If this were your absolute dream car and you planned to keep it until you die, I could see spending $100,000 on this, but $430,000?! I don't see it. The number of cars you could buy, maintain, and store for $430K...
Photograph Courtesy Nismo
In a widening field of manufacturer-backed restoration programs, Nissan’s performance branch, Nismo, is the latest outfit to offer such a service for customers.
At this time, it seems that only the R32-chassis GT-R is available for this service, though the restoration process is very thorough and can be customized in enormous ways to meet the customer’s needs.
Nismo summarizes its process in 12 steps:
Of course, that’s a significant oversimplification of all the work that goes into the restoration, but perhaps the price tag can give you a better idea of how extensive the work is: 45 million yen, or approximately $431,615.
Sure, that’s roughly 12 times the price of what Hagerty considers to be the average value for a first-year model, though it’s worth noting that the restoration service is entirely customizable. For example, the website notes that in addition to having the engine retuned, it is even possible to rebuild a standard GT-R into a higher-output V-Spec model—though will still retain its factory designation as a standard GT-R.
As well, the service looks to be available to customers worldwide, though the car will have to be shipped to Japan where the restoration will take place.
For more information about the restoration process, as well as how to get your GT-R restored if you so choose, head over to the Nismo website here.
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If this were your absolute dream car and you planned to keep it until you die, I could see spending $100,000 on this, but $430,000?! I don't see it. The number of cars you could buy, maintain, and store for $430K...
In reply to 350z247 :
I think what you're seeing here is the difference between a run-of-the-mill resto, even one done by a reputable shop, and one that the manufacturer can put their name and stand behind it. The latter is going to be a lot more thorough and thus a lot more expensive.
In reply to 350z247 :
For the folks with this kind of scratch to spend, it's no big deal.
Remember the guy paying for this, probably also has an order out for a Singer 911, a Emory Outlaw 356, an original Shelby Cobra in the garage, and alternates between his 911 Turbo, Audi R8 V10, and Ferrari 488 as daily drivers.
In reply to RevolverRob :
I don't think you can really compare this to something like a Singer (or equivalent) style build. At the end of the day, you're left with, essentially, an ever so slightly better GT-R than what you would have bought new in the 90s. A Singer is a complete reimagining with the attention to detail and increase in performance you would expect for half a million dollars (custom carbon body work, twice the power, custom wheels, race level suspension and brakes, world class interior work, ect.).
In reply to 350z247 :
I didn't mean to draw a comparison between a Singer and a NISMO restored GTR. I meant that the individual who spends $430,000 on a freshly restored R32 GTR is the kind of person that can spend money on things like a Singer, etc. They are not concerned that it cost $430,000.
I remember one year being at the Monterey Historics, when someone crashed a ~$5,000,000 Ferrari on the track. My father and I were standing there when it happened and I immediately blurted out, "Oh my god, all that money lost!"
My father looks at me and says, "Anyone who is able to afford to bring their five million dollar historic Ferrari out to race, can afford to fix it."
It's a whole new level of wealth and way of thinking about things compared to what most of us are doing on a daily basis. For me, personally, I would never spend this kind of money on a GTR, or frankly any Nissan. But according to my bank account this is not a problem I have to worry about.
In reply to RevolverRob :
Ah, yes, then I entirely agree. I just went to the HSR race at Sebring last weekend, and these guys do a track weekend WAY differently than I do. I was camping in my R53 Mini while they were having a waiter serve them chamagne while a mechanic tuned up their GT40. It was just unimaginable.
Acura floated a similar program to Gen 1 NSX owners a few months ago. IIRC the prices were more reasonable, but still eye opening. Manufactures are starting to understand how important their history is to their current brand in the eyes of their perspective buyer.
RevolverRob said:In reply to 350z247 :
I didn't mean to draw a comparison between a Singer and a NISMO restored GTR. I meant that the individual who spends $430,000 on a freshly restored R32 GTR is the kind of person that can spend money on things like a Singer, etc. They are not concerned that it cost $430,000.
I remember one year being at the Monterey Historics, when someone crashed a ~$5,000,000 Ferrari on the track. My father and I were standing there when it happened and I immediately blurted out, "Oh my god, all that money lost!"
My father looks at me and says, "Anyone who is able to afford to bring their five million dollar historic Ferrari out to race, can afford to fix it."
It's a whole new level of wealth and way of thinking about things compared to what most of us are doing on a daily basis. For me, personally, I would never spend this kind of money on a GTR, or frankly any Nissan. But according to my bank account this is not a problem I have to worry about.
Plus, once over a certain point, the car's value doesn't matter. A 5 million dollar car costs as much to fix as a $500,000 car.
Personally, I think this is awesome. One can get a brand new R32.
Practically, Nissan did something similar for the S30 and there were very few takers.
CrustyRedXpress (Forum Supporter) said:Acura floated a similar program to Gen 1 NSX owners a few months ago. IIRC the prices were more reasonable, but still eye opening. Manufactures are starting to understand how important their history is to their current brand in the eyes of their perspective buyer.
*cough* and they don't make enthusiast vehicles anymore anyway, so fixing up used cars for the three remaining new-car buyers who don't want a truck makes sense *cough*
I hope this means I can get any seals, electric bits, or other tiny parts I need to keep mine on the road for a long time.
I love seeing this level of support from an OEM, whether its Porsche, Mazda, Nissan, Honda, or any others. I can't afford it, but I'm happy it exists in the world 
.
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