Long Live the King

The year is 1993, 12 hours of racing have come and gone at Australia’s most gruelling track. Graham Neilsen, Keith Carling and Bill Gillespie have completed 1,535km flat out, finishing 3rd in class T and 4th overall. This is the story of one of Australia’s history rich, Chassis #11268, Australian delivered R32 GTR.

Originally owned by Nissan in 1990, 91 and 92 as a prototype, the media bellowed “Long live the king” as team Falken rolled into the 1993 Bathurst 12 hour. 43,937 R32 GTR where built and offered for sale, 106 for outside of Japan in Australia only. 100 cars where offered to the public, 6 cars remained with Nissan for various duties including media work and testing. ADM cars where built a little different to the Japanese counter parts. The rear number plate is wider then the Japanese plates, therefor the reverse lights where moved to the tail light assembly, outer tail light became the turn signal, brake light required by law in the rear window, the badge on the bonnet was changed to the Nissan round logo instead of the ‘S’ for skyline, 300zx fender markers where added, sun visors changed from cloth the vinyl, Dimmer switch instead of foglight on the cluster surround, 260kph speedo with speed limiter removed, second VIN plate added. But, the most impressive thing of all was the cost. At $110,000, this was equally as expensive as the Ferrari 348 and a Porsche 968. The GTR we are looking at here is rich with history, the first road registered GTR in Australia, original registration of EPX118. A factory fresh, black Australian Delivered R32.

As the first registered GTR in Australia, this copped most of the hard work. Winning Car of the year in 1991, everyone begging to have a go in Nissans new supercar, the tests racked up, the GTR put through the hard yards. Little did anyone know, this would be the easiest time of its early years. A fun little fact that the car was the first GTR to get a speeding ticket in Australia, EPX118. Now, the first of many tickets handed out to R32’s around Australia no doubt. The car was then returned to Nissan to help prepare and homologate the 100 Australian delivered R32 for their release and high speed run testing. Some group A race car drivers where involved in the testing and process, dialling the car in before the 1992 race season. Chassis #11268, hitting the TV screens and track as the official pace car for the 1992 Tooheys Bathurst 1000. A race infamous for various reasons, including Jim Richards labelling the crowd “A pack of arseholes”, after the race ended under a red flag due to a crash under heavy rain. This was the end of the import domination at the end of the 1992 season.

Returning in 1993 at the Bathurst 12 hour, the once pace car for the Tooheys 1000, was now competing. How did it get from road car to race car though? After the Bathurst 1000 pace car duties where completed, the car was sold internally at Western Plains Dubbo Nissan, Australia’s biggest Nissan dealer, for motorsport purposes to Falken/OHTSU Tyres Australia. The team at Falken/OHTSU had their eye on the Bathurst 12 hour victory. The car was then transported to Falken Brisbane where it was prepped for testing and development, Carried out at Lakeside Raceway. Having then been transported down to Bathurst for the 12 hour, the car sporting a stunning Falken/OHTSU tyres livery. Little did the teams know, the pit crew consisted of 1991 and 1992 “Super Taikyu” crew, running the Falken OHTSU tyres team from Japan. Also in the country with the crew, a host of “N1” parts where flown in, fitted and installed for the event. Other competitors and staff did not know about the team or the changes, the only thing they did catch in scrutineering was the over sized radiator. Last minute changes to this had the car race ready. 1535km later, flat out for 12 hours, 247 laps completed. 3rd in class and 4th overall. The car and team had fantastic success.

What happened to the car after the 12 hour? Well, the car was then displayed in every Nissan dealer in Australia up until 2004. The car was then sold into a private collection in QLD. A connection to Craig visited this private collection, one thing led to another, 1 year later Craig had possession of the car. From 2004 until 2021, 17 years, the car was not seen by many. Craig is now restoring the car, giving it back to its former glory. Hoping to display the car once again to the drivers from 1993, the car will be competing in many timed sprints. Falken jumping on board as a sponsor for the car once again, providing a few sets of Falken Azenis RT615K+ Semi slicks. Craig has taken it to Phillip Island where it placed first in class at the 2021 Phillip Island Classic. Under the eye of Craig and the hands of Jesse Bryan, the car performed flawlessly throughout the event. Sitting unchanged except tyres and wearables, the car had a refresh over at the team of V Spec Performance. Soon, the RB26 is coming out to be stripped, inspected and bearings replaced to make it a fresh motor coming into its racing return. The GTR is planned for some display laps at the Australian Grand Prix. If all goes well with travelling international, Craig is planning to take the car on a very special trip to the UK, where it will be attending Goodwood Festival of speed.

Craig, having always loved Japanese cars and owning The Valet Car Storage, knew exactly what he was buying. Special cars like this do not come around very often, if at all. A car with such rich history in Australia. Craig’s car history is also as rich as they come, featuring numerous Japanese and euro cars including Ferrari Testarossa, Falken R32 GTR, Skyline R32 GTS-T Itasha Drift car, Pulsar GTI-R, Mitsubishi Triton, 2010 Porsche 911 997 Cabriolet, 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, 2008 Nissan R35 GTR, 1995 Nissan R33 GTR, 2010 Ford Focus RS, Toyota Supra TT Aerotop Fast and Furious Orange, BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet, 1990 Ford Escort RS Turbo, BMW M3 E36 Cabriolet, 1988 Mercedes Benz SL500, 1988 VW Golf GTI Mk2, 1988 Nissan Silvia S13 Turbo Cabriolet, 1999 Subaru Impreza WRX, 1988 VW Golf Mk1 Cabriolet, 1988 VW Golf Mk1 Cabriolet, 1992 Nissan 200sx S13, 1996 Ford Escort RS 2000, 1988 Ford Escort RS Turbo, 1988 White Ford Fiesta XR2. Lastly on order is R35 GTR Final Edition in Millennium Jade. I think it’s fair to say that the GTR is in very safe hands. Also having very enthusiastic sponsors makes the journey that much better, from Falken, Trading car Garage, Compello Car Club and The Valet Car Storage. The only thing left to do is enjoy this car and enjoy the journey it now goes on with Craig, Jesse and the sponsors involved.