(Originally written for and posted on JDMStyleTuning.com Featured Rides section)

Some time ago I was faced with the need to purchase a new car,  my second.  Fortunately for me, the time to purchase a new car came two months before my 25th birthday.

Seeing as I was in need of  a car and would soon be eligible for insurance on a vehicle with a turbo, I decided to find something that meet the following criteria.  Rear wheel drive, turbo, power to shove you into the seat under acceleration.

Back then Skyline’s weren’t that popular.  They still had a premium price, you’d often find late model R33 GTST’s at around $30k, and seeing an import on a daily basis was unheard of.  Because of this I decided that I’d only look at locally available vehicles, and there was only one in my price range, the Nissan 200sx.

I almost bought a red 1997 S14a with BBS rims and lowered springs.  But the day that I was going to see it, was the day I got a phone call from the owner advising that it had just been sold.

Over the next few weeks I would have a look at and test drive some very sad examples of s14′s.  Scratched-to-buggery interior plastics advertised as “immaculate interior”,  fading and peeling paint advertised as “one owner, always garaged”, and oil stained engines advertised as “always serviced”.

The drive wasn’t too enticing either.

Then, one weekend I decided to buy the Trading Post.  It was there that I found my car.  Listed with low km’s, 1997, white, R33 Skyline GTST.  It was listed at a dealership in Parramatta.  After lunch on the Saturday I went down and test drove the car.  It ticked all the  boxes, threw me into the back of the seat under acceleration (with the potential for more), rear wheel drive, and turbo….and it was immaculate.

The only mods that had been done were a cat back 3.5″ Apex’i exhaust with “Super Megaphone” written on the tip, Tein coilover adjustable suspension, and air filter.

But I fell in love with the drive, and how clean the car was.  Inside and out it was much cleaner than any of the s14′s I had been looking at.  The sound of the RB was quite a bit nicer too.

After I put the deposit down I went home and began to google “Nissan R33 Skyline GTST series 2″.  Nowadays I’d probably be googling first, joining forums, researching the car, finding one, and then putting a deposit down.  But back then, not so much.

The day I took delivery of my car was the day I joined a forum dedicated to cars like the one I just bought.  One synonymous with the name of the car and my country of origin.  I was welcomed with open arms, I had never felt so accepted before.

Back in those days if I happened across another Skyline, the driver of the other Skyline would flash their headlights and frantically wave their hand out the window.  This happened on more than one occasion, and I felt good every time it happened.

Within a few days of owning my car and joining in on the forum banter, I decided it was time to attend one of the meet-ups happening near my place.  It just so happened that this was also a dyno-day.  It was going to be held at Unique Autosports in Castle Hill.

The day was to be sponsored by a few companies, one being Zoom magazine.  The editor at the time was the one covering the event.

Alone, I arrived with hoards of scary looking Skyliner’s staring at my stock car.  Their judgmental eyes making me want to run and hide.  A sea of unfamiliar faces, and a lonesome me.

After my car went up, the editor of Zoom magazine came over to speak to me.  He asked me about the car, my plans and dreams.  I didn’t know who he was until he started to take notes, when I looked at him strangely and  asked, “why are you taking notes?”

I stayed the whole day.  One of the first to arrive, and one of the last to leave.  I saw many nice cars, and quite a few beastly examples.  Even met a couple of people.  I think the first person to say hello to me was a guy by the name of John (silver-gtst on the forums).  I didn’t know who he was till he mentioned his forum name, and even when he did I didn’t believe him.

Silver-gtst on the forums was obnoxious, outspoken, and most of the time came across rude.  The guy infront of me, one of the only people to come up and start talking to me did NOT resemble this online persona at all!  Quiet, and friendly.

During the presentation I wasn’t expecting to receive anything.  I just wanted to see who won.  Little did I know, the editor of Zoom had organized a special prize and nominated me for it.

I won a stack of High Performance Imports and Japanese DVD’s.  The encouragement award.  These were presented to me by John (owner of UAS).

That night, and the next day I spent watching the Japanese in awe.  The things they could achieve with cars like mine.  The modifying bug struck, and struck hard.  My wallet still hasn’t forgiven me.

A few years after this event I was hopeful to run into that editor of Zoom again.  To thank him, and let him know the progress on my car.  Sadly, I never did run into him again.

So many years have passed since that day.  Back then I had no idea I would be where I am today.  I can still remember how I felt when I went up to collect my prize, and I can remember thinking to myself,  “I’m going to keep this car and turn it into something special.”

***

Over the years I started to research engine and turbo modifications eventually settling on a combination that would net me 274kw at the rear wheels.  The body I’ve kept pretty much standard, although at one point I did have an East Bear carbon fibre bonnet fitted.  The bonnet now proudly graces the walls of my garage.  The bootlid still remains, and needs to be painted, well, I’d like it to be white.  It seems my tastes have changed, nowadays I much prefer my cars to have clean lines than outrageous bodykits.  Wheel fitment though is something that I’m keen on, and keen on rectifying with this car.  But that will come in time.

271kw at the wheels during this run

My eagerness to be a part of the club grew over the years. For a brief period I would attempt to be at every event, and at one stage the track bug bit.

One event that I nearly didn’t go to turned out to be something that would lead to a significant part of my life.  Silver-gtst called me up the night before a show n’ shine.  I didn’t want to go, it was far away.  But he convinced me, and we met up for the long drive to up the coast.

It was there that I would meet my girlfriend of 4 years.  Within a few months of being together we would start shopping for her own Skyline.  We eventually found one, in white, with white wheels.  An R32 GTST.  The perfect match for my car.

Our lives revolved around our cars and the events being held by the club we belonged to.  From meets to track days, we’d be there with atleast one car, if not both.  But the time came to sell my girlfriend’s car.  The day it drove away with it’s new owner my heart broke.  I can still vividly see it turning the corner and disappearing.

Sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened if I hadn’t ever ended up with a Skyline.  I’ve met awesome people through owning this car, forged friendships, and developed a lifelong relationship.  Who would’ve thought that that could happen.

In the years since, a lot has changed.  It’s impossible to go a day without seeing a Skyline on the road, track days that I attend are few and far between, and I no longer attend meets (lack of time and laziness on my part).  But, I’ve made memories with this thing, to me it’s more than just a car.  I can still sit in it and remember the night I picked her up.  Looking over the unfamiliar dashboard, noticing the boost gauge, all the lights, pushing the clutch in and slotting her into first, and the feeling of anticipation as I pulled out of the lot about to undertake my very first drive.