Once upon a time - Dextrx

It is the year 1998.. France Wins the world  Cup, Microsoft becomes biggest Company in the World valued at 261 billion dollars, and the first R34’s roll off the Nissan factory floor. And I was completely oblivious to it all.

Here I was, 12 years old, and the only concept of cars I knew outside of Ford Falcon station wagons and Toyota Taragos was the eye candy I was seeing in the first Gran Turismo game. I would spend hours with my cousins huddled around the Playstation, seeing who’s car would beat the latest time set in the high speed ring, we loved modifying our virtual GTOs and Supras. You would think from here my affiliation for cars would continue and at 18 I would be dying to own my first set of wheels…but it didn’t happen…yet.

Many hours spent going round and round....

As a family we moved around. I spent 14 years in the middle east and another 6 in Singapore before finally settling in Melbourne Australia. Through most of that time the thought of cars didn’t interest me at all. It wasn’t until I had the opportunity to learn to ride motorcycles did my love for road machines begin.

K9 GSXR-750

A Honda CBR150 followed by a Suzuki GSXR750 later, I found my interest peeking into the import scene. I sold my bike and I had 9k to spend. Soon after, I was the owner of a 1996 R33 GTST Skyline Series 2 and my love for imports was born. I kept the R33 completely stock as I knew this wasn’t the Skyline I wanted to make mine (More on that later). I spent my year of ownership with the R33 getting to know the car – how it drives, how it behaves. It is with this car that I learnt both the underwear wetting joy and scares of owning a powerful rear wheel drive car. I was in love.

My first love.. The R33

The R33 was treating me so well, it was powerful, reliable, it sounded great and it turned heads. It was an absolute dream to drive and I couldn’t be happier, that is, until the allure of the R34 started to grow. I tried to supress my feelings, forget about them, just as any loyal man would do, but try as I might…she would occupy my mind, my thoughts and my dreams.

The R33 was soon up for sale.

Hunting around for an R34 GTT within my budget (15k) at the time was a little difficult. Trying to find a decent example with as few issues as possible was time consuming. I eventually found a beautiful white example with mild mods and a tasteful body kit within my price range. Soon after, I was driving her home, insanely excited to be owning the car of my dreams.

My Mistress.. The R34

From here is where the journey of making this Skyline mine begins and I hope you, my readers, will follow me on this journey as we both learn about the joys and pains of owning and modifying an R34 Skyline.