For Emil (@GTR33N), the story of his R33 GT-R goes all the way back to Gran Turismo days and the thrill of spotting a real-life Godzilla in the wild. Growing up in the UK, the Skyline GTR was a mythical beast — rare, revered, and unforgettable.
So when his dad bought an R33 GT-R in 2006, it set something in motion. Years later, when Emil was ready to find his forever car, the choice was already made.
Why the R33?
"It’s embedded in me," Emil says. And it shows. He’s owned several Skylines over the years, but when it came time to choose the one, nothing else stood a chance. The R33 GT-R wasn’t just a dream — it was destiny.
Inspiration: OEM+ With a Personal Twist
At first, Emil thought he might replicate his dad’s old car. But the deeper he got into the project, the more he realized it had to reflect his style. The result? A clean, cohesive OEM+ build with tasteful upgrades and bespoke choices throughout.<
Why Icons Reimagined Wheels?
"They look period correct but are built with modern tech," Emil says. Fitment was crucial: 19x10.5 ET12 with 285/30/19 Michelin PS4s give the car the wide, aggressive stance a GT-R deserves. “A GTR should have wide tyres,” he adds — we agree.
The Build Sheet
Engine:
- Rebuilt RB26 with forged internals
- Ported & machined cylinder head
- Tomei Valve Springs
- HKS V-Cam Step 1 + HKS 256 exhaust cam
- Upgraded valve springs
- HKS GT III-SS turbos
- Tomei manifolds
- Midori elbows
- Mines titanium downpipe
- Tomei titanium de-cat
- Mines titanium exhaust (first in the UK for R33)
Suspension:
- Ohlins DFV coilovers
- StanceWorks air cups (front)
Wheels & Tires:-
- Icons Reimagined 19"x10.5 ET12
- Michelin PS4 285/30/19
Interior:
- Custom work by Emil’s dad
- New OEM interior parts from Nissan
Exterior:
- UK front bumper with vents
- Series 3 splitter
- 400R side skirts (no door inserts)
- OEM rear spats
- Nismo Omori CF exhaust trim
- Green-tinted CF spoiler blade with Hasemi Sports lip
- Porsche Jet Green Metallic respray
- OEM R34 GT-R diffuser (to be installed)
Rare Bits & Details
This build has deep Nismo DNA: carbon fiber airbox, duct, and turbo pipes. Kind of pieces that JDM nerds whisper about.
Setbacks? Of Course
Restoring the shell uncovered a few surprises, and the rebuilt engine still has a few gremlins to sort. But Emil’s in it for the long haul — and he’s not cutting corners.
Driving It Like It Deserves
This car isn’t a trailer queen. Emil plans to drive it year-round, come rain or shine. He’s even got his eyes on Japan: a future trip with his kids in the back, carving through touge roads, soaking where the legend began.
Big ups to clubbragga_official for the pictures!
What’s Next?
As any GT-R owner knows: it’s never really done. Emil’s got some mechanical fine-tuning to do next, but he’s also watching the horizon — maybe a single turbo conversion, maybe an HKS VCam exhaust setup if it ever sees the light of day. Until then, the mission is simple: keep improving.
Shoutouts
First up, Sabina — his wife — bought him the car in 2016. “So the whole restoration is her fault,” he laughs. Big thanks to his parents and siblings for chipping in on the interior, and to Steve Richardson & the SR team for making the dream build a reality.
A family effort, a forever car, and a build that honors the past while chasing what’s next. Emil’s R33 isn’t just part of the Icons Reimagined story — it is the story.