the day. However it was the sound of all those straight six engines that truly stole the show. From a Mines GTR replica to well sorted original R32 GTRs the event was one of the largest ever gatherings of Skylines in Australia and a real tribute to the passion of the Australian Skyline owners community. Happy anniversary and long live the mighty GTR.

Panel Shop 1, Revesby - Honda CRX Respray After a small accident and on advice from several friends, I convinced my wife that this shop was the way to go for a re-spray on her CRX. We took the car in and negotiated to totally re-spray the car in factory white and colour-code the side skirts. Basic stuff. We were told it would be a four week turnaround and quoted $2000 plus the insurance claim payout. All good. Four weeks later, the promises started. If I could get them on the phone, they would say “pick it up tomorrow” then cancel the next day. Same thing happened daily for the next week. Finally we pick up the car a week late, after waiting around for half a day till they get it clean and ready. Then driving the car out reveals the plugs are full of water. From there, it gets worse. We list a full page of imperfections from masking tape lines and dents to a misaligned bumper. Basically, points that should be picked up in the process of a respray. Another two weeks of being stuffed around, we are told that it is finally ready. On picking it up, there are still two dents that haven’t been fixed. Finally get the car back and still not happy. But at least there’s no chance I’ll ever deal with them again. Some compensation was offered but it was really too late in proceedings. Panel Shop 2, Homebush - Skyline Aftermarket Front Bar Install After the above mess, my wife says we are only going to a smaller outfit from now on. This place is not cheap and I had to accept that the premium cost quoted to paint and install would be worth it, based on my wife’s feelings about the company. Eerk! So we dropped off my R34, with the front bar still in the original box. The owner, Joe, went through the options I had on installing the bumper and what he would be doing to it. All included in the original quote so there were no surprises. A week later as promised, I headed to the shop, to be greeted by a clean-as-a-whistle R34 with fitted and painted Impul front bar. No bumps, imperfections, issues, or anything else to complain about. The finish is excellent and the colour-matching is flawless. The bumper was mounted to all the factory holes and Joe personally mounted the front number plate on the spot to my specification. The morals of the story are: - you get what you pay for - your mates are not always right - just because places have a big name, they are not always the best - and – most important of all — listen to you wife!  

It will be five years before Nissan Australia is ready for a second shot at the top end of the local car business. It's working hard on a plan to re-establish the Infiniti brand as it pushes its prestige arm into Europe off the back of success in the US, but admits there is no firm deal. “I wouldn't say it's definitely happening,” Nissan Australia marketing general manager Ross Booth says. Infiniti is launching a European attack in 19 countries, including Britain. There's a range of models, from the compact EX to the G coupe and sedan, luxury M sedan and heavyweight QX four-wheel-drive. “The UK is the first right-hand-drive market, in March 2009. It's a global push now,” Booth says. But he isn't convinced of the need for Infiniti, or the right timing. The brand came to Australia in 1980 at a time when Japanese makers were moving quickly into extra luxury channels, including Lexus for Toyota, Amati and Eunos for Mazda and Acura for Honda. The only Infiniti model sold here was the portly Q45, which failed alongside the working-class Nissan models. The brand was withdrawn after less than three years. But Lexus starred for Toyota, Acura has done well for Honda, and Infiniti is doing a good job in the US with vehicles which are surprisingly good to drive and also good value. This time around, Booth believes Infiniti can work . . . but only with the right package of products, price and performance. “We will do it only if I'm sure it will be successful. It has to be done properly. It's a matter of launching at the right time in the right market with the right dealer network. There is no immediate plan,” he says. Even so, he is taking a keen interest. “The model is about the customer experience and making sure they are looked after properly. It's not just about whacking up a dealership. We'd have to establish a dealer network that would meet the high demands of customers in that segment.” Booth also believes Infiniti must have the right products, and not just high-powered petrol engines. “At this stage for Infiniti, there are no diesel vehicles. In Australia, the requirement is for a diesel variant from launch.” So, when will Infiniti be coming? “Not any time soon. Five years sounds like a long time, but that's the sort of time frame you have to be talking about,” Booth says.  

