Nissan Skyline News

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 The brand was withdrawn after less than three years.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... 

Previous Bathurst 1000 Winners 1963 Harry Firth/Bob Jane Ford Cortina GT 1964 Bob Jane/George Reynolds Ford Cortina GT 1965 Bo Seton/Midge Bosworth Ford Cortina GT500 1966 Rauno Aaltonen/Bob Holden Morris Mini Cooper S 1967 Harry Firth/Fred Gibson Ford Falcon XRGT 1968 Bruce McPhee/Barry Mulholland Holden Monaro GTS

Pimped, blinged, modified or simply done up. They all add up to the same thing: the process of altering a car. It's easy for outsiders to dismiss some of the more extravagant ventures as kitsch or simply a waste of money, but the influence of such films as Pimp My Ride and The Fast And The Furious is growing.For devotees, spending $30,000 on pimping a car is a way of self-expression, of forging a distinct identity and, most important, having fun.Albert Lahood has this sense of pride and enjoyment in abundance.After buying a new Subaru WRX two years ago, the 21-year-old business marketing student transformed it from a run-of-the-mill Soob to a unique show car.“I've added TV screens and had it retrimmed in suede and leather from Italy,” he says. “The wheels are custom-made, and I painted them the same colour as the car.“I've done the interior, the audio, done the wheels, exhaust, engine modifications — the list goes on.“A DVD player, an MP3 player. The engine's got an intercooler, and a special air-flow system, blow-out valve and and engine computer.”That adds up to an estimated $30,000 to $35,000, including the cost of adding no fewer than 12 television screens, some of which can be seen from outside of the car — one is in the boot lid.“It's more of a disease now. Once I had four TVs, but I just added and added,” Lahood says.His parents, and many others, may scratch their heads, but he doesn't need to search for an explanation.“It's unique; I do it to be different. You see many, many WRXs on the street, but I don't want to see many like my car.“That's what makes it. It's out there, wild. I express my thoughts in my car. It makes a statement.”That's something Tony Doran, the boss of Doran Pro Audio, has identified, particularly in the past three years.Doran, who carried out the audio and interior additions to Lahood's ride, says owners are sick of the norm.“They don't want to drive down the street and see an identical vehicle. They want to show their character.“They've evolved into being individual characters as such — and generated a name for themselves.”Mick Taleb, of Tempe Tyres, says this trend encompasses both genders from all economic and ethnic backgrounds. He's also ideally placed to notice that wheels keep getting bigger.Clive Wasserman, the owner of SunGard Window Tinting at Rockdale, says a lot of younger car owners get tinting on their windows, especially as it's a more affordable element of pimping.“They can spend anywhere between $295 and $495, depending on the size and quality,” Wasserman says.“Older people are more concerned about the protection and glare; youngsters are more interested in the appearance of their car.”Cars most likely to get the big makeover treatment include Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs, Nissan 200SXs and Skylines and, of course, Subaru WRXs.Taleb says customers spend anywhere from $1000 to $30,000 on pimping at his company alone, and that doesn't include such items as wheels and tinting.Says Doran: “Before he did up his car, Albert was still Albert, but not noticed. Now he's known — he's a somebody.“It's a world of its own. These fellows can go a few different ways.“Some get into drugs, make a lot of money, but meet their demise abruptly, or they get into work, make a future.“Other fellows blow it all on their cars. A large majority blow it all on their cars to get recognised.”For Lahood, pimping his car has become a hobby — one he can share with 30-odd friends who have the same passion and attend car shows together.“It's more of a reality instead of an impossible thing. As if you'd think you could have 15 TV screens in a car like that. Whoever would have thought 10 years ago they'd have TVs in a boot?”Lahood has funded his automotive hobby by working part-time for his parents' fruit and vegetable wholesale business.Having spent close to $80,000 all up on his car, he'd be lucky to get the $45,000 he paid for the WRX in its original condition if he were to sell.“I didn't build it to make money. I built it as a hobby, and you can't make money off a hobby,” Lahood says.“It's become a part of me. Selling it would be like selling one of the family.”Lahood is equally straight up about the car's downsides. He says police pull him over at least once a week.“They just have a look, see what's going on, see who's driving the car. They're generally OK.“The car's been re-engineered, and I've got a certificate to prove it. I have to carry that.”Security is another factor. Lahood drives his WRX only on weekends and can't take it any place where he won't be able to keep an eye on it all the time.Then there's the big question of insurance premiums.Tony Doran believes the modified-car craze is just getting under way.“It seems as if it's growing at a very steady rate. Every day, we get more and more calls regarding this,” he says.“I'd say this scene is here to stay.”And if Albert Lahood's car is anything to go by, Doran may be right.“There's plenty more to do,” Lahood laughs. “Maybe a colour change, more motor modifications, more TV screens — as many as the battery can handle.”

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