The R33 Skyline GT

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We've often commented in the past that the R33 Skyline GT-R, sandwiched between the iconic R32 and the legendary R34, never quite got its just due. The middle child syndrome applied to a trio of arguably the most desired of all golden era JDM collectibles means that though it always possessed the goods, it was often ignored by the masses.

The R33's lack of attention, at least stateside, has seemingly turned around in recent years as more and more mid-'90s GT-R models find their way to U.S. soil. For Jimmy Kim, the idea of owning a Skyline is something he's kept in mind ever since he was a little kid, and, more specifically, the R33 chassis was always the one that stood out most in his eyes. "Ever since I was a kid playing Gran Turismo, the R33 was the dream," he says. "I believe the R33 is a true '90s classic and though it's considered the underdog, I personally believe it's the best Skyline."

Those childhood daydreaming sessions became reality when in 2020, after searching for just the right one, Jimmy nabbed this 1995 V-Spec model. He notes, "the moment it became legal, I sought to find this specific color (KN6) and eventually I found one." The majority of that deep grey color remains just as it was applied by Nissan, though the front end was resprayed to get a proper color match to the new parts he's added.

Gone is the factory hood, replaced by a D.Speed version complete with an escape route for unwanted heat and additional anchors afforded by quick-latch pins. The factory bumper remains but its lower portion is now joined by a Series 3 lip, while the GT-R's flanks are highlighted by a set of side diffuser, and you'll find a set of spats covering the rear bumper ends and finishing up the very subtle but effective body changes. For someone so enamored with the appeal of the R33's silhouette, a somewhat OEM-plus feel was his goal.

The wheels should look familiar, being that Nismo LMGT2s are a popular choice for Skyline builds, but it's the offset and depth that separate Jimmy's wheels from the others. With the help of Nifty Built Wheels, they were disassembled, thoroughly reconditioned, and built to Jimmy's specs, including refreshed white faces, gold hardware, and a stepped lip treatment. The rejuvenation process brought measurements up to 19x10.5 +15. With 285/30 tires, the 33's native fenders are now properly filled without resorting to any questionable suspension settings.

The subtle nature of this build's exterior isn't at all reflected under the hood, where Jimmy tells us he rebuilt the engine from the ground up and didn't skimp on the performance upgrades. CP pistons and Manley rods replace the originals with a Tomei head gasket separating the HKS cam-equipped head from its bottom end. Tomei also supplied the turbo manifold and downpipe, while the factory turbos were swapped for a pair of Garrett GT2860Rs rather than opting for the single-turbo conversion most would expect.

A large Plazmaman intercooler and piping were included, as was a healthy amount of fuel supplied by a set of Walbro 525-lph pumps and 1,200-cc injectors. Combine all those pieces together and whip them into shape with Haltech's 2000 Elite and you too can realize more than 600 hp and almost 500 lb-ft. of torque. Rather than an engine with an on/off switch that goes from lag to light speed, Jimmy's twin turbo set up offers the sort of driving experience Nissan intended, albeit at a much higher rate of speed.

There's no hiding the under-hood changes, and that's just fine by Jimmy who wanted to highlight the RB26 and its upgrades. Shining charge piping on one end, a polished Nismo intake manifold on the other, both separated by a glowing red valve cover with AN lines sprawled just above, it serves as a fully functional and effective mixture of performance and appearance.

The titanium R-Tune shock tower bar that demands attention under the hood is part of the suspension makeover Jimmy applied to the almost 30-year-old chassis. Out of sight are Ultra Racing sway bars, an array of Nismo bushings, SPL's alignment kit, front tension rods and rear arms, and Tein coil overs.

After purchasing the car in 2020 and already bringing it up to his standards, we had to ask what, if anything, would be next for this pristine Skyline. "I plan to add big brakes and just continue to work on improving the power and engine," he tells us. "I also want to continue to update all of the trim with new OEM parts." If the R33 is in fact in the midst of a much-deserved uprising, then Jimmy Kim is well ahead of the pack.

Owner Jimmy Kim

Instagram @kn6gtr

Engine RB26; Nismo engine mounts, intake manifold; CP pistons; Manley rods; Tomei head gasket, turbo manifold, down pipe, turbo elbow, test pipe; HKS 272 cam shafts, adjustable came gears, SSQV4 blow-off valve; Garrett GT2860R x 2; GReddy suction kit, Grex oil cooler, relocation kit; Plazmaman 76mm intercooler; flex fuel; Walbro 525 fuel pump x2; 1,200cc injectors; Radium fuel rail, fuel pressure regulator; Garage Defend carbon fiber cooling panel; Chase Bays overflow tank; Leask-spec oil catch can; aluminum radiator

Power 613hp, 492tq

Drivetrain R34 GT-R Getrag 6-speed transmission; OS Giken triple plate clutch; Tilton hydraulic throw-out

Suspension Tein mono-flex; Ultra Racing sway bars; Nismo bushings; SPL alignment kit, front tension bar, SPL rear arms; R-Tune titanium front shock tower bar

Braking DBA 4000 drilled and slotted discs; EBC red stuff pads; Brembo calipers; Nismo stainless steel lines; Cusco master cylinder brace

Wheels & Tires 19x10.5 +15 step lip Nismo LMGT2; 285/30 Continental Extreme Contact; Nismo lug nuts

Exterior KN6 Dark Grey Pearl; Series 3 lip, side skirt extensions, rear spats; D.Speed hood

Interior Braum seats; Nismo tachometer; custom carbon fiber console, dash bezel

Thank You The BCNR33 So-Cal group (#thebettergtr), NiftyWheels for the custom wheel build, SOS Custom for the paint and body work, Braum for the Seats