Brock used the Shelby Mustang operation in the US and AMG in Germany as models for his HDT Special Vehicles, which in turn provided the model for Holden Special Vehicles and Ford Performance Vehicles. The first special was the VC HDT Commodore, released in 1980. It's now a classic and appreciating in value.The car Brock modified was the top-of-the-range VC Commodore SL/E, already loaded with plenty of fruit. It came with Holden's 5.0-litre V8, but Brock and his team fitted large valves for better performance. It put out 160kW at 4500 revs and 450Nm at 2800 revs, enough to have it racing to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds.Brock offered the choice of Holden's four-speed manual gearbox or the three-speed auto. A limited-slip differential was standard. Brock fitted uprated springs and Bilstein gas shock absorbers, which improved handling.A fibreglass bodykit; wheel-arch flares, front bib spoiler and a rear wing; gave the car a sporting image. Colours were limited to white, black or red. Brock built 500 VC HDT Commodores. Models of the Brock cars are generally sold outside the trade.If you could believe the published values for a VC HDT, you'd expect to pay about $20,000 for one in good condition, but try double that now.Check the hard-to-find special Brock components are there; signed steering wheel, Irmscher alloys, high-flow air cleaner. The bodykits were made of fibreglass, which didn't withstand a knock. Check the various bodykit components for cracking around the attachment points and distortion between mounting points.Len Kennedy says he was impressed with the VC HDT, but debated spending the extra $6000 or so over a standard SL/E before eventually succumbing to the Brock ride and handling. Kennedy says his car has done 130,000km with little trouble. The Brock Commodore memory is kept alive today through Brock's former company, HDT Special Vehicles, now at Revesby.Co-owner Len Pennisi says values are increasing. “Unfortunately with Peter Brock's demise last year, cars quadrupled in value ... everybody wants a piece of that era,” he says. “Collectors are buying them, not selling them again; and they're not getting driven."“A lot of people are buying them to make money, like buying a house.” HDT Brock Commodore VCYear: 1980Price: If you could believe the published values for a VC HDT, you'd expect to pay about $20,000 for one in good condition, but try double that and expect it to keep going up.Engine: 5.0L/V8 160kW/450NmPerformance: 0-100kmh 8.4 secsRating: 75/100Verdict: Attractive Australian sports sedan that has the potential to increase in value. Rivals Falcon S XR6Years: 1992-1993Price: $8000-$9000 Nissan Skyline SilhouetteYears: 1986-1990Price: $5800-$6500 XB Falcon GTYears: 1973-1976Price: $15,000-$25,000 Features High fuel consumptionPotential to increase in valueSolid performanceCheck to ensure it is the real dealRumbling V8 exhaust noteReassuring handlingComfortable ridePresence of special Brock parts Have you driven this classic Aussie performance car? Do you have one stored away, quietly increasing in value? Let us know below... 

About 160 cars are expected at the first Nissan Skyline Nationals in Shepparton this weekend.For a taste of Skylines through the ages, go along to tomorrow's show 'n' shine at Victoria Park Lake. You will see everything from the first Skyline, the Prince GT launched in 1952, to the current V35.There's a special focus on the Australian-built R31, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. More than 50 of them will be in Shepparton.In the 1980s, the R31 wasn't a great success."It was better than the competitors, but looked old before its time," Nationals organiser Carolyn Kruger says. "But it can't be that bad because I have seven of them."There has been a cult revival with the R31 because it has the six cylinders and rear-wheel-drive youngsters like," she says.A drawcard for Skyline fans are four former race cars: a DR30, two HR31s and the 1992 Bathurst-winning R32 GTR.The track day on Sunday is at DECA (Driver Education Centre Australia) and includes a motorkhana, skidpan and sprints.Victoria Park Lake show 'n' shine 10am-5pm. Track events at DECA, 145 Wanganui Rd, Shepparton, 9am-4pm. Both events free for spectators. Registration for owners today at Shepparton Town Hall. Ph: 0419 344 322