Take a look at your screen. Don’t be surprised if
this car looks familiar, coz what you’re gazing at is a spare-no-expense
recreation of the Mine’s Time Attack R34 from the popular Sony PS2 game, Gran
Turismo 4.
Skylines don’t get any more exotic than
this!
And don’t think for a moment that this is merely a
styling replica of that famous Mine’s R34. Far from it. It’s only when you
discover the carbon fibre tailshaft, Alcon six-pot anchors and authentic Mine’s
built engine that you begin to understand how the owner has spent nearly
AUD$300,000 on this beast (including purchase price).
Let’s start off looking at the engine. The owner –
a good friend of Domenic of Autostyle Performance Cars – recognised there was no
one in Australia with the vast tuning experience to match the Japanese
company Mine’s. So there could be no stuffing around. The standard engine was
removed and sent to Japan with instructions to build it to the same specs as
the Time Attack car. A technical document detailing Australian fuel brews was
also sent to Japan so Mine’s could assemble and tune the engine to suit.
What’s inside the engine is a closely guarded
secret. But it’s obvious that pretty well everything has been replaced – it’s
kinda essential when the rev limiter is set to an amazing 10,500 rpm! The swept
capacity remains at 2.6 litres but a tremendous spread of torque has been
achieved with careful selection of hardware and tuning.
The turbo system comprises a pair of HKS GT25/30
ball-bearing turbochargers blowing into a huge front-mount ARC air-to-air
intercooler. Mandrel piping and Samco hoses are used for all induction routes.
Air is drawn through an ARC airbox which, interestingly, connects to a pair of
Mine’s modified airflow meters. On the opposite end of the combustion process,
gasses are channelled through a 3 ½ inch titanium exhaust that weighs almost
next to zero. The retail price, on the other hand, is a long way from that!
Mine’s tuned the engine using a custom modified
version of the standard ECU (with recalibrated airflow meter signals) and the
fuel system is stepped up with 600cc injectors, a Tommei rail, Sard pressure
regulator and a high-flow in-tank pump. It appears that the ignition remains
standard apart from spark plugs.
The engine’s health is protected by an
external oil cooler, ARC aluminium radiator and a large capacity oil catch can.
An optic of the engine bay reveals an array of overflow and filler bottles along
with an off-the-shelf ARC ram-air panel to force cooling air through the
radiator.
Backing the Mine’s engine is, you guessed it, a
Mine’s driveline. A twin-plate carbon clutch channels torque through a six-speed
manual box with custom ratios (still with synchro engagement) and the diffs are
replaced with shorter ratio jobs with more aggressive lock-up characteristics. A
carbon fibre tailshaft is also installed. Domenic from Autostyle (who has driven
countless modified GT-Rs) says the shorter gearing and the top-notch engine
package delivers amazing throttle response and a progressive torque delivery –
it really makes the most of the 10,500 rev limiter.
With boost set to around 1.6 Bar using a HKS EVC,
the Mine’s built engine makes an easy 360kW at the wheels without pushing the
limits of pump fuel. Domenic admits there are more powerful GT-Rs out there, but
none come close to matching the response and rev-ability of this machine. It’s
the ultimate street/circuit setup.
And that brings us to the suspension
and brakes package.
Mine’s know a thing or two about making a GT-R
handle so they were enlisted to provide the same suspension setup as used on the
Time Attack car. The ride height, damper bump and rebound are adjustable as are
the tension rods and various other suspension arms. The chassis is also
strengthened with an array of titanium braces.
One of the only aspects of the car to receive
local modification is the brakes. You’d go a long way to improve the combination
of Alcon six-pot calipers and 365mm slotted front discs teamed with four-pot
calipers and slotted rear discs. Complete with braided lines and performance
pads, Dominic says these anchors cost the owner somewhere around AUD$8000...
The guards are filled by Japanese-sourced Enkei Racing wheels measuring 18 x 10.5 inches. These lightweight rims
wear 265mm Falken street legal slicks for track use and 285mm Dunlops for road
use. Apparently there are no problems with tyre clearance.
Still sounding every bit like a genuine
Time Attack car, isn’t it?!
The final touch – which is focussed on performance
as much as appearance – is the fitment of a Mine’s body kit. The car carries
carbon fibre mirrors, an ARC carbon fibre rear diffuser, modified front bar with
lower lip, side skirts and an adjustable rear wing. With an aero package like
this, we imagine there’s plenty of downforce and stability at high speed. A
Mine’s sticker kit completes the appearance.
Inside, the standard R34 GT-R V-spec II cabin is
improved with carbon fibre race seats, a Nismo steering wheel and gear knob, a
320 km/h and 11,000 rpm gauge cluster, shift light, improved audio system and
the EVC boost controller.
With almost 300 grand thrown at it, this R34
V-spec II is unquestionably one of the most desirable in Australia. It’s a dream
machine for anyone who’s picked up a PS2 controller. And now it’s a dream car
that – if you’ve got the right amount of money! – you can live for real. If
you’re a genuinely interested buyer, we suggest contacting Domenic from
Autostyle (see details below).
So put down that controller and pick up the keys
to the real thing!
Contact:
Autostyle Performance Cars 0414 444
930
www.autostyle.com.au
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